Monday, October 17, 2011

Cardboard Canoe Challenge

This post will provide a walk through from the beginning to the final product of my group's cardboard canoe.

This is a sketch of my group's design for our cardboard canoe.

The following images were prototypes for the watercraft.


This was a very basic prototype for my group's cardboard canoe. (we decided to eliminate the oar ideal)


This next image shows how my group tried to add a stabilizer to the watercraft. We also modified the original design of the craft. In that we made the body thinner and curved instead of isosceles triangle shape.


This was a odd ideal, in that we went from a thin small frame to a larger frame that still retained its curves however as an more or less equilateral triangle.


This image shows the basic foundation of our creation.


This image shows the basic shape of our watercraft In an early phase.


This image was taken after we had patched all the current untaped areas. We taped a piece of cardboard under the white piece of cardboard. This was to support our lab rat's weight more efficently in that it would not colapse under his weight when he gets into the water. We aslo added a square piece of cardboard to create a flat back.


Chris, one of my team members, is trying out the boat and making shure that it would fit him.


This image was taken while we were taping the entire outside of the water craft.

Test Achievements:
 Videographer: Take a video of the challenge and post it to your blog.
     My group's recording of the Cardboard Canoe challenge
Reflection Achievements Feedback: + Our canoe was able to maneuver fairly well with the manpower and the V-shaped nose. Change: If I could change something about the craft I would lower the sides. Instead of having such high walls I believe that it might have been less prone to tipping if it was thicker and lower in height. Lining the inside with tape would have lessened the amount of water that enter the cardboard mainframe. ?: I would like to know how to stabilize the craft in an efficient, orderly manner. !: I believe that the addition of a keel would have brought beneficial results.
How Low Did You Go?: I thought that the craft would have lowered itselft further in the water than it did. This was because of the narrow base and the tall sides of the craft.  Anyhow the craft appeared to seemingly stay afloat with the base only a few inches underwater. 
Redesign: If I could redesign our craft I would lower the sides by folding them so they are about one foot lower. I would also use the folded cardboard to reinforce the sides.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011