Week Three: Aerospace and Chemical Engineering (AE, ChE, ISE)

Basic Paper Airplane

The most basic flying object one can make. It was our first step to understanding aerodynamics.

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Improved Paper Airplane

An improved basic flying object. We found a video online to make a better paper airplane that flies farther due to its better aerodynamics.

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Straw Glider

The interaction of lift, drag, thrust, and gravity allow the straw glider to float through the air seamlessly.

Balsa Wood Glider

Leveling up from paper airplanes to balsa wood airplanes. We made sure to mount the wings at a point, considering the center of gravity.

Rocket Simulation

The first step to making our rocket was using a simulator to find the best theoretical design.

Building Rocket Body

The second step was creating that design in real life.

Building Parachute

The final step to making our rocket was ensuring that our parachute would pop out at the correct time and safely transport a slice of paper measuring air particles to the ground.

Test Rocket Launch

In our first rocket launch, our rocket performed wonderfully. However, the parachute function did not deploy correctly and we could not get a reading of the air particles.

Final Rocket Launch

In our last launch, our rocket fell short. Our rocket was unable to get more than a few feet off the ground. This is due to a piece of balsa wood that got stuck amidst the body of the rocket which caused an unequal pressure amount within the body of the rocket, resulting in a crash.

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Assembling the VEX Robot

We followed detailed instructions to build a VEX robot.

Coding the Robot

We coded the movements for the robot. This was challenging as this was an unfamiliar software and it was difficult to make each motor express movement to a satisfactory level.

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Controlling the Robot

We tested out our robot to make sure every movement was smooh.

Testing the Air Particle level utilizing the robot

By utilizing the sensors on the Vex Robot, we were able to determine that the hue of the paper strip inside the parachute was 240 which means ozone is present.

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Video of us testing for ozone via paper on parachute

CO2 monitor

Over around ten minutes on top of a parking garage roof next to the USC International Academy, the CO2 monitor picked up an average of 450ppm. On ground level, the CO2 monitor picked up an average of 420 ppm.

Air Particle monitor on the Ground

Over ten minutes between the USC village and the USC International Academy, the average air quality level was 7.

Air Particle Monitor on roof of parking garage

Over eight minutes on top of a parking garage roof next to the USC International Academy, the average air quality was 6.

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