Friday, March 13, 2009

Race Day 2nd Trial Videos

Sorry, I only recorded the 2nd Trial, and I also haven't recorded all the participants for the race day :(
If the videos do not work, you can visit the alternate links that I have included.

Angela's 2nd Trial

Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YXtssr4qTI


Anthony and Dominic's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb93B3atG64


Chantell's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5U8mYuvV4A


Henrick's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5XBuz9vKb4


Joachim's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fahHJFXbxbQ


Josh and Nathan's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3QvFmMYMlE


Ludwig and Rodolfo IV's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_LbmaA7FNc
It was a fluke!? Just kidding (:


Michael's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiSlt9Yw6W8


Jhamil's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3l_g6-vuI


Jyoti's 2nd Trial
Alternate Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zry43HsvThE

RACE DAY

First of all, I would like to congratulate Ludwig and Jesse's group + Rachel and Kelly's group for both passing the 12-meter mark. Wow! I didn't really think that anyone would actually pass the 12-meter mark, but I guess I was wrong :(

I was pretty satisfied with the results of my car as it went faster than I expected compared to the other cars. But sadly, it didn't travel in a straight line. I passed the 5-meter mark in both my trials and my car traveled a total distance of 7 meters or so. Everyone was pretty surprised because of the speed of my car, they were saying that it was like a rocket :)

Overall, race day was pretty fun, because I got to see everyone's different balloon-cars and their creativity. I hope that I get more projects like these, because this project is actually a hands-on project, not like the usual projects where you collect information and put it on a bristol board... if you know what I mean :)



This is the video of my 2nd trial, it passed the 5-meter mark in under 3 seconds.. I think.
(My car actually starts moving at about o:40 seconds of the video)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Before Race Day

Okay, I'm really really nervous for the BIG RACE DAY tomorrow! Everyone has different cars, different designs, I want to see them all : )
My car works out just fine, but, you know, something bad might happen ahhhh!
BE OPTIMISTIC MAN!
I'm so nervous that I'm excited, that's how I really feel haha.

3rd Major Entry Part 2: Final Version (B2Xc - 001 Sudden)

The name for the final version of my balloon-car is B2Xc - 001 Sudden.
B2X stands for 'Bento Box', which means 'lunch box'; c stands for 'car';
001
means model # 1 and; Sudden is the car's name.

I chose 'Sudden' for the car name because I kept making sudden changes to the prototype version of the car, until I was finally satisfied with the final design.

Here is the final version, B2Xc - 001 Sudden, along with most of the materials I used.

More Pictures

Top View

Front View

Side View (Right)

Side View (Left)

Back View

CHANGES:
As you can see, the final version is slightly different from the prototype version.
• I reduced the number of straws by one, but I made the straw's size bigger.
• I wrote the car name just under the straw (refer to 'top view' picture)
• I changed the balloon's colour from blue to red.
• I wrapped a rubber band around the straw so that its not loose and it won't wiggle around the hole.

EFFECTS:
Changing the balloon and the straw made the final version of the car significantly faster than the prototype version. Some other changes in the design also made the car look more attractive.

Now I'm all set for race day! (which is tomorrow hehe)

3rd Major Entry Part 1: Blueprint + Prototype Version

Here are the the blueprints for my balloon-car.
Just click on the images for better quality.
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Top View

Side View (Left)

Back View

Okay, here are the pictures of my balloon-car prototype version.
I don't have a name for it yet, but I have tested it already and it works out just fine.
Now all I have to do is to decorate it and make some changes (if necessary) and then I'm ready for race day! : )

Saturday, February 28, 2009

UPDATES

Okay, expect the following in my next blog entry:
- Blueprint for the car
- Prototype version of the car
- Pictures of the prototype version
- Name for the car

I will post the new blog entry as soon as I finish the necessary requirements.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

2nd Major Entry: Production Stage 2 (Designing Process and Materials)

Due to some material problems, there have been some changes to the body and and wheel materials. I believe that the materials I am gonna use are more efficient than the ones listed on my first entry.

Body: I decided to use a styrofoam box that I got from a Chinese fast food store for my balloon car body instead of a milk box.

I am going to cut some parts to make the body smaller and lighter so that there wouldn't be much problems trying to make the balloon car accelerate.

Wheels: As mentioned in my first entry, I planned to use the wheels from my old toy car but it seems that I lost my toy car, so I had to find a replacement. This just proves that not everything goes smoothly in life :(

These are the replacements I found, which are caps of disposable coffee glasses. As you can see, their design is quite simple so it wouldn't be that hard to attach them to the body of my car and balancing them would also be easy.

These chopsticks and straws are the materials that I am planning to us to attach the wheels together with the body of my car. The chopsticks are quite thick, so I think I'll have to peel some wood off of them to make it thinner and easier to use.

P.S. You probably already noticed, but most of the materials I am using are related to food :)