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MTech 2009. Contents Page. Title page Contents page Brief, Context, Specifications Initial Planning Brainstorm of clients/projects +/-’s Client/Stakeholder chart Questionnaire Location Research Research Research Research Research Research evaluation Specific research
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Contents Page Title page Contents page Brief, Context, Specifications Initial Planning Brainstorm of clients/projects +/-’s Client/Stakeholder chart Questionnaire Location Research Research Research Research Research Research evaluation Specific research Specific research Specific research Client and self evaluation of specific research Key factors Key factors Concepts Concepts Concepts Conceptual evaluation Initial Brief Plan of action Plan of action Plan of action Plan of action evaluation Expert Developments Developmental evaluation Final Conceptual Design Drawing Final Conceptual Design Drawing Final Design Evaluation
CONTEXT: Throughout the ages mankind has made features in their indoor/outdoor dwellings to serve a purpose, whether it is a structure to work from, work on, work with, or even play with. Mankind has used features to enhance their indoor/outdoor environments. BRIEF: Design a range of possible and alternative solutions to meet client’s needs of an indoor or outdoor feature to enhance their urban dwelling. Produce conceptual sketches to communicate your ideas, and a scaled model to justify and explain how it meets the brief and the clients needs. • INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS: • The feature is to be manufactured in the schools MTech workshop. • The feature is to be completed by the 1st of November. • The appearance/design of the feature that is constructed needs to be justified against the needs of the client.
Potential Client Issues Miss Keri D: A Coffee Table. Pro’s: I have made a coffee table before and therefore have past experience to call upon. Coffee tables are symmetrical and it would therefore be easy to plan. Con’s: Coffee tables use a lot of wood. They are also large and would be hard to store between classes. It would be expensive for the client. There isn’t many options for making the table unique. Mrs Mary V: A ladder for her corgi to get into her car. Pro’s: It is a truly unique idea. Con’s: I don’t know much about the shapes of cars which would make the designing difficult. I would expect a lot of the ladder to be made out of metal rather than wood, which is outside of my experience/skill level. Mr Colin W: A way to light up the floor. Pro’s: It gives me the opportunity to create very imaginative ways of doing this. It involves electronics which I am fairly experienced in. It could involve a lot of materials, from wood, through metal and acrylic. Con’s: Because there are so many ways of doing this I will need to think of extra imaginative ways of doing this and pick a particularly interesting way. Ms Josie W: A Bird House. Pro’s: I used to have an aviary and have also made several bird houses so I could quite easily make one. They are simple to make so I could spend more time on making it look good and designing a unique style. Con’s: This is a very simple project and will not test me. It will be to easy for my liking. Chosen Client Mr Colin W. Why? Because this project will give me a challenge. It will allow me to use my imagination to solve an interesting problem. It allows me to use electronics which I am very keen upon. I can have fun with the many options and design features I could incorporate into this project. The need is to design a system to light up the floor in the event of a power cut. The opportunities are floor, wall, and ceiling lighting. I will need to research emergency lighting for this project. Issue: My client has asked me to investigate /design a system to light up the floor in the event of power cut, that is entirely reliant upon itself.
Client Survey Q.) Are you interested in having me as your technology designer, for a indoor/outdoor feature? A.) Yes Q.) What is the best way to keep in touch with each other? A.) E-mail. I am only in school on Tuesday afternoons and the odd weekend. Q.) What problem do you have for me to create a solution to? A.) I need you to design a way of lighting up indoor steps and doorways in the school in the case of a power outage (Emergency lighting). I am aware of a sustainable technology idea for generating power that you investigated and created last year. I would like you to design for me a lighting system using this power generation technology to produce emergency light for the school in the event of power cuts or failure in future. Q.) Where is the project to go? A.) Indoor steps throughout the school/office environments/Doorways/Walls. Q.) Can you take a picture of this area? A.) Yes, picture attached. This is one area in the school where we could use existing outdoor lighting. Q.) What time frame do you have in mind? A.) Over the year of 2009. PROJECT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS: Q.) What style do you want the project to be? (E.g. time period, culture) A.) Modern because the school is a modern school designed purposely for the next generation of learners. Q.) How much are you willing to spend/invest in this project? A.) $60 (For materials) Q.) What materials (if any) do you want incorporated into the design? A.) Existing stair coverings should be incorporated into the design. Q.) Do you have any concerns or thoughts on this project? A.) I would like it to be a sustainable technology which will support the school and possible future clients to save $$’s and resources for the larger community. I am aware of your self generating idea and would like you to design and adapt this into a working solution for the school.
Location I have two locations. My first location is stairways. The system should be able to light up stairways so that if a power cut occurs, users can see steps and have the ability to climb up/down them without falling. For the stairway situation I have 2 options; Floor mats/tiles, and ceiling lighting. I cannot use wall lighting as a lot of the stairways in the school (Including the one pictured) do not have walls, only handrails, which are not suitable to affix lighting and wiring to. My second location is doorways. The system should be able to light up doorways in the event of a power outage so that users can easily find doorways if necessary. In both cases the system should be fit for purpose in the location (i.e. look good, function well, unobtrusive). For this location I have 3 options; Floor mats/tiles, wall mounted, and ceiling mounted. For the location pictured, wall mounted is possible, but difficult. This is because there is a door on one side of it, and the other side is under a sink, hardly a good place to keep electrical equipment, when the sink might leak. The ceiling and floor options are slightly more suitable alternatives, however the height of the floor tiles would need to be considered carefully.
This doesn’t create to much light but is a feature. It looks stylish and can create an atmosphere (E.g. party). This creates light for the client and is a feature because it is an unusual light in the sense that it is blue. This is functional in the sense that the user can sit on it. It is also a feature because of its very unusual shape. This is functional in two ways but not really a feature. This can be used as a table or as two chairs. It does not however, look that great. In the right environment it could look good (E.g. A high class office). This is functional and a feature. It can be used as a table and its unusual shape is effective in the right environment. Context Research Indoor features This is functional and a feature. It lights up a space for the user and looks neat in the right environment (E.g. A child's bedroom, a garden.
This fireplace is shown as a centre piece. It is functional in the sense that it can heat the client up and possibly cook things. It looks great as a centre piece and the objects around it are arranged nicely. The materials used are durable, strong, and suited to the outdoor environment. Safety would need to be considered however. This fireplace is not functional as it is fake. It is however, a feature and can still enhance an area. These are both functional and stylish. They can be sat upon and although they are not as original as the pink chair in the lower left of this page, they look good and could be used effectively in a garden. This is a feature but is also functional. It can be sat under be the client for enjoyment. It can also be a centre piece and enhances the environment. Context Research Outdoor features This is both a feature and functional. It can be sat in and because of its unique style, can be a centre piece. This is functional and a feature but I don’t think it is shown in the right environment in this picture. It can be lain on and would look great in a beach side bedroom. Location would need to be considered. This is functional and a feature. It can hold your umbrella’s and the designer has incorporated a small garden to create a feature out of a simple object. This was well done.
Context Evaluation • The key design elements/factors I will need to consider are: • Function. I will need to consider how and if the project will function the way my client wishes it to. If it does not, I will need to redesign my solution. • Client. I will need to consider heavily, my clients wants, needs and suggestions/requests. • Atmosphere. I will need to consider what atmosphere my solution will create or how it will modify an existing atmosphere. If need be I may have to redesign my solution to create the right atmosphere. • Colour. Colour is related to finishing's and style. It will need to be considered when finishing my project but not when constructing the inner workings. • Shape. Shape will be an important factor to consider when designing my solution. It will need to fit physically into the place it is designed for. It will need to look good as well. • Environment. The environment will be the deciding factor for many of my questions. For example, if it were to go outside, I would need to use outdoor materials. With every decision I make, environment will need to be considered.
LED’s stuck in the wall, pouring light out over the floor area. (LED means light emitting diode. It is a very small, bright light that requires very little power to run) LED’s in a circular tile that can be embedded in the floor or on the wall. LED’s behind a wall mount, lighting up the wall in an attractive way and supplying light for the ground. Clients comments:Aesthetically it would be attractive and modern. More suitable around main admin buildings and classrooms. Due to existing concrete floors, the walls would have to be used. Different shapes and patterns to suit different areas. Clients comments: It is easier to situate while it is in a group such as this. Would have to consider whether casing is suitable for indoor or outdoor conditions (vandalism, weather). Clients comments: Good idea, would be useful around the school during parent evenings and power outages. Would be difficult situating the lights (E.g. self contained strip lighting). Low power consumption is good. This would solve a lack of night lighting around the school. Good area coverage. Clients comments: Great fun factor. Could be expensive if it was sound or motion sensitive. More interior rather than exterior. To much for a staircase situation but would be great as a feature part of the floor. Floor tiles with LED’s that make the whole tile light up in bright colours (Dance floor) Specific Research Lighting A glass tile that could be embedded into the wall or floor and LED’s could be fitted inside it. Tile embedded with many small LED’s. Clients comments:The final design/layout would be very flexible (Different layouts, shapes, etc). Durability would need to be considered. Surface would need to be very hardwearing (i.e. glass). Lights could be controlled by timers or programs. This is the sort of concept I was thinking of. A simple tile with either lighting on it or wired from it. Clients comments: It would be very professional. If it is set in timber it is easier to service, however the timber would need to be hard wearing (i.e. Decking: kwila, jara, laminated bamboo). Need to consider a water proof surface protection on top of the timber. Safety would need to be looked at. LED embedded in metal casing on the ground (In wood). Clients comments: Lots of different appearance situations. Very attractive. Would need some way to maintain the lights (access into the glass cubes). Could be done in strips, as a sculpture, safety lighting. Power connection would need to be considered carefully. Very durable. Different colours would be an option (E.g. Red for safety). LED embedded in a metal casing in the ground. Clients comments: One negative would be that the wiring would need to embedded in the ground. A positive is that they would be fairly tamper proof. Individual lights in individual colours. Would be good for lighting footpath/staircase. Small size is unobtrusive. Contrast between surfaces and materials is good.
Clients comments: Good appeal. Good protection for the light. Being recessed protects it from damage and the weather. Being able to use different colour lights would be very effective inside. Because of the design it is quite weather proof. Clients comments: Hard wearing with a stainless steal finish. It would need to be situated out of easy reach because of potential damage to the neck of the lamp. Clients comments: Maintenance would be fairly easy. Easy to select durablematerials with lots of colour choices. Could be styled on the school logo colours. Clients comments: Excellent safety. Visuallyappealing. Easy to maintain. Range of colours is possible. Specific Research Finishing's Clients comments: Would have to be well fixed, though easy to repair. Very flexible in colour or pattern. Clients comments: Strong mood lighting. Creates an atmosphere. Easy to maintain/service and control (i.e. dimmers) Clients comments: High appeal. Very simple shape. Easy to maintain. Multiple choices within construction materials. Unobtrusive. Could be a more triangular shape also. Clients comments: Professional finish. Dangerous because of the gaps under the steps. These could cause people to trip. Where would the light come from? Within the stair perhaps? The wood finish leaves little room for colours to be incorporated.
Lighting Evaluation: From my clients comments I see that I will need to consider the ability to situate my designs as I will not be able to cut into solid concrete walls. I will need to consider area coverage of the lighting in my designs (I may be able to reduce the number of LED’s necessary if the area coverage of the LED is big enough). I will use LED’s as my lights as they have an extremely low power consumption and stay relatively cool so would not be a fire hazard. Also, LED’s have very long lives and it would be unlikely that they would need to be replaced before whatever system is used wears out. The aesthetic qualities should be modern and different shapes and styles could be used for different areas, or even within one area as a feature. A system that could be fixed on an existing wall, floor or ceiling would be easier to situate than a system that would need to be embedded in a wall, floor or ceiling. Strength will need to be considered to counteract vandalism and wear & tear. I will need to consider how the lighting will activate (Automatic, manual, a mix of the two?). Size should be considered as the design needs to be unobtrusive. Safety needs to be considered. Finishing's Evaluation: From my clients comments I see that I will need to consider the following points: Maintenance could be an issue to consider when adding the finishing's. Durability will need to be considered to ensure the system is not broken. Water proofing will need to be considered. The system is for indoor use, but in wet weather water will be either blown inside or brought in on the soles of users shoes. Safety will need to be considered because the design should not have the potential to cut, cause abrasions, or otherwise injure a user. Style flexibility should be considered to ensure the design will be suitable for its intended situations. Construction materials should be considered in relation to cost, durability, safety, and aesthetic qualities.
Specific Research - Existing project. The theory behind these designs is that when you stand on the tile, the tile would compress, pushing the magnets through the coils, then back again when the foot is lifted and the tile decompresses. This would generate electricity, if only a little bit. The energy would be stored in capacitor banks. My client believes this could be incorporated into this project to enable the lighting to be fully sustainable and un-reliant upon mains power or backup generators and enhance the indoor environment in a school or office situation.
Specific Research - Existing project. Coil-magnet system (Basic principle). The tile systems could be made into may different shapes and styles. This makes the tile suitable for more places. Bottom (wooden base with coils embedded in holes) Upside down top (to see how the top and bottom fit together). The top consists of an upper panel upon which some sort of squishy material is glued. Magnets are fitted into holes in the squishy material, that correspond to the holes in the bottom.
Specific Research - Existing project. Upside down top with squishy material compressed. Top. Is it viable to have more magnets and corresponding coils? How many? Possible measurements. Would be dependant on location. This would not be governed by any electricity laws as the setup will be under 12volts. Not enough to give a user a noticeable jolt, let alone injure or kill a user, or to be a potential fire hazard if wired incorrectly.
Existing project evaluation/comments relating to use within the clients project. Clients’ Comments: If put onto existing floors a caution tape or similar will need to be included to warn people of the height. The surface will need to be considered because if it is a high polish finish it will be quite slippery. You will need to consider a non-slip surface on all of the ideas. Non-slip surfaces under the mat will need to be considered also (Glue? Thumb tac?). If the height of the magnet remains the same but the diameter increases (E.g. 4 times) will the energy output be larger? I.e. Less coils but bigger, vs. little coils but many. Could use one mat the same size as the doorway/stair or use multiple mats. Would need to consider some way of protecting the coils and inner workings of the mat from dirt, water, etc. The materials used for the coil mats would need to be water proof and hard wearing, due to foot traffic and weather conditions. My comments: I will need to investigate existing dynamo based products and how they work. Evaluation: This is a good idea to use to meet my clients needs and wants. He has requested that I develop this idea further to meet the requirements of his project. This is because it has the potential to be entirely self sufficient, is small and unobtrusive, and can be modified easily to meet future requirements. I will investigate the different sized magnets and coils as my client has suggested. I have tested (Through the science department) that the magnet-coil idea will work. My client has stated in his comments that I will need to weather proof the project because people will be walking wet shoes through the buildings on rainy days. I will need to investigate ways to do this.
This first concept is of a strip of LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) set into a bracket over a doorway. These would effectively light up the ground below the doorway and would not get in the way of the door or automatic closing mechanism attached to the door. Would be fairly easy to attach over stairways as well. It could be powered by solar panels or perhaps by the tile design shown in my research. The wiring would be a hassle however. Client Comment: I like the idea of this concept , looks professional, would the lights extend further out than the door closing mechanism? Stakeholder Comment: A possible solution, I like the look of this, yet question the actual amount of light that hits the floor emitted from the LEDs.
This design is of LED’s set behind acrylic panels in the front of stairs. These could be powered by solar panels or by the tile design shown in my research. If the tile design was used the unit would be easily contained within the step, without further wiring. The solar panel would, however, require wiring. This design would be difficult to incorporate into doorways but could, perhaps, be embedded in the wall next to the door. Client: A good looking hard wearing concept for stairs. Plastic panels would need to be strong enough for general wear and tear and someone kicking in the step panel. Stakeholders: A great concept for a stairwell. Excellent lighting concept. I think this can be a possible future idea you can develop as an alternative for prospective clients. This could also be adapted to suit other sources of power i.e. solar power, sustainable energy. Your third concept has the most potential to be adapted for a range of locations and situations.
This is probably my most unobtrusive, yet most problematic design. Unobtrusive because the entire circuit, wiring, generator, and light emitter/s would be contained within one small tile that could be picked up and moved, or fixed in place. It could be placed on stairs or on the floor in doorways, even covering the entire floor space. Problematic because the tile would add an extra depth to the floor which might prove a problem to doors that open inwards, and could be considered a tripping hazard. Client: Aesthetically this could be quite a stunning design, the only issue with this is how to hide the cabling in a discreet way as to not detract from the lights? Stakeholder: This is it! This incorporates the whole idea of the system you have created. I disagree with the client, having a capacitor to hold the charge and the wiring contained in a panel you can then offer a range of floor panels varying in size to suit many locations. Aesthetically this looks stunning and could be used in corporate environments, offices etc. because of the finishing; glass/ Perspex plastic. The visual effect is exactly what people look for in a light. This will offer wider market place options on sizes and the areas they can cover at a cost that suits their budget.
Conceptual Evaluation My client and a stakeholder have commented on my designs and there is a definite preference. My third design (the tile) is preferred because of its aesthetic possibilities and the range of environments it would be suitable for. When further developing my design I will need to consider the area that the lighting will actually cover (the effectiveness of the lighting), how the wiring will be organised, the durability and strength of the design, and (in the case of my third concept) how much height will be added to the floor. If to much height is added on the wrong side of the door, the door will not be able to open. Perhaps specialised mats could be designed in such a way that when a door opens, it compresses the mat, both to allow the door room to open, and also to add functionality to another un-harnessed energy source that is everywhere; the opening and closing of doors.
Initial Brief • My client has asked me to create a way of lighting doorways and stairways in the school in the event of a power cut. This should be entirely reliant upon itself and should incorporate the magnet-coil tile idea I suggested in my research. I am to design and produce a model of a possible solution and once my client has accepted it I am to make the full scale project. • Client – I will need to stay in contact with my client throughout the design and construction process in order to ensure the end result is suitable for my client. • Knowledge – I will need to use all my relevant knowledge to design and construct this project to ensure it is done to the best of my abilities. If I do not know something, I will need to research it and incorporate the research into my design. • Concepts – I will need to create several concepts and get my client to provide feedback in order to further develop the design. • Developments – I will need to refine my conceptual ideas and create several development drawings for my client to provide feedback on, in order to further develop my design. • Aesthetic qualities – I will need to consider aesthetic qualities when developing my solution to ensure it meets my clients requirements. It should also blend in with, and not encroach upon, the environment. • Stakeholders – I will need to talk to my stakeholders during the design process to ensure that the project not only meets my clients requirements, but also satisfies my stakeholders. These interviews may also allow me to exceed my clients requirements. My stakeholders can also offer me valuable advice and suggestions. • Functional qualities – I will need to consider functional qualities in my design process to ensure that the end result actually works and is fit for purpose. • Model/testing – I will need to construct a model and test the model after I have designed my developments. I will then need to get feedback from my client in order to further develop my design to the final design stage. • Style – I will need to consider the style of my design and ensure that my client thinks that my chosen style/s are suitable for his needs/requirements. • Finish – I will need to consider the finishing's I will use in my final design as this is a big part of making the project suitable for both my client and the location it would be used in. • Harmony – The design will need to be in harmony with its surroundings. I will need to get feedback from my client in order to ensure that it is.
Planning Evaluation My planning was fairly accurate until the conceptual stage. My Concepts took far too long, and as a result, I fell severely behind. I was forced therefore, to alter the dates I started everything planned after my concepts. This effectively pushed my planned deadline forward 4 weeks. It was also difficult to effectively contact my client as he was often busy and misinterpreted my emails. Because of this I fell behind even more, as I struggled to find things to do while awaiting contact, and was often left with nothing to do. My record of action was kept constantly up to date and accurate throughout the process. Everything was effectively recorded. I entered my record of action on a regular basis and as such, it was not difficult to keep a record of everything done. Next time I would make use of a Gantt chart so that I can easily see when I go over the planned date for each key stage, and can make plans to catch up. I would also ensure I had a more reliable way to contact my client next time, such as a phone number or face to face meetings on a regular basis, so that misunderstandings of designs, and long periods between contact does not prevent me doing the work.
Expert (Stakeholder) I had a visit from an electrical engineer called keshawa (found at www.futureintech.com) during the second term. This answered a lot of my questions such as how to effectively wire up my circuit/circuits, what market opportunities are available, and what alternative designs may be available. He made the point that having batteries in parallel with a capacitor would effectively hold charge better than just a capacitor, as the capacitor would act as a buffer, and the battery/s would store the energy. Batteries store energy longer than capacitors. He also suggested using a dynamo style system to move the magnets through the coils. This system would spin the magnet within the coil as the tile is compressed, and will continue spinning until friction stops it, after the tile has decompressed. In this way the system could harness A LOT more energy than originally anticipated, however, due to size constraints, this idea would need a lot more developing done to ensure the tile stays thin enough to fit in the required situations, and I simply do not have the time to investigate any further down this path, for this project. This is something that could be considered in future developments, however. It could also improve the design so that it is industrial standard.
LED’s Developmental Conceptual Design Drawing Bridge Rectifier Capacitor Coils Wires joining the coils. Clients Comments: This is great, It is good to see how the electrical wiring is going to be incorporated into a single panel. Chris has informed me that he had a meeting with an electrical engineer recently and now has several other options to consider. Aesthetically it is very pleasing and I believe it is a very modern looking tile..
Developmental Evaluation • My development design has met the functional requirements. It will produce and store it’s own energy, for use when a power outage occurs. Aesthetically it could be improved, which is something I will need to investigate further when I draw my final design. The wiring has been optimised to take up the smallest space possible, and to stay out of sight to ensure aesthetic qualities are maintained. The wiring will have some slack in the area that it crosses from the bottom half, to the top half of the tile, through the underlay, as it is crucial that the movement of the tile does not sever the ties between the two halves of the tile. • After talking with an industrial expert I have many things to think about. We discussed several alternatives and options that I will need to consider when further developing my design, and more that could be considered if I were to move onwards to an industrial business stage. These alternatives/options include: • Using batteries instead of capacitors as they hold their charge longer. • Setting up several parallel, series circuits, rather than one series circuit, to increase the voltage/ current. • Using a dynamo system rather than a spring system to enhance the amount of energy collected. • Client: (C W) Chris has really taken full advantage of the industrial technician, and further developed this idea I look forward to see how the advice given to him is put into this project. • Stakeholder: (Derek M) • Things have moved on from the concept stage I really can see the finished product being quite an outstanding design especially aesthetically , it is nothing like I originally had expected this project to turn out. • With the advice and the range of alternative options the electrical engineer gave Chris, this design does have the potential to be a viable and efficient product. It will be seen at the scaled model stage if Chris has been able to demonstrate the possibility of producing an electrical current by the compression of the tile in the vertical plane.
Model Evaluation My model has shown me that having a solid mass of underlay between the bottom of the tile, and the top, will limit the amount that the tile decompresses significantly. Therefore, I have decided instead, to merely surround each magnet with an octagonal off-cut of underlay, allowing space between each section, for the underlay to spread out, and thereby compress significantly more. Because of the empty space this will cause in the tile system, it may be possible to pump hot air through the tile system, thereby creating under floor heating. The tile will possibly be warmer anyway, because it is similar in design to EXPOL EPS foam board. This is something that could be looked into if further investigation were to be made at a later date.
Final Conceptual Design Drawing Stakeholder Evaluation: A very thorough and well thought out design. Chris has used the advice given to him well and has enhanced his original idea without any or little compromise. It meets all the requirements of the original brief and specifications. His client has stated that he could now develop this conceptual idea (proven by testing and modelling) further to a production stage with the future support of industrial backers.
Final Conceptual Design Drawing Clients Evaluation: Overall this is what I wanted from Chris, after seeing his initial design concepts; a design that is functional in the sense that it can produce an sustainable, efficient power source. This can be adapted from this idea into a variety of different, yet similar models used in a range of locations. His Model has demonstrated effectively that it is viable outcome which could now be taken a step further by looking for a company that could help him create this into a actual marketable product.
Final Design Evaluation My Final design has met all aesthetic and functional requirements as specified by my client. It will light doorways and stairways in the event of a power cut, by automatically switching on LED’s in the upper section of the tile. It is entirely reliant upon itself as it produces it’s own power through electro-magnetic induction and all wiring and components are contained within the tile. It looks attractive and can be personalised by adding different coloured acrylic to the top, different colour LED’s, or by painting the wood under the clear acrylic, during the construction process. The planning for the written/designing stage of this project was very inaccurate after week 6. I started falling behind as I kept adding in extra things, and my conceptual, developmental, and final designs took longer to complete than originally planned. My client has proved very difficult to get in touch with, which has also held me up a lot. The record of my actions was however, accurate. It was not difficult to keep constant records, but was difficult to stick to the timeline I had planned. I feel the correct materials were considered for use in my project. I did change the underlay from a solid mass between the top and bottom, to several smaller masses surrounding the magnets. This allowed the tile to compress much further and with less force. The materials worked as expected (aside from the underlay). The final design meets all specifications set. The final design reflects the requirements and wishes stated in the Design Brief. Aesthetically, the design is very attractive, and has come out better than expected. For a future development (but one that I will not pursue in this project because of time restraints and un-necessity) , specialized mats could be designed in such a way that when a door opens, it compresses the mat, both to allow the door room to open, and also to add functionality to another un-harnessed energy source that is everywhere; the opening and closing of doors. I have not had to consider electrical safety throughout the design and build process as the whole system is under 18V. I have addressed the tripping hazard by rounding the edges of the top of the tile so that a foot would simply glide over the raised edge. This is an ethically based project because it revolves entirely around sustainable energy generation. The tile is safe for the planet because it is designed to be used for an extended period of time, meaning that a tile would rarely be sent to the dump. As such, this tile is good for the planet earth and safe for everyday use. Client: (C W) Chris has produced an excellent scaled model which fully demonstrates to me how this unique idea can work. I am looking forward to him producing a full scale working project which can be used to demonstrate to others the qualities and potential of this project. He has solved many of the problem that has arisen well with the advice from wider community stakeholders. Stakeholder: (Derek M) Overall this is an excellent example of an Idea that has been developed, tested and modeled. Chris has used the advice given by the expert technician from “future in tech” to full advantage. It total meets the client expectations and the requirements of the brief. The key design elements that stand out is the simplicity and creativity of a scientific concept developed and made into a existing model. There has been the occasional problems with the communication with the client though through no fault of Chris W, this has held up certain evaluations but with his ability and knowledge Chris has been able to continue with the modeling of this idea because of the clear brief and requirements the client has needed.
Final Brief • I will produce a solution for my client and stakeholders. It will need to be entirely reliant upon itself and be able to light doorways and stairwells efficiently and safely. This final solution should incorporate the magnet-coil tile solution demonstrated in my model, but should be a much improved version. • Materials: • Transparent, blue acrylic for the tile top. • Carpet underlay for the compressing material sandwiched between the upper and lower tile. • Copper wire for the coils and insulated copper wire for the system wiring. • Neodymium rare earth magnets for sitting inside the coils and moving in order to generate electricity. • MDF wood for the base of the tile and wood for the stairs or doorways (wood type depending upon situation). • Cost: To be kept to a minimum. • Safety: The tile needs to be able to compress and decompress without being a tripping hazard. • Construction: • Needs to be strong. • Needs to be durable. • Needs to be efficient. • Needs to be user friendly. • Finish: A high quality finish of acrylic trimmed with rounded wood edges is required.
1 Here in figure 1 I am using a band saw to cut the bottom of the tile to size so that the other components of my design fit on top without the lower layer being visible, and without the top layers overhanging it. This was the first stage as I needed to have a base to work from. 2 In figure 2 I am drilling holes in the result of figure 1. These holes are to contain the coils which I will create further on in the construction process. In both figure 1 and 2 I am wearing safety glasses to ensure no flying bits of wood damage my eyes. 3 4 In figure 3 I am gluing the two layers of underlay I previously cut, together. This is the model version. I am using respiratory equipment because ventilation within the room was not adequate at the time I was gluing. Figure 4 is a close up of the underlay material and the pot of glue.
5 6 7 In figure 5 a classmate is demonstrating how the tile would work, by standing on it and showing how it compresses. Figure 6 is a close up of figure 5. Figure 7 is the uncompressed version of figure 5 and 6. All 3 pictures are the final version under construction. 8 In figure 8 is the final model.
9 In figure 9 I am demonstrating how the wiring will look. The wiring in this model is only partially completed. 10 In figure 10 I am winding one of the coils for my project. These coils will be set into the holes I drilled in figure 2 and will be part of the energy producing system in the tile.
11 12 13 Figure 11 is the top portion of the final product in it’s finished form. Figure 12 is the same as figure 11 except the LED’s are on, showing how the tile would look when active. Figure 13 is the underside of the top portion of the final product. It doesn’t yet have the magnets attached in this picture, it shows only the wiring.
14 In figure 14 I am soldering the wires of my project together so that the coils are connected to each other, to the batteries, and to the LED’s. This is because to charge the batteries and run the LED’s the components must all be connected in a circuit. In figure 15 I am demonstrating my final product in a replica of its planned environment 15
Production of an Outcome Client: (C W) • Chris has produced an excellent Prototype which I could very easily use to support Chris in introducing this to future stakeholders to develop this into a product that could be sold. • I think Chris has communicated his design ideas very effectively and though we had several challenges with keeping in contact due to my busy schedule this has not hindered him to his credit. • I am extremely happy with the final prototype it is “fit for the purpose” of creating a prototype to demonstrate this design concept to potential financial backers and manufactures. He has produced more than I had originally expected. Stakeholder: (Derek M) • Referring back to the final brief and the location in which this project can go this fully demonstrates to all stakeholders that this is a viable solution. • The key design elements that stand out is the excellent materials he has used to produce a very visually appealing tile. And in the stair situation which gives a clear example of all of the concepts possibilities • Given the constraints of cost of materials this outcome could be developed further which will require a stakeholder to inject more money into producing this and further • Overall an excellent presentation of the original brief and it’s development though the many stages to get to this Prototype.
Final solution/Evaluation Overall my project was a good design. It meets my clients expectations and requirements because it is fit for the purpose my client wanted to be demonstrated to potential further stakeholders. It meets the specifications set in the final brief of materials because all of the materials specified were used how they were specified, no more, no less. It meets the cost specifications because the cost was kept as low as possible by using materials that were set to go to the dump, and by using cheaper materials. The safety specification was met as the tile has been constructed in such a way as to allow a foot to simply glide over the edge, rather than get caught on it. The construction requirements were met as the final solution is strong, durable, efficient, and user friendly. The final solution has a very nice transparent blue acrylic finish, trimmed on the edges with thin rounded strips of wood.
