Creative Engineering Design Cycle:
Project Outline:
The Engineering Design Cycle Project is a unique one in the sense that it's very open-ended. There aren't any boundaries; it gives us, the students, the power to choose whatever topic we want to research. The only question that we have to consider is this: What is a problem in the world, and how would you go about to solve it using the Engineering Design Cycle?
The Engineering Design Cycle Project is a unique one in the sense that it's very open-ended. There aren't any boundaries; it gives us, the students, the power to choose whatever topic we want to research. The only question that we have to consider is this: What is a problem in the world, and how would you go about to solve it using the Engineering Design Cycle?
What is the Engineering Design Cycle?
The Engineering Design Cycle entails the multiple steps that engineers go through in order to solve a problem. They are: 1. Define the Problem / Identify the Need 2. Research 3. Brainstorm solutions 4. Choose a plan 5. Construct prototype 6. Test and Evaluate 7. Redesign or Communicate |
Our Specific Engineering Design Cycle:
1. Define Problem - Dying Coral Reefs 2. Research - coral bleaching, water pollution, global warming effects, Great Barrier Reef 3. Brainstorm solutions - coral bleaching shades (underwater, in air), pipelines to improve water quality, landfill barriers 4. Choose a plan - Tent-like coral bleaching shade 5. Construct prototype - Built coral shade w/ materials 6. Test and Evaluate - Tested stability against water/sun 7. Redesign/Communicate - Tweaked design/presented to audience |
The Research & Process:
In the very beginning, our group sat down at the table and brainstormed different world problems. There was a long list that included things like irrigation problems in Africa, overpopulation, and global warming. However, we all unanimously settled on the problem of saving coral reefs. Our entire group shared a common interest in marine biology, so it was an easy choice.
After defining our problem, we had to do lots of research. We probably stared at our devices for two days, scrounging for information about the location of coral reefs, their prime habitats, their benefits to society, and what was destroying them. We came across multiple problems: water pollution, over-fishing, excessive nutrients in the coastal zones, and coral bleaching. Since it would be hard to solve all of these massive issues, we decided to take one aspect of it: coral bleaching.
Coral bleaching is essentially caused by climate change. Over the years, the ocean temperatures have been steadily rising, especially around the tropical and temperate areas where coral reefs thrive. Before, they were at a perfect medium. But with both the sun's rays becoming more damaging, and the ocean temps rising, it's just too much for these fragile creatures to handle. Corals need a specific bacterium called zooxanthellae to coat their polyp. This species is what allows the coral to live; an excessive amount of UV rays will expel the zooxanthellae from the corals, leaving them without protection to the rays. Once the zooxanthellae is expelled from the coral tissue, it's a done deal: within a short amount of time, the corals will bleach and die.
Over the past couple decades, scientists have found an alarming decline in coral reefs all around the world. The Great Barrier Reef has lost 50% of its reefs in the last 30 years alone; 95% of Jamaica's coral reefs have already been destroyed. The disastrous effects of coral bleaching are evident all across the ocean floors. In many places, the reefs that were once teeming with life have turned barren and lifeless.
As we were researching, we came across the invention of the "coral shade." Scientists had made a temporary coral shade for the Great Barrier Reef when they realized that during last year's summer, the reef was in danger of being killed off due to the sun's intense UV rays. However, their invention was a short-term solution. As a group, we aimed to create a long-term solution that could be used over and over again during the summer. We made an innovated coral shade.
The scientists before us created shades that floated on the top of the waves. Unfortunately, the waves would move back and forth, and eventually settle above the shade. This would drag the shade down and into the water. Since the material used in coral shades is foreign to the ecosystem below, we decided to create a coral shade that was set up above water. It had a tent-like, sloped canopy so that if it rained during the warm tropical summers, the runoff would just slide down the slope and back into the ocean. The material would be that of an umbrella, so it would reflect UV rays, yet still allow some sunlight through.
Now, we realized that we couldn't just put these shades all over the Great Barrier Reef. The coast of Australia is an expansive plain, and we could only do so much. So after lots of research, we found a map that separated the Great Barrier Reef into many sections: areas with severe threat of dying, medium threat, and little threat. Our plan was to install these coral shades in only areas with severe threat, so that during the summer, they'll be given a chance to recoup and regenerate. The next summer, depending on where desperation calls, the shades can be moved around.
Last but not least, we figured out how to create a perfect medium for the corals. Because although corals definitely need protection from UV-B rays, which are the deadly ones as opposed to UV-A rays, they still need sunlight in order to thrive. Our group purposely designed this coral bleaching shade to be above the water by a decent amount. That way, when the sun is rising and setting -- which is when the sun's rays are least penetrating -- the corals will be getting direct sunlight. Only when the sun is completely overhead, towards the middle of the day, the corals will be shaded from the UV-B rays.
To communicate our design, we made a video briefly explaining the problem, and then a detailed presentation with all the stats. Both of these are attached below:
In the very beginning, our group sat down at the table and brainstormed different world problems. There was a long list that included things like irrigation problems in Africa, overpopulation, and global warming. However, we all unanimously settled on the problem of saving coral reefs. Our entire group shared a common interest in marine biology, so it was an easy choice.
After defining our problem, we had to do lots of research. We probably stared at our devices for two days, scrounging for information about the location of coral reefs, their prime habitats, their benefits to society, and what was destroying them. We came across multiple problems: water pollution, over-fishing, excessive nutrients in the coastal zones, and coral bleaching. Since it would be hard to solve all of these massive issues, we decided to take one aspect of it: coral bleaching.
Coral bleaching is essentially caused by climate change. Over the years, the ocean temperatures have been steadily rising, especially around the tropical and temperate areas where coral reefs thrive. Before, they were at a perfect medium. But with both the sun's rays becoming more damaging, and the ocean temps rising, it's just too much for these fragile creatures to handle. Corals need a specific bacterium called zooxanthellae to coat their polyp. This species is what allows the coral to live; an excessive amount of UV rays will expel the zooxanthellae from the corals, leaving them without protection to the rays. Once the zooxanthellae is expelled from the coral tissue, it's a done deal: within a short amount of time, the corals will bleach and die.
Over the past couple decades, scientists have found an alarming decline in coral reefs all around the world. The Great Barrier Reef has lost 50% of its reefs in the last 30 years alone; 95% of Jamaica's coral reefs have already been destroyed. The disastrous effects of coral bleaching are evident all across the ocean floors. In many places, the reefs that were once teeming with life have turned barren and lifeless.
As we were researching, we came across the invention of the "coral shade." Scientists had made a temporary coral shade for the Great Barrier Reef when they realized that during last year's summer, the reef was in danger of being killed off due to the sun's intense UV rays. However, their invention was a short-term solution. As a group, we aimed to create a long-term solution that could be used over and over again during the summer. We made an innovated coral shade.
The scientists before us created shades that floated on the top of the waves. Unfortunately, the waves would move back and forth, and eventually settle above the shade. This would drag the shade down and into the water. Since the material used in coral shades is foreign to the ecosystem below, we decided to create a coral shade that was set up above water. It had a tent-like, sloped canopy so that if it rained during the warm tropical summers, the runoff would just slide down the slope and back into the ocean. The material would be that of an umbrella, so it would reflect UV rays, yet still allow some sunlight through.
Now, we realized that we couldn't just put these shades all over the Great Barrier Reef. The coast of Australia is an expansive plain, and we could only do so much. So after lots of research, we found a map that separated the Great Barrier Reef into many sections: areas with severe threat of dying, medium threat, and little threat. Our plan was to install these coral shades in only areas with severe threat, so that during the summer, they'll be given a chance to recoup and regenerate. The next summer, depending on where desperation calls, the shades can be moved around.
Last but not least, we figured out how to create a perfect medium for the corals. Because although corals definitely need protection from UV-B rays, which are the deadly ones as opposed to UV-A rays, they still need sunlight in order to thrive. Our group purposely designed this coral bleaching shade to be above the water by a decent amount. That way, when the sun is rising and setting -- which is when the sun's rays are least penetrating -- the corals will be getting direct sunlight. Only when the sun is completely overhead, towards the middle of the day, the corals will be shaded from the UV-B rays.
To communicate our design, we made a video briefly explaining the problem, and then a detailed presentation with all the stats. Both of these are attached below:
Some Physics Concepts:
Solar & Sun Angles - Through understanding the different sun angles that happen over the course of a hot summer day in Australia, we were able to build a protective shade that would create a perfect temperature for corals.
Solar & Sun Angles - Through understanding the different sun angles that happen over the course of a hot summer day in Australia, we were able to build a protective shade that would create a perfect temperature for corals.
Reflection:
I learned so much fun in this project, and it was so enjoyable because we got to choose a topic that we were interested in. Our group shared a common interest in marine biology, so throughout the course of the project, we were always so motivated. We spent a lot of time researching, and I learned that in the real world, just coming up with the solution takes up so much time. When you're trying to make a permanent solution, one that will last for years to come, there are just so many different factors that come to hand. For me, it was a little frustrating because just when we'd thought it was perfect, we'd realize that there was another problem that we had to address. In addition, I had to not just think of the marine life that we were trying to save, but the buyer's perspective. How could we make it marketable? How could we make it catch their eye? It was a great learning process.
As the months have passed, I think that time-management has improved in each passing project. For this project, we perfectly split up the work to make sure that we'd finish in time: Natalie made the introductory video, Mikayla did much of the research and brought in important materials, and I put together the powerpoint presentation. Then as a group, we would spend our class time together building the prototype or sorting out the problems. Because we split up the work and did some of it in our own time, we were able to finish building the prototype before the deadline. Despite using multiple days to just figure out a working solution, we weren't rushed to finish the presentation aspect, and we even had extra time to practice to make the presentation smooth. I was really proud of how much detailed research we put together.
If I had to change anything, I would address the aesthetics of our coral bleaching shade. Since we didn't have the best materials and the fish tank was smaller than we would've liked, the coral shade didn't come out as beautifully as we'd imagined it to be. It worked, but if we could give it another shot, I would try to somehow get sturdier fabric, maybe from a store, instead of cutting out triangles from an umbrella.
I learned so much fun in this project, and it was so enjoyable because we got to choose a topic that we were interested in. Our group shared a common interest in marine biology, so throughout the course of the project, we were always so motivated. We spent a lot of time researching, and I learned that in the real world, just coming up with the solution takes up so much time. When you're trying to make a permanent solution, one that will last for years to come, there are just so many different factors that come to hand. For me, it was a little frustrating because just when we'd thought it was perfect, we'd realize that there was another problem that we had to address. In addition, I had to not just think of the marine life that we were trying to save, but the buyer's perspective. How could we make it marketable? How could we make it catch their eye? It was a great learning process.
As the months have passed, I think that time-management has improved in each passing project. For this project, we perfectly split up the work to make sure that we'd finish in time: Natalie made the introductory video, Mikayla did much of the research and brought in important materials, and I put together the powerpoint presentation. Then as a group, we would spend our class time together building the prototype or sorting out the problems. Because we split up the work and did some of it in our own time, we were able to finish building the prototype before the deadline. Despite using multiple days to just figure out a working solution, we weren't rushed to finish the presentation aspect, and we even had extra time to practice to make the presentation smooth. I was really proud of how much detailed research we put together.
If I had to change anything, I would address the aesthetics of our coral bleaching shade. Since we didn't have the best materials and the fish tank was smaller than we would've liked, the coral shade didn't come out as beautifully as we'd imagined it to be. It worked, but if we could give it another shot, I would try to somehow get sturdier fabric, maybe from a store, instead of cutting out triangles from an umbrella.
"People always say, 'Don't Dream; dreaming is useless.' But really, everything starts with a vision."