Break it apart! Challenge take one

Evidence of Work

For the project our task was to disassemble an object that is not too complicated and not too simple. While breaking apart my object (remote) I made sure to carefully look at all of the components and subsystems. I wrote down the materials used to create the remote. The next step was writing down all of the questions I had about the object and any observations I noticed. Once I spent a good amount of time observing the remote I began to draw conceptual sketches of it. Then I drew a detailed exploded view, a scaled sketch and a flow chart of the remote. The sketches and flow chart took around two and a half days to create.

One of the main questions I was trying to answer was: What real-life problem/human need is the object solving/address? All of the things I talked about in the first paragraph helped me answer this question. By understanding more about how remotes function I can now understand why remotes are so sufficient and easy to use. Ultimately, a remote is a cheap and an amazing device that lets humans quickly change channels or volume on a t.v. I now have a deeper understanding of how engineers create and build objects.

Conceptual sketches with observational questions

Exploded view sketch with flow chart

A scaled sketch of the remote. Includes a key where the length of the blocks equals 1 cm and the width of a block is 0.5 cm.

Content

Conceptual sketch: Shows how elements are connected to make subsystems, and how subsystems work together to create a working system. They also help engineers identify elements in a problem. I drew two conceptual sketches and labeled as much as I could on them. This helped me see what materials were used to build a remote. Conceptual sketches are used all the time in science class but they are also used for interior designing, architecture and more.

Drawing scale and dimension: The scale of the drawing is the ratio of the size on the drawing to the size in reality. For example if the drawing has a scale of 1:2, the drawing is 1/2 the actual object size. For my project I decided to draw a scaled sketch of the front of the remote. I used centimeters to scale my drawing. The length of two boxes equaled 1 centimeter and the width of one box equaled 0.5 centimeters. After measuring my remote I started to draw the remote using a ruler to make straight lines. In geometry I learned how to scale all different types of shapes.

Flow chart: A diagram that shows step-by-step progression through a procedure or system especially using connecting lines and a set of conventional symbols. In my flow chart I made sure to start with electricity and show how electricity goes through different components in a remote to help eventually connect it to a t.v.

Circuit boards: A circuit will start its function once a button on a remote is pressed. This movement of the button being pressed will be detected by a chip which will carry out a particular sequence. The circuit board is constructed in a specific way to create different sequences for different remotes. Circuit boards aren't only in remotes, they are also in computers, clocks, televisions, phones.

Exploded View Sketch: It is a technical drawing of an object that shows the relationship or order of assembly of various parts. It shows the components of an object slightly separated by distance. For my exploded view sketch I drew the front cover, then the silicon button pad, then the circuit board and then the bottom of the remote.

(I also learned the importance of creating a plan, taking time to research and drawing sketches or any questions you have)

Reflection

Something I did really well on for this project was having great time management skills. A strategy that helped me finish the project a little bit ahead of time was creating a schedule. On the schedule I included what I needed to get done for everyday. If I didn't get what needed to be done in class I would finish at home so the next day I could work on something else. I made sure to stay focused and only talk to people if I had a question. I learned that I am good at realistically drawing objects. If I have an object in front of me I can accurately and easily draw the object. I like to draw all of the tiny details and components on the device. I drew 2 conceptual sketches, 1 exploded view sketch and 1 scaled sketch. Drawing the remote was actually entertaining and I learned a lot of new things.

I could improve upon my problem solving skills. Sometimes when I face a challenge in projects I immediately feel discouraged and anxious. Instead of taking the time to relax and rethink a new idea I become worried that I wont be able to fix it. During this particular project, I struggled with creating a flow chart for the remote. I knew it had to start off with electricity but from there I didn't know exactly what to write. For quite a bit I sat there instead of trying to research or ask for help. Next time whenever I come upon a problem I should immediately try and look up the answer or ask for help from the teacher or a fellow student. I struggled with understanding how different subsystems connect to one another in a remote. I couldn't comprehend how pressing a button would translate to the circuit board and then connect to a t.v. I probably struggled with this because I am not that good with electronics and I like to learn more about the environment than computer science. I am going to try and learn more about mechanics and electronics whenever I have free time. Studying and practice is the key to understanding and learning unfamiliar concepts.

Page updated

Report abuse