2022-2023 ICS4U Independent Study Projects (ISPs)

Independent Study Projects. Please read our overview on why ACES pursue Independent Study Projects so vigorously.

To my mind, the characteristics of a great project include such aspects as imagination, creativity, a degree of risk and, sometimes, even simplicity, to name a few. Check out the flashlight circuit 'board' this guy made out of little more that a piece of paper and a pencil? Simple, but inspiring. Consider a problem that needs a solution. Boyan Slat did at age 17 when he was in high school; four years later he is cleaning up the world's oceans. (Update: January 9, 2019) So, dig in, think, dream, research, and explore possible project pursuits. Be discerning: don't accept the first thing that comes along. You'll be expected to maintain the progress of your ISP on your web page to enable everyone to follow your efforts so have your phone handy to at all times to capture the images of your journey. Be conscious of the fact that a multi-page summary of your project will appear in your DER after Presentation Day for more permanent record of your efforts. You may wish to take into account the ISP Evaluation document that will be applied on your Presentation Day.

Also, don't underestimate the value of an enterprise/entrepreneurial aspect to your project that could see a number of units of your project in the hands of future ACES, for sale in the Dragon's Lair or beyond, reaching an even a broader audience.

2022-2023 ISP Commitments

ACE Short ISP (20%)
Saturday September 10		 Medium ISP (20%)
Saturday December ?		 Long ISP (20%)
Monday February ?
Proposals >>> Short ISP Proposal Medium ISP Proposal Long ISP Proposal
Anderson, D.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Appleyard, S.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Appleyard, T.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Elder, A.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Mann Shaw, H.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Muir, R.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Rogan, J.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Shea, E.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 
Strain, J.

  1. Hardware
  2. Spare
  3. English
  4. Functions
 ?

 

DESCRIPTION
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DESIGN
COMMUNICATION
MECHANICAL

 ?

 


 ?

 

2022/2023 Short ISP Choices
ISPs are gifts. The best choice for you is the one that fits well with your interests, as well as strengths, and blows the doors of your future opportunities wide open! It takes CONSIDERABLE time and reflection to make the BEST ISP choices but, the good news is that this year you have more options than ever before. For the 2021/2022 ICS4U-E year, the starting point for your Short ISP can come from any of the following four areas (no group projects and no duplications),

  1. Reverse Engineer any existing device with digital circuitry
  2. Identify a commercially-available device and design and manufacture it BETTER!
  3. Select a component from the gallery below (I will supply it!) and create a project that incorporates it into something wonderful
  4. Research Short ISP component choices from previous years (discuss with me first to avoid redundancy and duplication) and complete the step above.
RSGC ACES?:
Digital Voltmeter
 RSGC ACES:
Digital Ammeter		 RSGC ACES:
Digital Temperture		 RSGC ACES:
Rugged Metal Button
Vacuum Forming, & Production
MAYKU Formbox
 3D Design and Printing
ACES CUSTOM PROTO STATION TRIO (10,11, 12-4BB (CHUMP))

ARM Cortex-M7 @ 600 MHz:
Teensy 4.0		 JLCPCBs SMT
SMT Assembled PCBs 		ACES DMM Concept ?
SMART TWEEZERS 		CNC Foam?:
Mint Tin Packaging


RSGC ACES:
Laser Pointer/Follower System
 RSGC ACES:
Software Library (MSGEQ7?)

Adafruit:
Water Flow Sensor		 Seeed Studio:
Water Flow Sensor Kit		 Adafruit
Large Analog Voltmeter		 Adafruit:
Analog Ammeter


Medium ISP (SMD & CAD)

As you wind up the final two terms of your secondary education it is time to both advance and lock in your burgeoning engineering skills. Whereas through-hole technology (THT) has had a good run over the past few decades, the future is Surface Mount Technology and Design. For this reason, you best be prepared. This ISP round you will refine your SMD and CAD skills to showcase your Design skills in preparation for the opportunities that await you in the next few years.

Your Medium ISP goal (20% of your final mark) should include the slimmest of useful DES devices consisting of a custom PCB, populated with SMT parts, and encased or hosting (Truth Be Told, Mastermind) 3D printed components in the thinnest form possible (think wallet-size proportions). You have two months. Our 3D Printing TAs, and either JLCPCB or DirtyPCBs are all about to get a serious Sr. ACES workout.

Should you be stuck for a meaningful project, consider a DDPv7 Legacy Shield to complement or replace the ones we already have (Intersection, ADC, Universal v1 or Universal v2). The only stipulation I impose is that these devices must remain compatible with our current EAGLE DDPv7/Shield files.

Download and review the updated Medium ISP Proposal. This Word version I would ask that you edit, attach, and email on Saturday December 11, 2021 under the Subject Line: Medium ISP Proposal.

 

Long ISP (THT and/or SMT, Fixed or Flex)

Download and review the updated Long ISP Proposal. This Word version I would ask that you edit, attach, and email to on Monday February 21, 2022 under the Subject Line: Long ISP Proposal.

Electronic control over your final ACES ISP must be in the form of custom PCB populated with either through hole and/or surface mount components. In the case of the latter, you can consider taking your design to the next level, in the form of a Flex circuit that will be laminated into a page of your DER. If your circuit proves fully functional a flexible 3.5V, 150 mA Powerfilm solar cell will be included in the lamination so that that viewers of your creativity will marvel at when shown the light of day!

The Flex Circuit concept was first introduced into the ACES curriculum in the 2015/2016 TEI4M year with some impressive results. Where the attempts since have failed is whren the designer becomes too ambitious. If you choose this route, I require that you keep it SIMPLE. (LEDs and resistors only?) Your Medium ISP requirements provided you with valuable experience that should improve your likelihood of success as will be a small project this term that requires the use of the ACES ATtiny85 SMD Trainer. The examples below are too ambitious for us but each offers a unique feature you may wish to consider,

 

 

Grade Contribution to Final Mark
10
30%
11
40%
12
60%

For the bulk of your formal education you have been, and will continue to be, required to consume curriculum chosen for you by someone else. Fortunately (hopefully) you will put this knowledge and skill to good use in your future. However, jumping through someone else's hoops alone does not, typically, secure future success. For that, you must demonstrate your own initiative, motivation, and passion. These qualities need to be cultivated and our Grade 10 hardware course is a perfect place to start. There is so much to learn and there are so many great projects out there that offer stimulating contexts within which to develop and refine your interests.