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CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed Public Feed for tag 2019

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Kamil Kielar Capstone

Posted by Kamil Kielar in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 8:42 pm

​For my senior Capstone project, I had decided to create a foosball table which I hoped to donate to an after-school program or boys and girls club. Seeking Braskem funding in early February, I, unfortunately, received only partial funding for the continuation of my project. Working with a smaller budget than expected, I had begun to redesign my foosball table determined to complete my goal. Using plywood instead of solid wood, steel conduit instead of aluminum rod, and creating my own foosball players instead of purchasing them, I minimized the cost of the original table sevenfold. Originally the goal of the project had been to use woodworking techniques and joints in order to create a high-quality table, focusing much of my time of the creation of the table itself. Without the available funds, I made the decision to create my own foosball players which had taken a greater time than expected. First CADing (Computer Aided Design) my foosball player, machining halves out with a CNC router, gluing them together, sanding them down and finally drilling the hole for rod had been a tedious process which I underestimated and ended up spending a great deal of time on. In the end, I had created a stained and polished foosball table even if it hadn’t been the one I originally envisioned.
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Foosball.com, www.foosball.com/tablebuildingguide.html. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

This source is of a website which had previously designed his own foosball table. This source is particularly helpful because it gives an idea of a possible budget I may have for this project. They had completed something similar and it seems that seems like this would be helpful as well to know the steps in which to complete the project. This source doesn't seem to have any biases because it is purely a description of the authors process and what he had learned along the way. The audience of this website seems to be anyone interested. The language is simple and easy to follow so this is really open to anyone.

“Background.” Analysis to Maximise the Efficiency of Anaerobic Digestion - Celignis Biomass Analysis Laboratory, www.celignis.com/feedstock.php?value=18. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

This is very thorough analysis hardwood and the different properties which it is made up of.  The company Celignis does many different specimen testing on biomass samples of all different types. This is a very scientific look into hardwood and the different material which make it up. It is for a highly educated audience that understands science and would be interested in this. There most likely is no bias in this source because this is a research company which needs to uphold their reputation and reliability. This company seems to have tests and analysis other than woul which shows that this is a large company.

Baez, Joe. “Physics 111: Fundamental Physics I.” Self-Driving Cars Become a Reality, 1 Jan. 1970, colgatephys111.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-physics-of-foosball.html. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

This source tells you the physics behind a foosball table and the math that goes along with it. It uses the equation that are needed in order to show you how the rotational force of your arm is changed into work. This is very detailed explanation and the math seems to be very intricate. The audience is most definitely going to need to know physics equations and have an understanding in physics. This source most likely does not have any biases because this is just some analysis of the forces used when operating a foosball table.

Borysiuk, Piotr. “CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PLYWOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM MODEL.” Management and Production Engineering Review. 10 February 2013, http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/89321/PDF/Borysiuk_Boruszewski_Kowaluk_Niziałek_Grzegorzewska.pdf. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

This article talks about the production of plywood and the range of market value for it. The portion of the article which I had mostly talked about had been the quality of the plywood and the properties of the wood sold. The audience that this would be for is someone most likely in the business field wanting to know more about the plywood market. This is more of a business analysis but there are aspects which are useful to me in this project. There are not biases in this source because this is just a pure description of business of selling plywood.

Editor. “Woodworking Joints: Which Wood Joints Should You Use?” WoodWorkers Guild of America, Woodworkers Guild of America, 10 Dec. 2018, www.wwgoa.com/article/woodworking-joints-which-ones-should-you-use/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

This article tells the readers about the vast number of wood joints that can be completes and how each of them are used structurally. The Woodworkers Guild of America is a large organization which has many members which receive information regularly. To a point this source is trying to promote itself to the audience and shine itself as this helpful and useful tool. The audience seems to be people who are beginning woodshop or maybe slightly higher like an amuatuer at woodworking. The article is simply written and easy to understand how each of the joints are made and how they can be used.

Gu, Jiyou. Cai, Zhiyong. “Development and Application of Wood Adhesives in China.” Wood Adhesives 2009: Plenary Session https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2010/fpl_2010_gu001.pdf. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.  

This is a thorough analysis on the different types of wood glue and how they work in different applications. This is how different wood glues affects different types of wood and the strength curves of the glue. This is helpful to me because it helps me to see which glue would be the best for my application. The audience for this would be people who are in need of knowing how different wood glues have different strengths. This source most likely doesn't have any bias because this a research article. This has many different curves  and graphs which tell the audience info about the strength of the glues.

Neokentin. “Common Types of Wood Joints You Should Know • 1001 Pallets.” 1001 Pallets, 1001 Pallets, 16 Oct. 2018, www.1001pallets.com/common-wood-joints/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

The organization 1001 Pallets is committed to reusing making projects out of wood pallets which isn’t always the highest of quality wood. They don’t seem to a for profit or profitable organization and they seem to care very much about their audience. Connecting to the Woodworkers Guild of America source, this source goes much more in depth about wood joinery and the different applications for it. This source talks very much about exactly how to make many of these different joints. It gives specific instruction along with the limitation of the joints. No bias seems to be present within the source.

“WOOD ANALYSIS.” What Why How RSS, what-when-how.com/forensic-sciences/wood-analysis/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

Very in depth analysis on wood and wood identification. This is definitely for a highly educated audience which understands much information about forensics science. Saying that, this document explains everything from wood anatomy to wood identification. This goes very in depth along with detailed imagery of wood under a microscope. Seeing as this is a research study on wood, people have their own reputation they would like to preserve and seems like it would be very reputable. There doesn't seem to be any bias due to this being purely a research article.

“ Build Your Own Foosball Table .” Build Your Own Foosball Table | The Foosball Shop | TheFoosballShop.com, www.thefoosballshop.com/foosball-table.htm. Accessed 25 Jan. 2019.

This is an article which describes the process of how someone had already built a foosball table. This will be very helpful in terms of helping me with my process and how I should order things. This will be similar to the other source which had described making a foosball table in the sense that it will help me develop a budget for my project. The audience for this source will be anyone who wants to make a foosball table. This is not very complex language and I think this could be for almost anyone. In terms of biases, I don’t there are any biases because there isn’t a motive for the author to be biased.

Ülker, Onur. “Wood Adhesives and Bonding Theory.” Intech Open, IntechOpen, 23 Nov. 2016, www.intechopen.com/books/adhesives-applications-and-properties/wood-adhesives-and-bonding-theory.

This is a scientific study which explains different adhesives for wood. This will be important in my project because it will be important to know because understanding how good bonds together will be essential in my project. The audience for this is highly educated people who are interested in different properties and material science. There don’t seem to any biases in this source because it is a research study. This corporation has a reputation to uphold and they would not intentionally give bad information. This corporation has the name China on it and China is a big country which doesn't like to look bad.



Tags: capstone, Best, 2019
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Jason Chen's Capstone

Posted by Jason Chen in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 8:26 pm

For my senior year capstone, I decided to create a frisbee launcher in hopes of benefiting the Ultimate Frisbee community. The purpose of this was to combine two of my favorite hobbies, Ultimate Frisbee and Engineering, incorporating it into something special. My initial thought when coming up with this idea was having some type of machine that could be your throwing partner for frisbee. Not everyone knows how to throw a frisbee efficiently right off the bat, so I wanted to make a machine that they can operate, all they have to do is insert a disc. The physics of frisbee is really interesting and there is a technique to throwing it. When going into building, I had to follow the basic engineering process which includes many different designs and ideas of how I could launch a disc. Once I decided which method would be best, I had to learn how to mount a wheel onto a cim motor. In the progress in learning how to do this I came by many difficulties because there were all kind wheels and there is a certain way to mount a wheel. Once I was finally able to have a running motor with a wheel on it, then came the structure. While making the structure, I had to run many tests and make many tweaks. After that, I was able to launch a frisbee a decent distance. In a frisbee term, it would be call a passing distance making my capstone to be a success.
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"Automatic Frisbee Launcher." Hackaday.io. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://hackaday.io/project/7850-automatic-frisbee-launcher.

A few years ago there was a robotics competition that requires launching a frisbee. This site shows one of the designs a team approach in order to make a robot that can shoot a frisbee.


Eisenhood, Charlie. "This Homemade Frisbee Launcher Is Amazing | Livewire." Ultiworld. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://ultiworld.com/livewire/this-homemade-frisbee-launcher-is-amazing/.

Ultiworld is like a news site that preview a lot of ultimate frisbee stuff. On this site ultiworld shares an homemade frisbee launcher made by someone along with a video of how this person created this launcher.


"Finally Disc Golf with This New Launcher." New Mobility. January 14, 2017. Accessed January 24, 2019. http://www.newmobility.com/2013/05/finally-disc-golf-with-this-new-launcher/.

Along with ultimate frisbee there is another sport that is call disc golf. It’s similar to gift where you have to throw the frisbee into a bucket of some sort to score. This site shows a invention someone created that allows someone to throw a frisbee using this support stick.


Instructables, and Tecn. "Ultimate Frisbee Launcher." Instructables.com. October 10, 2017. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://www.instructables.com/id/Ultimate-Frisbee-Launcher/.

Instructables has been around for a pretty long time and is known to many engineers. This site introduces all kind of creations and design made by people and shows it to the world. On this site a group of teens design and creates a Frisbee launcher with a in-depth guide.


Ultimate Football. Accessed January 24, 2019. http://web.wellington.org/miller/How the Frisbee Flies.htm.

The laws of physics behind an frisbee is a important aspects to this project because I will be attempting to launch one. This site goes into the laws and physics behind a frisbee allowing me to have a better understanding of how a frisbee flies in motion.


"Ultimate Frisbee Top 10 Lists." Ultimate Frisbee: Rules, History, Throws, Terms | Disc Ace. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://www.discace.com/ultimate-frisbee/ultimate-frisbee-throws.

Ultimate frisbee has all kind of different cool throwing techniques. This site goes into the top 10 throws people like to do when they throw a frisbee. This gives me ideas of how I can simulate throwing a frisbee.


"USA Ultimate." About Spirit of the Game. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.usaultimate.org/about/ultimate/.

USA Ultimate is another huge organization that runs frisbee. They run many tournaments in all kind of levels. This site goes into the idea of how ultimate frisbee is fun and the history behind it. It speaks a lot about the community and how it’s great.


Pludodog. "Frisbee Launcher." YouTube. April 26, 2008. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KVK8svZzbI.

This is a video of a cool frisbee launcher made by someone. The machine looks really interesting and has cool things like how the machine can adjust its height. Otherwise there is a lot of power in this machine allowing the frisbee to fly in a smooth motion.


"Vikings Robotics Team 2984." Vikings Robotics - FRC Team 2984. Accessed January 24, 2019. http://ljrobotics.org/games/ultimate-ascent-2013/.

This is another robot that was created by the Vikings Robotics team 2984. This shows a video of a mock battle with the frisbee robots which can give me some cool ideas.


World Flying Disc Federation. Accessed January 25, 2019. http://www.wfdf.org/history-stats/history-of-ultimate.

This is one of the major federation that start ultimate frisbee during, it started in high school with a small group of people. It’s cool to see the background of how ultimate frisbee formed. It all started in a parking lot.


Tags: 2019, Enzweiler, capstone
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Eli Zimmerman Capstone

Posted by Eli Zimmerman in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 5:53 pm

After six months of extensive research and communicating with city officials I have concluded we as people should provide the homeless with free easy access storage. The ability to store ones belongings should be treated as a human right. In order to have security and self being one must have the right to sanctuary and access to secure their belongings. For the homeless population the goal is to return people back to society. Studies and pilot programs done in progressive west coast cities like San Diego and countries like Finland have shown that public storage reaps positive results. Everyday some people struggle to find dependable places to place their belongings. For this reason it would be detrimental to continue to not prioritize a method of public access lockers for the homeless if we wish to ensure their protection. This report explores two possible solutions to public storage, each on a different scale. The purpose of this project is to introduce, propose, and flesh out methods of tackling the issue at hand.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sRjGz08UoyqgY03mjn7sW_AeWSPk_iZhBVP7cohge7g/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cl6c_HOdELNdYKeh3FD3dSRtYVE3Co6Ty70FkhHqKTk/edit?usp=sharing
Tags: capstone, Block, 2019
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William Huang Capstone

Posted by William Huang in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 3:56 pm

Abstract

How can you incorporate technology into modern day learning to make it both more interesting and accessible?


The internet has become the first point of contact for many people when they have a question. Our computers and mobile devices have given us access to so much information with a simple search. Technology has been incorporated over the years in schools all around the world to improve the quality of learning in classrooms. Although public school education is available to everyone in the United States, many inner-city schools, especially in the Philadelphia area where I grew up, are underfunded and understaffed. In addition, it is rare for them to provide education in highly-technical STEM fields, which are generally where the high paying jobs are.


I want to make education, especially in technical fields, more accessible to people around the world. I had the luxury of having an engineering program in my high school, which not many schools in my area have.


After many hours of research, meetings with my mentor, weekends spent filming, and countless days staying after school editing, I have finally created a dedicated YouTube channel featuring a series of videos sharing what I've learned over the years in my engineering program.


Bibliography


“Brief Introduction to Circuits.” Electricaleasy.com, www.electricaleasy.com/2014/09/brief-introduction-to-circuits.html.


Circuits are the hidden structures that power all electronic devices. A circuit allows current to flow from one place to another, from the source to the places that need it. This website serves as an introduction to circuits, addressing the different types of circuits and the different laws that govern circuitry. I will use to this explain the basics of circuits in one of my videos.


“Force and Motion: Facts.” Idaho Public Television, idahoptv.org/sciencetrek/topics/force_and_motion/facts.cfm.


A force is a push or a pull. We experience forces in our everyday lives. Some forces include normal, gravitational, and friction forces. This website dives into the different kinds of forces and what they mean. I will use this website to talk about forces in one of my videos.


“How to Read Engineering Drawings – a Simple Guide.” EEF, 24 Nov. 2017, www.eef.org.uk/training/blogs/2017/nov/how-to-read-engineering-drawings-a-simple-guide.


Engineering drawings serve as detailed instructions on the specifications of an item and how to manufacture them. They are a language used by engineerings and manufacturers to communicate how an item is made and serves as a contract in the event of factory errors. This website explores what engineering drawings are and how to read them. I will use this to give a brief introduction to engineering drawings in my videos.


NASA, NASA, www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/newton.html.


Newton’s laws of motion govern not only our everyday lives, but also the universe. There are three laws of motion and they all address a fundamental truth about our world. This website explores the different laws of motion and what they mean. I will use this website to talk about Newton’s laws of motion in one of my videos.


Plastic Forming Methods, iwww.the-warren.org/ALevelRevision/engineering/materials1.htm.

Everything is made of something. Material science is the study of how existing materials behave as well as the designing of new materials. Examples include woods, metals, plastics, etc. This website explores the different mechanical and physical properties of materials and what they mean. I will use this to inform my audience about material science.


ProEdify. “Units of Measure: Scientific Measurements & SI System.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Mar. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAtDAoqdExw.


Si Units are a standardized language used by scientists and engineers around the world to communicate ideas and concepts without confusion. When speaking quantitatively, it is very important to know the exact units of an object, as the same number with different units result in different dimensions. This video covers what SI Units are and why they are important. I will use this to explain what SI units are in my videos.


“Simple Machines: Facts.” Idaho Public Television, idahoptv.org/sciencetrek/topics/simple_machines/facts.cfm.


Simple machines have been around for thousands of years. In the absence of motors, simple machines have allowed humans to move heavy objects with only a fraction of the amount of force required with just hands. This website explores the different types of simple machines and how they are used to do things faster and better. This will help provide content to discuss in my videos.


“Types of Gears.” KHK Gears, khkgears.net/new/gear_knowledge/introduction_to_gears/types_of_gears.html.


Gears are the most iconic mechanism ever, with the ability to turn rotational movement to linear motion. They are simple yet effective. This website covers the various types of gears and when they can best be used. I will use this website to talk about gears and their uses in one of my videos.


“What Is Binary?” Computer Hope, 13 Nov. 2018, www.computerhope.com/jargon/b/binary.htm.


Binary is a language used and interpreted by computers to store data. It is a base 2 number system that uses only two numbers: 0 and 1. A 0 indicates OFF and a 1 indicates ON. This website dives into the ins and outs of binary, including what they are, how they work, and how to read them. I will use this to explain what binary is in one of my videos.


Work Documents, Working Drawings, Building Plans, www.flooringtech.com.au/unit16_hand_and_power_tools/section1_types_of_tools/lesson1_general_hand_tools.htm.


People use hand tools to do all sorts of things. From the iconic hammer to the drill, there is a plethora of tools used everyday. This website explores the different hand tools and what they are each used for. I will use this website to briefly discuss what hand tools are and what situations each of them are good for.


Below is one of the videos I made. To check out my other videos, here's the link to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKooALxxFw2y3emSZQlgSig

Tags: capstone, Hirschfield, 2019
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Christina Santana Capstone

Posted by Christina Santana in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 2:39 pm

For my senior capstone I created an after school club that introduced students from various areas of the city to different topics pertaining to STEM. The purpose of this club was to expose students to the opportunities that the field of STEM has to offer and to introduce more female students to the field as a whole. I had initially begun my capstone by speaking with school officials from my middle school to confirm that I would be able to use it as the site for my club. While our first meeting had gone successfully, the school’s lack of keeping up with communication and inability to confirm a club dates after our first meeting caused me to go back to square one.  

When coming up with possible solutions that would fix the challenges I faced, I determined that it would be in my best interest to turn the club into something that was portable and relevant to a wide range of ages. This would allow me to be able to broaden the spectrum of people that I taught and it ensured that I would not have to rely on one specific group of people. Ultimately, this process taught me that every challenge, no matter how hard it may seem, has a feasible solution. It just takes some time and well thought out brainstorming to come up with the right idea.When reflecting on what I was able to accomplish, I was able to have thorough club meetings with students ranging from the grades of 1st to 12th grade, and I completed various activities with them that were inspired by activities I come across during my time as a student at SLA.

Measuring the length of Max's paper tower after completing the NCOTI inspired activity.
Measuring the length of Max's paper tower after completing the NCOTI inspired activity.
Introducing and explaining the purpose of the activity to the students.
Introducing and explaining the purpose of the activity to the students.
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Bibliography


“10 Simple STEM Activities for Kids That Will Stimulate Young Minds.” Rasmussen College - Regionally Accredited College Online and on Campus. www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/simple-stem-activities-for-kids/.


This website from Rasmussen College lists 10 STEM related activities that are meant to stimulate the minds of adolescents. I will use this list to choose and find the activities that I want the students to complete during my club. Using this list ensures that all of the activities are STEM-related and relevant to the topic I choose to teach the students every week. Overall, this source is relevant to my project because it allows me to plan out my club beforehand while also providing me with a list of materials that I need to fundraise for and obtain beforehand.


“36 Resources for STEM Project-Based Learning Activities.” Global Digital Citizen Foundation, Global Digital Citizen Foundation, 20 July 2018,

http://globaldigitalcitizen.org/36-stem-project-based-learning-activities


I will use this website from the Global Digital Citizen Foundation in conjunction with the list of activities that I obtained from my Rasmussen College source. I am utilizing both sources because I want to have a wide variety of activities to choose from and present to the students since I plan for them to be involved in the activity selection process. The activities in this source specifically are split up by categories such as engineering, mathematics, and general STEM. Each category has a variety of activities (that are split up by specific age groups) listed under them so that will be a useful element to use when catering activities to specific grades. Overall, this source will be used to help craft the lesson plans and activities necessary for my club/capstone.


Dispatch. “Is STEM Education Beneficial in the Elementary Classroom?” Center for Health Identity Behavior and Prevention Studies CHIBPS, 14 May 2018, https://wp.nyu.edu/dispatch/2018/01/30/is-stem-education-beneficial-in-the-elementary-classroom/


This website from the Center for Health Identity Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) at New York University (NYU) debates whether or not STEM education is beneficial for students in elementary school. In their article on the topic, they begin by giving an overview of STEM, what it is, and it’s importance in society. They then explain their reasonings for why they think teaching STEM is extremely important in elementary schools, and they end their article by speaking about the need for gender diversity in the field. I will use this source to corroborate my justification behind my capstone impact.


“How to Write a Lesson Plan.” Homeschooling vs Public Schools: The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling, www.middleschool.net/write-lesson-plan.htm.


This website from Middleschool.net provides a detailed outline of how teachers should go about creating their lesson plans. On the site, it lists ten detailed steps to follow when creating a lesson plan, and it has a condensed list of other resources to use as a reference listed at the bottom of the page. I will utilize this source religiously when creating my lesson plans because it proves useful and beneficial advice. It will make this process much easier when it comes to creating my content. Overall, this source will be used to create the lesson plans for each week of my club.


“Importance of STEM Education in Elementary School | College of Education - FSU.” FSU College of Education, 10 Jan. 2019, https://education.fsu.edu/importance-stem-education-elementary-school


This website from the Florida State University College of Education provides their reasonings as to why they stress the importance of STEM education in elementary schools. In this source, they address how America has fallen behind other industrialized countries in terms of STEM-related fields and they make the case that a STEM-focused education not only opens students to new subjects but it also allows for different learning methodologies to be utilized. I will use this source to prove the benefit and long-lasting impact of my capstone. The skills the students will learn in the club are skills that will stick with them forever.


O'Malley, Oscar, et al. “The Benefits of STEM in Elementary.” STEAM Powered Family, 8 Oct. 2018, www.steampoweredfamily.com/education/stem-in-elementary/.


This website from is one out of three sources that I have relating to the impact/importance of my project. In this source, they explain that learning should be both influential and engaging. Saying that “If an education destroys a student’s love of learning, then it has failed.” This quote truly resonated with me because it couldn't be more true. Students should love what and how they’re learning. They should feel that it’s been catered to them with the intention of meeting their best interest. That’s the intention of my club, thus explaining why I am choosing to integrate this source into my capstone.


“Science Leadership Academy: What Will You Create Today?” NGLC, www.nextgenlearning.org/articles/science-leadership-academy-what-will-you-create-today.


This article from the Next Gen Learning Center is a deep dive into SLA and the uniqueness of our curriculum. It analyzes our core values, capstone projects, and ILPs while explaining the importance that they all have to our students and the school community as a whole. I will use this source to compare how the set up of our curriculum is emulated in the set up for my club in addition to using it as a resource for my students to become familiar with before the club begins. I want them to have adequate context on who I am (this will be a self-summary) and where I’m coming from (based on the article). This article will help me provide them with that information.


“Setting up Your Club.” Keys Steps for Setting up Your out of School Club | Out of School Alliance, www.outofschoolalliance.co.uk/setting-up-your-club.


This website from the Out of School Alliance provides a list of tips and tricks to use when creating an after-school club. It goes over the keys aspects necessary to have a productive and efficient club. Examples of these aspects are business structure, paperwork, and establishing the need. This source is essential when it comes to structuring my club because it will help me stay organized while also giving me experience in the field of business (which is what I will be majoring in in college).  I will use it in conjunction with my source about writing lesson plans. Overall, this is source will help me with the managerial and teacher like aspects of my Capstone.


“Start Your Child's Academic Adventure.” Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools History Comments, www.aopcatholicschools.org/elementary-schools/curriculum/.


This website for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia lists all of the mandatory courses to be taught in Catholic Schools for every subject. The curriculum for each subject is divided into folders that are then split up into grades (such as Kindergarten and 8th Grade). I will use this source to analyze the curriculum that middle schoolers (5th-8th) are required to take, and I will then use it as the base for my capstone. I intend to build off of what the students already know while also teaching them new content, so the purpose of this source will be to make sure that I’m meeting those standards.


“Visitation BVM School.” Icon of Visitation Church, www.vizobvm.org/.


This website for the Visitation BVM School provides background information on and important notes about the school where I will be completing my Senior Capstone. My purpose for using this source is to compare the schools objective and educational priorities to that of my STEM club since I intend to combine the two equally. In addition to the comparison, this source will also give me a better look at the demographics of my club in terms of racial and gender diversity. This will be a critical piece in graphing and creating infographics for my club. Overall, I will use all of this information in conjunction with my source that pertains to the mandatory curriculum that is taught in all Archdiocesan schools in Philadelphia.

Tags: capstone, Block, 2019
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Andrew Rodebaugh - Hackath.io

Posted by Andrew Rodebaugh in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 10:53 am

Project URL: https://hackath.io/hack19


Abstract:


My goal with my capstone was to find a way to make it more accessible to create and join hackathons. A traditional hackathon is a group of people going to a place coding for 24 hours. This model is a lot of fun but is not accessible to people that can’t get there or only have a couple of hours to spare. I decided that creating an online platform for hackathons would address all of these issues allowing more people to join. Over the first few months of school till March 15th I created a platform with my existing programming knowledge that allows for easy creation, running and monitoring of hackathons. I ran my own hackathon on March 15th-16th from 5 pm to 5 pm with the theme “How can we improve STEAM Education using code?” People could submit websites, apps, code, or presentations which explain the projects they did/wanted to create. I was able to get $175 worth of prizes from Braskem which allowed me to push more people to join. At the end of the day, 20 unique people visited my site but only 8 entered. Overall I learned a lot about creating large projects, time management, planning events and social media/online ad management. This project was stressful at times but was an overall rewarding experience.


Bibliography:

​

“Angular Documentation.” Angular Docs, Google, angular.io/docs.


I rely heavily on this site for figuring out how to program the website. Angular is a web framework that allows me to quickly program interactive and dynamic user interfaces. This allows me to create profile pages, hackathon pages and other pages with only one template. The documentation allows me to see all of the different commands I can program, what they do and the different properties allowed in the function. I choose Angular over alternatives like Vue or React because it’s created by and used by Google so I know it is well optimized/trustworthy.


“Typescript Documentation.” TypeScript - JavaScript That Scales., Microsoft, www.typescriptlang.org/docs/home.html.


Developing Web Apps with Angular requires the use of the Microsoft’s compiler languages called Typescript. It allows complex object-oriented programming to be done in Javascript. So I write code in the Typescript syntax and then compile it down to Javascript to be readable by browsers. This documentation helped me learn what that syntax is and lets me quickly refer back to it if I forgot/broke something. I don’t use this as much as I use Angular Documentation but it kind of shows why Typescript is a great language because of how natural it is to Javascript programmers.


“Bulma Documentation.” Bulma: a Modern CSS Framework Based on Flexbox, bulma.io/documentation/.


    For people to use a website it has to be functional and pretty. To make my job easier I am using a UI Components Framework for the web called Bulma. So now all I have to do is glue together buttons, navigation bars, textboxes and other components found on web sites to make a pretty User Interface.


“Adobe XD Tutorials.” Conceptos De Modos De Color En Photoshop, Adobe, helpx.adobe.com/xd/tutorials.html.


    Adobe XD is one of the applications I used to create the User Interface prototype. This site includes some of the tutorials I used to learn the software and a reference I referred to when needing help. Adobe XD allows me to get a bunch of components I designed using Bulma/Affinity Designer and make them interactive. This helped me quickly turn my visuals into working code. I also was able to grab feedback from people on how to improve the User Experience before I put into too much work into programming the visuals.

LIMITED, SERIF EUROPE. AFFINITY DESIGNER WORKBOOK. SERIF EUROPE LTD, 2016.


Affinity Designer is the software I used to create the components I used for the Adobe XD prototype. I learned the software through this book Affinity Designer Workbook which goes step by step all the different tools that Affinity Designer provides. Affinity Designer is a cheaper alternative to Adobe Illustrator that is made especially for macOS and a tool I have been using a lot for the last 2 years.


“About Ludum Dare.” Ludum Dare, ludumdare.com/compo/about-ludum-dare/.


    Ludum Dare is the inspiration of this whole project and where I got a lot of inspiration for how my website will work. Ludum Dare is a 48-hour game jam that has been going on for the last couple of years which happens every couple of months. It can be done from anywhere in the world and has a couple of real-world meetups. Some of the games made on this site ended up making a big impact on gaming and I help that the same happens with my hackathon.


“How Should You Promote Your Hackathon? 8 Tips.” Westminster, westminster.impacthub.net/2014/02/04/how-should-you-promote-your-hackathon-8-tips/.


This website talks about how I can promote my Hackathon to make sure they are actually people participating in it. From this site, I know that I should make a website landing page for people to be compelled to sign up for my Hackathon also promoting that site through social media helps. Putting a Hackathon on a website that tracks what Hackathons are going on is a great way to push to outside influences.


“How to Run a Successful Hackathon.” Hackathon Guide, hackathon.guide/.


This is a well-done guide that goes over everything you need to create a successful Hackathon. Since my Hackathon will be themed I used this guide to help me create a compelling theme that is broad enough to have an unlimited amount of interpretation and solutions. It also gives some more helpful advice on how to promote my Hackathon. I also got the idea to make a chat room/slack/email for communicating with the participants.


Timothy, and Timothy. “5 Ways to Improve Angular SEO – Timothy – Medium.” Medium.com, Medium, 2 Dec. 2018, medium.com/@timofeybm/5-ways-to-improve-angular-seo-cf0aeb542e48.

Before I advertise any site I need to make sure that people will easily be able to find my site. This means I need to increase my Search Engine Optimisation Score (SEO Score) which is what search engines like Google use to rank what site is more relevant to the user. This guide helps me find out what tricks I can use in my code to make my website look better to Google thus improving my score. I will be implementing these tips in the future and testing out how well it works using some tools.


“What Is Web.dev?  | Web.dev.” Web.dev, Google , web.dev/about.


    This site web.dev is what I will use to make sure my site is as quick, accessible and user-friendly as possible. This tool was made by Google based on their research on what makes a compelling and accessible site. I will use the tool and using the suggestions try to make as many of my scores 100% as possible. This will also improve my Search Engine Optimisation since search engines like faster sites.

Tags: Best, 2019, capstone
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Majo Bostani Capstone

Posted by Majo Bostani in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 10:38 am

Airlines are scrambling to train and hire young aviation professionals, and will be almost indefinitely. Aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus are projecting the industry to need 1.3 million aviation professionals, such as pilots, mechanics, and dispatchers within the next twenty years. With aviation being one of the world’s favorite forms of transportation, with 48% of American vacationers flying in airplanes for travel, it is important to sustain the industry.

Aside from transportation, aviation is used to power global commerce giants, to protect our pipelines, fight wildfires, among numerous purposes. With aviation having an employment disparity of this level, it is important to engage the next generation to fill the important needs aviation solves. Thus, aviation needs to be promoted as the welcoming field and community it is.

Unfortunately, it is hard to decide on pursuing aviation with a lack of exposure to it. It is hard to know if you enjoy flying an airplane if you don’t know what’s involved in it. The Philadelphia Youth Aviation Fair is a gathering of aviators, current and future to promote careers in aviation to the next generation. Participants in the fair will receive a complimentary flight in an airplane, a tour of the airport facilities, and access to numerous career-oriented opportunities.

Five high school students, from Science Leadership Academy experienced aviation first-hand. With the partnership of the Experimental Aviation Association, all participants are now enrolled in an online ground school and will be eligible to apply for the prestigious Ray Aviation Scholarship.

Bibliography:

Airplane Owners’ and Pilots’ Organization. “High Schools.” Be a Pilot, More Fun, Lower Cost - You Can Fly. July 11, 2016. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://youcanfly.aopa.org/high-school. This source provides information on another aviation nonprofit organization’s efforts to attract youth to aviation. This organization admits that attracting young aviation professionals isn’t a competition, it is a collective effort by the aviation industry. This organization is working with educators to promote aviation topics to youth, by developing a STEM curriculum.

Camera, Lauren. “A Push for Aviation to Take Flight in Schools.” U.S. News & World Report. November 9, 2015. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/11/09/new-push-to-get-kids-interested-in-aviation-jobs. Lauren Camera wrote this article to promote how important youth exposure is to the future of aviation. Camera states that clubs like the Future Farmers of America are successful in their purposes, and that there is an importance for a nationwide club that grants the youth of America to aviation, and promotes aviation as a realistic, prosperous career choice.

Experimental Aviation Association, comp. “Entire Publication.” EAA Pilot Update, November 26, 2018, 1. November 26, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. http://pages.eaa.org/index.php/email/emailWebview?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWWpFM01HRXdNMkptT0daaiIsInQiOiI2RHBYa3pnYUZFZ0RDb1hacklYeXJJQVlWUmM5eURvb2VyUDc1d1lPeUN3bW43NGVMRTBrb2FOc0JnV0ZYQmgwdGtubmdwUC8wd3NQYzRhQm9pSzMzWFBFeUdhUnlwa2ZwOG5qWGFpenBHbGZhMEZFUUY5Y05oRUg4cVg2V0dCLyJ9. This source is a sample of a newsletter that the Experimental Aviation Association publishes, and sends to its volunteers for events of similar nature to my capstone. I need to subscribe to this publication in order to remain up to date in order to have the latest and greatest of regulation information, so no one gets in trouble.

Experimental Aviation Association. “ICE (In Case of Emergency).” Experimental Aviation Association. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.eaa.org/-/media/Files/EAA/EducationResources/YouthEducation/YoungEagles/1507-ICE-v2-PDF.ashx. This source basically provides guidance for what to do if something unfortunate happens at an aviation event. There is a risk at my capstone being exercised, just like any other activity. Basically, this document tells its readers not to talk to the media, call the Federal Aviation Administration, and first aid. Media will push things out of proportion, in order to get people to watch it, so you have to be careful when the media tries to interview you.

Experimental Aviation Association. Young Eagles Pilot Guidelines. Oshkosh, WI: Experimental Aviation Association, 2018. https://www.eaa.org/-/media/Files/EAA/EducationResources/YouthEducation/YoungEagles/1602REV-YE-Pilot-Guidelines.ashx This 2-page brochure provides the basic guidelines that the volunteers at my event must follow in order for my event to be successful, and so that no one gets in trouble. This document is very short, yet it is all that is necessary, which is really beneficial for me, considering the simplicity of everything. The main ground rules for me is to make sure everyone passes a Youth Protection Check, that the pilots’ are safe and proficient, and to make sure parents sign off on the flight. All in all, this resource is going to be the document that rules the world for my event.

Garcia, Marisa. “A ‘Perfect Storm’ Pilot Shortage Threatens Global Aviation.” Forbes. July 29, 2018. Accessed January 22, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2018/07/27/a-perfect-storm-pilot-shortage-threat ens-global-aviation-even-private-jets/#3163cc1b1549. Marisa Garcia, a retired professional in the aircraft manufacturing industry provides thoughts on the impending pilot shortage. Garcia claims that airline incentives are not enough to alleviate the blow the pilot shortage will have on the commercial aviation industry. Garcia openly supports greater incentives, including a loosening of hour restrictions for airline pilots, citing 250 hours as adequate to operate a commuter aircraft. Reasoning for the removal of the 250 hour requirement is provided, considering a Colgan Air accident that occured in the year of 2009. Garcia uses this to weigh insights on how to attract young pilots to aviation.

Gear 74. “Worldwide Pilot Shortage [2019] Is the Pilot Shortage Real?” YouTube. October 03, 2018. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5aE97LGgOw. A high-ranking Boeing 747 pilot shares his opinion on the pilot shortage on YouTube. He claims that the pilot shortage is caused by young pilots being underpaid about five years ago, which was misleading, considering the training requirements needed to become a professional pilots are so high. The pilot suggested that entry-level airlines have increased first-year salaries, and have increased signing bonuses tremendously, in order to attract younger pilots, and encourage them to continue throughout their training.

Kotwicki, Jon. “Solving the Pilot Shortage…” YouTube. January 03, 2019. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ksy53JJ84. Jon Kotwicki: a world-renowned flight instructor, flight instructor, and successful entrepreneur details his experience at Lufthansa Aviation Training, in Goodyear, Arizona. While this video touches on solving the pilot shortage, its main purposes seems to be advertising for Lufthansa. Kotwicki himself said that he went to apply for a job there in the video. However, Kotwicki did detail that Lufthansa hires people off of the streets, and gives them a full scholarship so they can fly for Lufthansa to alleviate the pilot shortage in Germany. This reminds me of the U.S. Naval Academy. If I were to grow my capstone organization out, I might consider giving a scholarship to young pilots who are legitimately interested in aviation.

Nickerson, Dana. “Can Grassroots Flying Solve The Pilot Shortage?” AVweb. January 03, 2019. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Can-Grass-Roots-Flying-Solve-the-Pilot-Shortage-232078-1.html. Dana Nickerson, a recreational pilot recalls the differences of what it meant to learn to fly back then, and how it’s different now. Nickerson stated that pre-9/11, students would gather at local grassroots airports and fly ultralight aircraft, such as hang gliders and airplanes with very small engines. It used to be accessible to anyone whom wanted to learn, and was willing to help the operation. Nowadays, flight training is being controlled by expensive flight schools, that sit behind the fences and gates, that prevent people from feeling welcome to an airport.

Tulis, David. “Boeing Forecasts ‘unprecedented’ Pilot Demand.” Senate Addresses Maintenance Tech Shortage - AOPA. July 24, 2018. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/july/24/boeing-forecasts-unprecede ed-pilot-demand. David Tulis, an independent, vintage aircraft pilot discusses Boeing’s efforts to help alleviate the effect the pilot shortage has on the industry. What Boeing highlights in their activities is that there is not only going to be a pilot shortage, but also a technician shortage, and that the industry needs both. This narrows the scope of my capstone to include discussion on more of the technical sector of aviation. What I disagree with is the venue of their efforts; an event known as EAA Airventure, the world’s largest aviation convention. The reason why young people attend Airventure is because they already are interested in aviation. Some inner city child won’t attend Airventure, considering they don’t have the interest in aviation (at least yet).

Tags: Hirschfield, Ames, capstone, 2019
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Harlem Satterfield Capstone

Posted by Harlem Satterfield in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 8:48 am

IMG_6216
IMG_6216
Smart LED Table - Harlem Satterfield

The goal of my “Smart LED Table” is to serve as an easy-to-use platform for development both electrically and mechanically. I wanted to make something so versatile that everyone from the common man to the super nerd can get something out of it.

The LED Matrix is the key part of this project; the entire table is built around it. It serves as a screen for everything the project has to offer. Apart from displaying all of the information that the other features find, I’ve programmed it to show colorful, mesmerizing patterns that aim to entertain the user. For finding the time, I used an RTC (Real-Time Clock) chip. Once the time is set, the chip will automatically count up time from years to seconds and then the time is displayed on the LED matrix in military form (4:40 -> 16:40). I’ve also added a small temperature sensor, which (obviously) senses the temperature and displays it on the matrix . Lastly, the table can play music from an SD card while everything above is going on.

Building this table was a very lengthy and difficult process, which involved lots of prototyping and assembly. All of the pieces I cut were off by fractions of an inch. The table fell apart multiple times and several pieces of code didn’t work as intended. There are so many things I would change and so many other features I’d love to add, but I’m glad everything turned out well.


"Blynk." Docs.blynk.cc. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://docs.blynk.cc/.

Blynk is an app that allows you to connect to a Wifi or Bluetooth device and control it via smartphone. The software really sparked my curiosity and I think I’m able to use it even if I don’t go with the NodeMCU (development board with wifi). I first learned about the app when one of my when I watched a video of one of my favorite creators build a project using it. I then decided to research more about Blynk, even downloading the app, and then I found this website, which explains all of Blynk’s functions in great detail.


"Build a Great Sounding Audio Amplifier (with Bass Boost) from the LM386." Circuit Basics. June 21, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. http://www.circuitbasics.com/build-a-great-sounding-audio-amplifier-with-bass-boost-from-the-lm386/.

This article is about using the popular LM386 chip. It explains what the chip is, what it can do, and shows a circuit that allows you to use it as an audio amplifier. It can take input from an audio jack, enhance it, and send it to a speaker. You can even control the signal’s volume and gain. This circuit would be absolutely perfect for the music portion of my table. I know I can properly integrate the circuit because I’ve successfully used it several times.

Tags: capstone, 2019, Block
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Colin Taylor-McGrane Capstone

Posted by Colin Taylor-McGrane in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 10:12 pm

For my senior project, I created a maze, outlined all possible motions in tape, and programmed a small VEX robot to navigate it. I discovered that most conventional mazes are composed of two pieces that fit together. Therefore, all mazes can be solved by following the left or right wall from start to finish. To give the robot the means to navigate the maze, I outlined all of the possible directions the robot could travel in black tape. The bottom of the robot was equipped with three infrared sensors. These sensors worked by shooting infrared light down at the ground and detecting the light that bounces back. Because of the light absorption of the black tape, the light detected bouncing off of the black tape will be different. I ran through many different maze designs, trying to create one that would have as many points of choice as possible that could fit on a flattened tri-fold board. It took several tries, but I finally succeeded by erasing lines on a 4 by 5 grid until I created a viable maze. After I created the code, I placed the robot on a the maze and let it run through. After observation I adjusted the speed of the robot and the code governing action at intersections. I also added additional strategically placed tape at T-junctions to ensure that the robot detects the black tape with its left or right sensor.



Autonomously Solving Mazes with Robots (1).pdf. (2017, July 21). Retrieved January 25, 2019, from https://soe.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/imce/gov2017/Autonomously%20Solving%20Mazes%20with%20Robots.pdf


This source is an experiment done with autonomous robotic navigation of mazes done at Rutgers University done by a group of 6 graduate students. The students were attempting to figure out how to use programming techniques in order to allow robots to figure out how to find the fastest possible route through a maze. Their research was inspired by the ability of Google maps to figure out the exact fastest route to a certain location. The students believed that this software could be very useful for autonomous robots and vehicles. I would use this source to find out what exactly the programing techniques they used are and how they are applicable to the maze.


Blynel, J., & Floreano, D. blynel_evorob03.pdf. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fc84/cf42f04d6474a9fc92117957ef695f976030.pdf


This article discusses the application continuous time recurrent neural networks as they allow robots to navigate T-mazes, which are a specific type of maze. This article describes the computational mainframe of the robot in terms of genomes and neural networks. This source also presents many different mathematical equations that can be used in order to guide the robot through the maze. This source also presents information relating to how the data from T-maze navigation can be used in order to navigate more complex mazes in the real world. This source will be used in order to find some of the math and programing techniques necessary for allowing a robot to navigate the maze.


Duchon, A. Maze Navigation Using Optical Flow. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7360/030567921a978e1a5a7b531e57564be93992.pdf


This article is an article discussing a sensory method of navigating mazes known as optical flow. This article is written by Andrew P. Duchon, a professor in the Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences at Brown University. This article details how the process of Optical flow works on a computational level in addition to describing how it can be used both in the context of small scale robotic maze navigation and in the large scale movement towards automation. The article details many different methods in which Optical flow can be used for navigational purposes. This information will be tremendously useful when coming up with navigational algorithms.




Han, K. (2007, August). COLLISION FREE PATH PLANNING ALGORITHMS FOR ROBOT NAVIGATION PROBLEM. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/5021/research.pdf?sequence=3


This article details a specific algorithm that can be used to allow robots to navigate mazes and obstacle courses without collision. This algorithm was used by graduate student Kyung min Han under the supervision of Dr. Robert W. McLaren at the University of Missouri Columbia. This article also discusses an algorithm known as Genetic Algorithm in which a robot can determine which possible navigation solution is the most efficient. This article also discusses how this solution is used in nature, bringing up the examples such as Ants and the Human genome. This article is useful because it provides an example of someone conducting similar research to mine, using a specific algorithm.


Harsh, S., & Bird, J. (2012). ME 597D Spring 2012, Group 2 Camera Based Maze Navigation. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://www.mne.psu.edu/brennan/ME545/2012/Lesson22_LAB_PathPlanning/Group3/Group2MazeNavigation.html


This source is an article written by Saurabh Harsh and John Bird of the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Penn State University. This source goes into great detail describing an experiment done in which they tried to get a robot to successfully navigate the maze using certain censors. This source will be used to determine ways in which the robot can use sensory information to navigate the maze. This source will also be useful for gaining insight into how the robot computationally processes the information it observed and use it. This source will be tremendously useful when trying to figure out the navigational algorithms.


Implementation of the Trémaux Maze Solving Algorithm to an Omnidirectional Mobile Robot. (2014, January). Retrieved January 24, 2019, from 328138637_Implementation_of_the_Tremaux_Maze_Solving_Algorithm_to_an_Omnidirectional_Mobile_Robot


This source is a conference paper about a specific maze solving algorithm known as the Trémaux Algorithm which can be used to allow robots to solve mazes. This source was written by Lim Kai Li a researcher at Sunway University. This source details how the robot analyzes each pathway of a maze using numerical values in order to solve the maze. I will be using this source in order to find useful aspects of the Trémaux Maze Solving Algorithm in order to find which aspects will be useful in creating my own personal algorithm. This source has many useful details about how this algorithm works.


McKinley, P., & Clark, A. Solving VEX Robot Maze. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://www.egr.msu.edu/future-engineer/sites/default/files/content/Payson-Charles-poster-SolvingVEX.pdf


This source is a slide detailing some experimentation that has been done with robotic navigation of various different mazes. This slide was created by Michigan State University professor Philip K. McKinley and was sponsored by the National Science Foundation. This source details a case in which students were tasked with creating a robot that could navigate various different mazes. This slide presents the evolutionary steps that their project took in addition to potential future studies that could be done on this topic. This source will be used to gain insights into the processes related to the testing robot navigation of various different mazes.


Ng, J. (2010, February). 2010-Navigation-Ng-PhD.pdf. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from http://robotics.ee.uwa.edu.au/theses/2010-Navigation-Ng-PhD.pdf


This article analyzes many different algorithms that can be used by robots in order to navigate unknown environments. This article was written by a graduate student James Ng a PhD student in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering at the University of South Alabama. This article discusses the bug algorithm that uses sensory information such as frequency data and scanning in order to navigate unknown environments. This source will be used to learn about a specific algorithm that could potentially be used to navigate the maze. While there are many algorithms that I could potentially use for this project, I plan to mix several together in order to make my own unique algorithm.


Pullen, W. D. (2015, November 20). Think Labyrinth: Maze Algorithms. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from www.astrolog.org/labyrnth/algrithm.htm


This source provides a list and description of many different types of mazes and many different algorithms that can be used to generate them. I believe that this source could be tremendously useful to me as I believe that maze generation algorithms could be modified in order to form maze solving algorithms. Additionally, since I am going to have to create a maze of my own for this project, I believe that it could be useful for me to research the many different types of mazes. This source will be used in order to design a useful maze and figure out how to solve particular types of mazes.


Turkar, V., & Kathe, O. (2015, September). Maze solving robot using image processing. Retrieved January 25, 2019, from file:///home/chronos/u-9659f93ab7722ecb44a2956c9fd83e3fa75bf8fe/Downloads/07456635%20(1).pdf


This source details an experiment done at MIT in which they attempted to find a way for a robotic mouse to navigate a maze. This source also talks about many of the future technological uses of this technology, particularly those that relate to automation technology such as Self Driving Cars. Such information will be incredibly useful when writing a paper and creating a presentation about the real world applications of my project. Additionally, this source provides many useful algorithms that can be used in order to allow a robot to navigate mazes. These algorithms could potentially be used in order to figure out how the robot will computationally navigate the maze.


Tags: Estey, capstone, 2019
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David Roberts Capstone

Posted by David Roberts in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 10:26 am

​ Last summer, I made an outdoor enclosure for my cats. It has stood outside my house since. After showing it off to my family and friends, I received a lot of positive feedback. More people that I had imagined showed interest in the idea, and I took this opportunity to create a small business of sorts around the Catio. 
My first step was to create two basic models. I took the design from the Catio I made for my cats and improved it, making it more suitable for creation and distribution. I then had to evaluate the cost. I found out how much wood and screen I would need for each design and added up the cost. I then decided on a retail price that would satisfy my needs for building materials and an hourly wage. All this I combined into a website that is currently published at www.tinyurl.com/phillycatios and then into a brochure.
My first customer is a doctor at my mother’s vet. She had expressed interest in a Catio, and after some back and forth over email, I got to work. I visited her home and took pictures and measurements of where she wanted the Catio to be placed. I made a custom model that fit her needs, and priced it accordingly. After purchasing the required materials, I spent most of Easter break building, painting, and enclosing the Catio. And then on the 28th, I took my creation back to her home and installed it.
IMG-20190428-WA0008
IMG-20190428-WA0008

Attard, Janet. "39 Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Business." Business Know How, January 6, 2019. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/24waysto.htm.

This is another article about advertising written by Janet Attard. She highlights 39 low cost ways of advertising. This is essential because while I have some financial support, I don’t have hundreds to spend on advertising. These low cost methods will be vital to growing my business.


Babich, Nick. "A Comprehensive Guide To Product Design." Smashing Magazine, January 31, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2018/01/comprehensive-guide-product-design/.

A product is central to a business. This article will help me understand the ins and outs of designing a profitable product. I don’t want to go through all this work designing a product and then realizing it won’t be profitable. This article will help me avoid everything that might lead to that ending.


Bernazzani, Sophia. "7 Ways to Make Every Interaction With Customers Fantastic." HubSpot, June 20, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://blog.hubspot.com/service/interaction-with-customers.

I will no doubt interact with my customers over the course of this project. This interact can often decide the customers opinion of me. This article will help me over the course of these interactions and give me pointers and suggestions. The customers are the basis of any business, and no matter the conditions, all interactions should be positive.


Driver, Saige. "Social Media for Business: A Marketer's Guide." Business News Daily, October 15, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7832-social-media-for-business.html.

Social Media will most likely be the best way to grow my business. This article by Saige Driver will be my guide to using Social Media to my advantage. She discusses what the dos and don’ts of the Social Media world that will allow for the best chance of success.

Iwuoha, John-Paul. "10 Cheap and Interesting Ways to Attract More Customers to Your Small Business." Smallstarter, February 10, 2014. Accessed January 23, 2019.  http://www.smallstarter.com/know-the-basics/10-ways-to-attract-more-customers-to-your-small-business/.  

One of the hardest part of this project will be attracting buyers. This article can help me expanding my business and reaching out to potential customers. The ideas presented by John-Paul Iwuoha can help me understand what customers like and how to convince them my product is worth buying.


McCreary, Matthew. "The Complete, 12-Step Guide to Starting a Business." Entrepreneur, October 23, 2017. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/297899.

This source will provide me with more information on the process behind starting a business. Having two articles on the same subject can give me opposing or agreeing ideas that will help me further understand the topic. The two different authors will most certainly have different views on what is most important.


Odjick, Desirae. "How to Price Your Product: What You Need to Know About Pricing Before You Launch." Shopify, May 28, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-price-your-product.

In addition to product design, effectively pricing my product will be essential. Too high, and people won’t buy it. Too low, and I won’t make enough profit to sustain my business. This article will help me in that process.


Rivera, Andreas. "How to Start a Business: A Step-by-Step Guide." Business News Daily, June 7, 2018. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4686-how-to-start-a-business.html.  

Going into this project, I have not a single clue about how I could start a business. This article written by Andreas Rivera outlines some basic steps that I could take to start a business. This article covers finances, themes and ideas, advertising to customers, and the whole nine yards. I can also use this article to start thinking about how I want to run my business.


SAGE Publications. "Customer service is an emotional experience." ScienceDaily.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120831123651.htm (accessed January 23, 2019).


This last article by Science Daily goes into the science behind customer interaction. It states that there are many emotions behind customer business interactions and that there are many things that I can do to improve that interaction.


Wood, Meredith. "The Ultimate Guide to Managing Small Business Finances." Fundera, Inc, November 19, 2018. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://www.fundera.com/blog/business-finance.

One of the most important things about running a small business is managing finances. I will need to know the essentials when I start my own. If I cannot fund my business, I will lose customers and my reputation will suffer. I need to know how to managed my business’ finances or else it will cease.

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