TEL3M Independent Study Projects (ISPs): Fall 2017

Independent Study Projects. Please read the philosophy of 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, possibly, a problem that needs a solution. Boyan Slat did at age 17 when he was in high school; four years later he was cleaning up the world's oceans. So, dig in, think, dream, research, and explore possible project pursuits. Be discerning: don't accept the first thing that comes along. Above all, remember this is your education. You can choose a path of little resistance, but who would you be short-changing?

You'll be expected to maintain the progress of your ISP so have your phone handy to at all times to capture the images of your journey. Be conscious of the fact that a two-page summary of your project will appear in your ER 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 for sale in the Dragon's Lair or beyond, reaching an even a broader audience.

ACE
TITLE
DESCRIPTION
C. Abbott
Homemade Capacitor
I will make my own capacitor and demonstrate its use in a circuit.
D. Barkway
Clap on, Clap off Switch
This device will turn on an LED when you clap, and turn it off when you clap a second time.
J. Blanco
Portable Phone Charger
I am going to be printing a 3D case and putting in 9V batteries so that it can charge a phone. I'll also include a bicolor LED to indicate when it is actually working.
R. Carson
Metal Detector
This device will sense whether a metallic object is in close proximity.
J. Dolgin
LED Cylinder
A cylinder of LEDs controlled via a 555 timer and 4017 ICs.
B. Dreger
Strength Tester
Displays a number between 0 and 7 based on how hard you squeeze.
F. Fatola
The Song System
This device will play an automatic tune using different buzzer pitches.
R. Gross
Toy Police Car
This toy police car is a combination of three circuits: an analog oscillator, the 4017 and 555 timer, and, finally, a motorized switching circuit, providing for lights, sirens, and a motor for it to move. The police car will be 3D printed.
E. Haisley Brown
The Sine Wave Generator
This device will create a sine wave out of analog components.
Z. Kingsley
The Electric Lava Lamp
This device uses a digital oscillator circuit yet with two magnets hooked onto the top and bottom of a cylinder filled with a magnetic liquid
C. Macdonald
Countdown Timer and Point Marker
This device counts down until reaching zero starting at an undetermined number. Two more circuits are used to keep score.
B. Mazan
3D Lighthouse
A homemade lighthouse uses a parabolic mirror on a motor that reflects the light of an LED. A potentiometer is included to adjust brightness.
M. McCutcheon
LED Invaders (game)
Similar to space invaders but played on two LED matrices with buttons for controls
O. McFarlane
Light-Sensor Powered
Light Array
A light-sensor circuit that flows through an oscillator and two LEDs with a switch to change circuits and a 3D-Printed case.
L. Morgante
A Digital Metronome
A buzzer that sounds in an adjustable pattern like an oscillator The device can be set to a wide plethora of of paces available. The number of beats per second is displayed.
J. Pollock
Single Digit Clock
A clock that works on the basis of an analog oscillator
E. Pyper
Stacker Machine
This device/game that requires the player to stack a row of LEDs by flicking switches to stop chaser circuits.
G. Taylor
RGB Gatorade Bottle
This device incorporates and RGB LED that slowly switches color while lighting up a lamp filled with liquid.
W. van Nostrand
Magnetic Levitator
This device is an electromagnet that uses an IR LED, beam, and reference sensor to create a field where a metal object will levitate.
L. Watson
Breathing LED Night Light
This device acts as a night light that uses a breathing LED and a switch to determine whether you want it on or automatic.
F. Wilkinson
Battery Charge Indicator
Displays the charge of a battery using LEDs to indicate the strength

Grade Contribution to Final Mark
10
30%
11
S:M = 10%:30% = 40%
12
S:M:L = 10%:20%:30% = 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.