Author: Chengan Bai

1. The first product is a measuring spoon that can display the weight on a screen located on the handle. It allows for precise measurement of ingredients while cooking or baking.
2. The second product is an alarm clock that rolls around when it goes off. It requires the user to catch it and press a button in order to turn it off, ensuring that they get out of bed and start their day.

Yesterday I finally finished the spaghetti bridge which took me two weeks to do. My final total score was 18, which was okay, and I think if I was going to change it, I should have used less pasta and then made the middle part a bit stronger. Because the pasta didn’t break on either side, it just broke in the middle.

Cardboard is a material that most people associate with packaging, shipping boxes, or as a material used in crafting or school projects. However, over the years, cardboard has proven to be a versatile material with potential applications in various fields. From furniture to bicycles, cardboard has shown that it can be used to create unconventional, sustainable products.

One of the most impressive applications of cardboard to me is the cardboard bike. The cardboard bike is an innovative solution to environmental problems as it offers commuters a low-cost, eco-friendly option. The bike is made from recycled cardboard and is designed to be waterproof and durable, making it suitable for everyday use. The bike’s unique design also allows for customization and can be decorated with various designs or logos. The cardboard bike is not just a great alternative to metal or plastic bikes, but it is also an excellent example of how sustainable design can be applied to everyday products.

Another creative use of cardboard is the Nintendo Labo. Nintendo Labo is a DIY cardboard kit that allows gamers to create various objects that can be used with the Nintendo Switch. These cardboard creations range from a fishing rod to a piano, and they all have an interactive element that connects with the Nintendo Switch. The cardboard kits are not only fun to use but also a great way to teach children about recycling and sustainability.Chairigami is another company that utilizes cardboard to create unique furniture designs. The company creates chairs, tables, and desks that are lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble. Chairigami’s furniture is ideal for events or pop-up shops as it can be set up and taken down quickly, and it is also eco-friendly since it is made from recycled cardboard. Chairigami’s furniture is an excellent example of how cardboard can be used to create functional and stylish furniture designs.

Apart from cardboard, there are other unconventional materials that have been used in surprising ways. For example, mushrooms have been used to create packaging material. Ecovative Design has created a compostable packaging product that is made from mushrooms. The material is eco-friendly and can be used as an alternative to traditional packaging materials such as plastic or Styrofoam. Also the bamboo that people used to make some cups or chopsticks. It’s really cheap and also environmentally friendly. I boughta cup made of bamboo during my trip to AnHui.

Watch the video and read the articles about the Crystal Palace. Give a written account of your thoughts on the industrial revolution, the Crystal Palace and how it has impacted the modern world.

The Industrial Revolution was a period of great technological advancement, It was a time of great change, as traditional manual labor was replaced by machines, and factories began to dominate production.The Crystal Palace was a product of the Industrial Revolution, and it showcased many of the new techniques and technologies that had been developed during this period. The building was constructed using cast iron and plate glass, which were both materials that had been made  by the advancements of the Industrial Revolution. So that I feel like the crystal palace is the symbol of mankind’s technological achievements during the industrial revolution 

In our current challenge of building a spaghetti bridge we will use techniques to produce parts for our overall structures. Can you identify similarities in your process and how the Crystal Palace was created? 

Yes I think there are some similarities of these two projects. First of all, I think that they are both really delicate. So that when you are constructing the building, Both require careful planning and design, as well as the use of specialized materials and techniques. They also both focus on effiecency and optimized the materia. 

Whether your answer is yes or no please explain.

Do some research on mass production and give 2 examples of techniques or processes used to mass produce products or components for products .

-Assembly line production – This process involves breaking down the manufacturing process into smaller, more manageable tasks, and then arranging these tasks in a specific order to create a production line. Workers perform a specific task repeatedly as the product moves down the line, which allows for greater efficiency and output.

-Injection molding – This is a manufacturing process where molten material, usually plastic or metal, is injected into a mold under high pressure. The material then cools and solidifies, forming a finished part or product. Injection molding is commonly used to produce items such as car parts, toys, and consumer electronics.

Design: To design a stable spaghetti bridge, we need to consider several factors, including:

• Bottom structure: The bottom needs to have enough strength and support to carry the weight of the bridge. I designed a three-layer bottom structure, with two horizontal layers and one vertical layer.
• Triangular structures: To increase stability, I designed some triangular structures on both sides. These triangles can be constructed using extra spaghetti.
• Columns: I used four columns in the middle of the bridge to support the structure. These columns provide additional support and help to distribute the weight of the load.
• Material: I chose a hard type of spaghetti and used multiple layers to increase strength.

Construction: I started constructing the spaghetti bridge according to the design plan. First, I built the three-layer bottom structure, then added triangular structures on both sides. Next, I erected four columns and secured them to the bottom structure of the bridge. Finally, I placed multiple layers of spaghetti on top of the bridge to complete the construction of the spaghetti bridge.

Listen to the podcast and read the article about the history of the drinking straw. 

What is the most surprising thing you have learned about the straw and its history?

The most surprising thing that I heard was about the birth and promotion of a small straw were the results of so many factors coming together. The American public health mania. The soda fountain prevents everyone from drinking soda from a communal water glass. After urbanization, the masses’ paid more attention to sanitation issues. And after financialization, it’s amazing how this little straw can generate so much profit, making big companies want to make more straws to get more profit.

Can you think of any other products that started out life to meet a specific need but evolved to be used by everyone? 

Corn Flakes: Created as a health food by the Kellogg brothers to combat digestive problems, corn flakes are now a popular breakfast cereal enjoyed by people of all ages.

Experiment Name: Egg Drop Experiment

Objective: To design a device that can prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height of two meters.

Materials: Egg, paper, glue

Procedure:

In the first experiment, I designed a device that used several sheets of paper to protect the egg. However, the device was unable to land smoothly during the drop, causing the egg to break. Upon analysis, I realized that the four legs at the bottom of the device were not stable enough, and the parachute was too small to slow down the fall.

To address the problems encountered in the first experiment, I made the following improvements:

First, I designed a larger parachute that provided better deceleration. Second, I created a cube to hold the egg. Each face of the cube contained two cylinders to absorb the impact force. To ensure that the device would not come into contact with the ground at any angle, I added paper support sticks to the eight corners of the cube, and I tilted these sticks at diagonal angles to make the entire device more stable.

Results and Conclusion: In this experiment, I dropped the egg from a height of two meters and successfully protected it with the designed device. The egg did not break. Therefore, I can conclude that the device successfully protected the egg from damage caused by the fall.

I learned a lot from the video about Origami. Origami has come a long way from being just a pastime activity or a decorative item. In recent times, the principles of origami have been utilized by designers to come up with innovative engineering solutions. From creating foldable solar panels to developing compact medical equipment, origami has proven to be a versatile tool for problem-solving in a wide range of fields.

One of the most striking examples of origami in engineering is its application in the field of aerospace industry. Designers used this principle to create the foldable solar panels or satellites which are easier and lower cost to send these devices to space.

Origami has also found its way into the field of medicine, where it has been used to design medical equipment that is both functional and compact. For example, medical professionals are now using origami-inspired stents that can be easily implanted in a patient’s body and then expanded to their full size. This not only reduces the risk of complications during the implantation process but also makes it easier for the patient to recover.

I was really surprised when I saw that some scientists had developed an application which can simulate each step of origami based on the target object. Because this will shorten the time for designers and reduce the limitation of their imagination.

In our daily life, origami has also been used in the field of furniture. For example, chairs that can fold into a small and compact shape or the sofa that can fold into any shape you are comfortable with. From foldable smartphones to compact umbrellas, the principles of origami have been used to design products that are both functional and convenient.

Origami has come a long way from being just a traditional art form. With its principles being utilized by designers to come up with innovative engineering solutions, origami has the potential to impact our lives in ways we never thought possible. The next time you encounter a product that has been influenced by origami, take a moment to appreciate the versatility and potential of this timeless art.