ENGR
103 - Spring 2014
Freshman Engineering Design Lab
Freshman Engineering Design Lab
“Thermally Responsive Muscle Fibers -THINGkap”
Project Design Proposal
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Date Submitted: April 11, 2014
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Abstract:
The theme for our project is all about sustainability. Sustainability
is considered both in terms of energy savings and health outcomes. We will investigate
energy-effective solutions for the built environment such as developing a
building envelope system to passively cool a building, to respond to the moving
sun and/or to facilitate natural ventilation. The potential for natural light
and ventilation to improve health outcomes will be considered through solutions
that consider relationships between human physiology and the natural
environment such as biophilia, photobiology and chronobiology.
Our main goal for this project is simplicity. To make
the outcomes of the project as simple as possible that can solve daily problems
is our mission. Thus, the simplicity is the beauty of this technology.
We have been asked to formulate a design solution to an
open-ended engineering problem. We will be responsible for evaluating existing
solutions, developing design constraints and implementing an engineering design
solution.
1 Introduction
During the summer, the environment will get pretty hot as
the surrounding temperature sometimes rises unpredictably. Imagine this, being
in a building that might have a terrible ventilation during summer and you
can’t barely breathe. This kind of situation is pretty much disturbing.
Therefore, we have been motivated to invent a solution to this undesirable
situation. This solution relates to the application of thermally responsive
muscle fibers. This newly found technology opens up to a vast possibility of
projects, one of them is greenhouse application, in which we are considering to
integrate this technology into the greenhouse.
As we know, some scientists have developed artificial
muscles out of carbon nanotube yarns. However, those are much complicated and
expensive to make. We have decided to create the muscle fibers by using just
coiled fishing line and sewing thread as they are more economical and easier to
commercialize rather than the artificial muscles out of carbon nanotube yarns
that is much more upscale.
As we go through this
project, we might be expecting to learn the mechanism of the thermally
responsive muscle fibers in more details and try to relate this knowledge in
succeeding the major task which is to invent thermally responsive muscle fibers
attached windows in a building in order to solve the undesirable situation
mentioned above.
One of the technical challenges that we may face is we have
to understand and delve into carefully on how the muscle fibers are going to
work. Is the combination of sewing thread and fishing line strong enough to
lift the window that is quite heavy? This kind of question needs a great
understanding and maybe a complicated and fancy calculation to be solved.
The desired outcome is we hope that this project will
successfully accomplish the theme of this course stated by the instructors,
which is sustainability. We hope that our invention will lead to the improvement
of health and sustain the energy conservation.
2
Deliverables
After a long discussion and consideration between the group
members, we have decided to present our invention by showing a video of how the
thermally responsive muscle fibers work on the Green House’s windows. Besides
that, we will show the prototype of the coiled sewing thread and fishing line
that makes an economical thermally responsive muscle fiber which is the
foundation of our project.
3
Technical
Activities
We will list some major tasks of this project so that all of
us will see the clear path of how this project will go.
3.1
Research,
design and analyze
The group will carry out detailed research
about the artificial muscle fibers and the mechanism of greenhouse to allow the
integration of the muscle fibers into the greenhouse. Design drafts and
analysis will be made in 3D CAD software to further reinstate the project.
3.2
Buying
the tools and appliances
In order to make
the artificial muscle fiber, we need some common daily appliances such as a fishing
line, power drill, loads and clamps. Then, we need some woods, nails, saw, and
heat gun to build a replica of a window and attach it to the artificial muscle
fiber that we made.
3.3
Making
the muscle fibers and the replica of a window
By using all of
the tools and appliances stated above, we are going to spend one full day to
finish the model of the window and attached it to the thermally responsive
muscle fiber.
3.4 Testing
the prototype
During this
stage, there are a few things that we should emphasize more on our project
which are:
i.
To test the weight that the muscle fibers can deal
with.
ii.
To examine on how the muscle fibers will respond to the
change of temperature.
iii.
To consider whether the muscle fiber is compatible to
be attached to the window or not.
iv.
To consider whether the application of thermally
responsive muscle fibers on the windows is effective to Green House or not.
3.5
Final touch
As for final touch, we are
supposed to get fully prepared with the prototype that works smoothly and ready
to be presented to the audience.
4
Project
Timeline
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Week
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Task
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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Literature study
and comprehension of concept
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x
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x
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Mechanical design
of the project
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Thermal design of
the project
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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System
integration
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x
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x
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x
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Testing of
prototype
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x
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x
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x
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Final report
preparation and submission
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x
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x
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x
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Table 1: Table of weekly timeline of
progress
5
Facilities
and Resources
We considered that no specific resources are needed for the
completion of the project as most of the mechanism can be built without any
exact facilities and resources.
6
Expertise
For the first step, designing and analyzing the prototype,
we will use 3D CAD. In order to create a video to demonstrate the application
of the prototype of the window, we are planning to use Windows Movie Maker. Besides
that, we need some skills to twist and coil the fishing line and sewing thread
to become the artificial thermally responsive muscle fibers. Then, with a
specific measurement, we are going to build the window on ourselves.
7 Budget
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Category
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Projected Cost
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Fishing
Line
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$40.00
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Power
Drill
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$20.00
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Plywood
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$20.00
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Cactus
plants
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$15.00
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TOTAL
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$95.00
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Table 2: Approximation of expenses to build
the prototype.
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