Monday, March 12, 2012
Olivia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Systems Engineering II: VEX Robotics
A High-Tech Solution to a "VEXing" Problem
Highlands,
Through a wave of new technologies, times are changing rapidly. Gone are the days of primitive scientific research with human error, and here to stay are the days of technology perfecting standard scientific principles and research methods. Through the advanced education offered at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), senior students in the Systems Engineering II class are working to keep up with that new technology. A common project of students in this class is VEX Robotics. VEX Robotics is an interactive, hands on learning experience focused around the science of robotics and engineering principles. By integrating standard mathematical concepts with more complex mechanical laws, students are required to create a functioning robotic structure which will successfully complete a designated task at the end of the course. Specifically, the robot created by Olivia and Tess is created to take soil and sediment samples along the coast where the testing will take place. Ultimately, the robot should be able to successfully take a sample and transport it back to the researcher without any human contamination. This will minimize extra chemical effects on soil samples and lead to cleaner, more precise data.
One of the students working on VEX Robotics, Olivia, is a Systems Engineering II student at MAST and her senior year has mainly been dedicated to getting into college and completing her senior project, VEX Robotics. Her job on the project is primarily mechanical, while her partner Tess focuses on the electrical aspects of the robot. Overall, her project focuses around soil sampling and VEX Robotics, as well as mechanical engineering in general. Next year Olivia will be attending Cornell University
The inspiration behind the project came from a problem observed in earlier years of the Marine Academy of Science and Technology’s biology program. Throughout all years of science, students were told to be aware of mistakes from human error. Human error can come in many forms, such as the delayed reaction of stopping a stop watch or more importantly tampering with chemical samples due to chemicals present on the skin. Also, many humans cannot get an unaltered sample from some places, as their very presence in the area contaminates the sample. Through observing this problem thoroughly and taking notes, Olivia and Tess were able to brainstorm a simple solution. If there was a remotely operated craft which could maneuver into those areas and take sediment and soil samples, there would be a significant decrease in soil samples. As soil sampling is essential for ensuring the health of the beach and land around it, this would give scientists a clearer picture of the environment around them. The robot was designed to have a scoop-like mechanism which would pick up the soil and drop it into an attached bag, therefore gaining a soil sample and packaging it with virtually no soil contaminated by human chemicals. The area around the sampling site would also be relatively untouched, as the robot was designed to be small and not create as much of a disturbance as a human. The robot was designed with the terrain of the dunes in mind, therefore treads were laid out with netting to prevent slipping and dune grass entering the motion system. Through this design, scientific research (specifically soil sampling) could be improved greatly.
Overall, the students at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology have had a very productive year. Working on projects such as the interactive herbarium, wave tank, hydroponics, and VEX Robotics, Systems Engineering II students are helping bring together technology and education in a new and seamless way. Through hands on learning and dedicated instructors, the course sets out to develop the leaders of tomorrow. With a VEX robot designed to make soil sampling easier and more efficient, students are not only learning, but helping to better education as a whole. Featured below are photos of the project in its current state.
For more details about VEX Robotics in Highlands, New Jersey , contact Olivia Iselhart at olivia_iselhart@mast.mcvsd.org or visit The Marine Academy of Science and Technology at http://mast.mcvsd.org.
The Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) is a co-ed four-year high school, grades 9-12; one of five career academies administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District. The Marine Academy Marine Academy
MAST is located in the Fort Hancock Historic Area at the tip of Sandy Hook , New Jersey Blue Sea ” is a 65-foot research vessel owned and operated by the Marine Academy and berthed at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Sandy Hook . The vessel is used in all facets of the program.
For additional information:
Marine Academy of Science
732-749-3360
Olivia Iselhart, E: olivia_iselhart@mast.mcvsd.org
David Alfonse and Cheryl McDonald, V:732-291-0995
Posted in: Press Release
0 comments:
Post a Comment