Technology is everywhere these days--we command music to play, lights to turn off, and doors to open--all from our smartphones or the sound of our voice. Extend this concept to urban communities and you get the Smart City initiative. The city of Chattanooga and UTC are taking a leap forward on this initiative by adding "smart" infrastructure along M.L. King Boulevard. These smart connections provide power and data access for devices to collect data, boost the quality of life across Chattanooga, and, well, whatever your imagination comes up with! For this project, you'll design an implement a smart device to connect to these new "smart plugs". No idea what you might do? No problem! Our partners include the newly established Center for Urban Informatics and Progress that is designed to help Chattanooga be one of the worldwide leaders in the Smart City research. And you get to be part of it!

If you've ever had a problem--ANY PROBLEM--and wished you could get expert help, then Experts Exchange was made for you. This Chattanooga technology company connects regular people with experts to solve their problems. Experts Exchange wants to see if their platform is useful for students so they turned to the STEM School. We thought what better test than to see if Experts Exchange could help students use digital fabrication tools across the 16 VW eLab schools in Hamilton County. For this project, student teams will conduct an experiment using Experts Exchange in conjunction with students at VW eLabs. If you're interested in business, conducting distributed experiments, and working with students from other schools to solve problems, then check out this project!

STEM teams will help the Challenger Center and their special "Micronaut" program for younger students. For this project, STEM student teams will design and fabricate space-station-themed problem-based-learning activities for the Micronauts. Possibilities include designing a "cargo storage" activity using 3D tangram objects, using simple electronics components to solve problem, collecting trajectory data for rocket launches, or incorporating a Ozobot robotics activity. The new Micronaut Space Station will launch next year--if STEM students can come up with a solution. Failure is not an option (except as part of your prototyping process, of course!).

If you need relief from allergies, it’s likely you’ve heard of the allergy medicine Allegra. That’s one of many popular brands produced in Chattanooga by Sanofi, a global multibillion-dollar consumer healthcare business. Sanofi’s production facilities must meet stringent sanitary requirements and they are exploring ways to improve using automation and robotics. They operate large cylindrical “process vessels” to mix ingredients and these vessels must be periodically cleaned and inspected. Due to their size and design, human inspection is difficult so Sanofi’s director of engineering contacted the STEM School to see if students could develop creative solutions, perhaps using remote controlled cameras and “robotic inspectors”. This project will require prototyping to discover a workable solution, including the use of computer-aided design (CAD) tools and digitally-fabricated prototypes. If engineering, robotics, and industrial design are areas of interest, this project is for you!

If you're interested in solving a problem closer to home, look no further. We have two projects that require designing and fabricating solutions for the STEM School. The first project an entertainment storage center for the conference room. The second project involves a makeover of the student lounge

The Chattanooga Zoo engages and inspires our community to better understand and preserve wildlife by creating meaningful connections between people and animals. The newest exhibit at the zoo will feature GIANT anteaters. These amazing animals use their long noses for multiple purposes, including snorkeling. Their tongues also feature barbs that are specially suited for getting their favorite food. The zoo education team has asked STEM students to create interactive experiences to better engage zoo visitors. Wild ideas are encouraged for a wild exhibit!

Discuss the preliminary choices for the 4th quarter projects with your teammates. If there's a project you are really interested in, make sure your team is onboard with it. See me if you have questions or project requests.