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In
this challenge we needed to make two technical devices from
the same set of parts, and we had to create a transport system
to move the set of parts from one place to another. Our two
technical devices are a "Net Launcher" and an "Underwater
Exploration Vehicle". The devices are made from an old wire
spool, PVC pipes and connectors, bungee cords, a bicycle pump,
training wheels, springs, plywood, a large plastic tube, wood
clamps, a foam "cork" and a piece of netting.
Our
transport system is a Hovercraft. We made it out of an
old snow tube, a piece of plywood, two leaf blowers, duct
tape and some foam and Christmas lights for decoration. One
of the leaf blowers is used to provide lift for the hovercraft
and the other is used as a propulsion system. The Theme of
our solution is "The Scuba Adventure". It is the story of
three explorers who are in search of fame and fortune by trying
to find the lost city of Atlantis. Our three Explorers are
Mr. Hortis the leader and the logical one of the group, played
by Robbie; Banana Bone, the engineer and computer whiz, played
by Andy; and Camera Boy, the photographer an all around goofball.
"and Camera Boy, the photographer and all around goofball,
played by Benjie.
Our
story starts with the explorers starting their underwater
journey in search of Atlantis when their vehicle runs into
an underwater tower. The vehicle has a battering ram made
from a bicycle pump that has been rigged to knock over the
tower. After the tower is knocked down the explorers discover
a stranger who was locked-up in the tower. It turns out that
the stranger is the True King of Atlantis, played by Mat,
and an Evil Fake King, played by Benjamin has locked him in
the tower. Our explorers agree to help him regain his throne
if he shows them the way to Atlantis. The Real King shows
the explorers where they can get a Hovercraft since their
underwater vehicle was destroyed and fell apart in several
pieces when it crashed into the tower. The Hovercraft transports
all the pieces of the vehicle to Atlantis while our explorers
formulate a plan to capture the Fake King. Luckily BananaBone
has enlisted the help of two Atlantian Engineers (played by
Justin and Mickey) to use the vehicle pieces to build a "Net
Launcher". The Net launcher is made from a larger plastic
tube and is corked at one end with a foam rubber stopper;
the net is attached to the cork. After our explorers lure
the Fake King in front of the device, the bicycle pump is
used to pressurize the tube and ultimately pop the cork and
send the net flying to capture the Fake King. After taking
the Fake King to jail, our explorers and their newfound friends
go off to enjoy double onion burgers in Atlantis.
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We
also had to build a transport system, and we thought that would
be fun too. We work together as a team really well, and we especially
like practicing instant challenges and doing improv activities.
Our
most memorable moments this year were when we finished the different
pieces of our problem. Like the first time we took our hovercraft
to the school for a practice and found out it really worked! We
had no way of controlling where it went as it raced back and forth
across the floor, but it worked! And we were really excited after
weeks of trying when for the first time our net-launcher actually
launched the net! We also had a great time hanging around at our
TM's house on weekends eating donuts and pizza and drinking soda
while we took stuff apart and ran through rolls and rolls of duct
tape!
"The
coolest thing about going to Globals is the plane ride, meeting
of new people and not the dorms!" according to team member
Andy. After my second year of doing this, I am more convinced than
ever that this program should last forever and even if it is educational,
it is a lot more fun than you would expect.
Ahhh…
pizza, duct tape, and taking stuff apart …. what more can a kid
ask for!
We'll
keep up with this team at DI Globals, so keep checking here!
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