TEL3M Independent Study Projects (ISPs): Spring 2019

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. Previous Year's Grade 10 ISPs:

  2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Fall Link Link Link Link Link
Spring Below Link Link Link Link

Finally, I've inserted a into those descriptions that, in my opinion, are hard.

ACE
TITLE
DESCRIPTION
Botterell, C.
The Resistor Reader
This device will display the value of a resistor when its leads are inserted into the female headers. It will use a bargraph, comparators, possibly an LM3914 driver IC and other resistors.
Durand, H.
Game Show Buttons
A set of game show buttons will be created which light whatever side pressed theirs first.
Levinsky, J.
Slide Bolt Lock
This device uses a DC motor with a threaded 1/4" bolt and a hex nut attached to sliding bolt lock to secure a door. A DPDT switch will be used to unlock the door.
Marsland, M.
IR Remote Control
Infrared (IR) LEDs emit pulses triggered by a 555 Timer IC to control a secondary circuit.
Phillips, T.
Heat and Proximity Alarm
This device uses heat and proximity to activate LEDs and a buzzer. The device will be attached to a window or doorway. A temperature sensor is also used to detect heat.
Reil, J.
Piano with Metronome
My piano will use a 555 Timer IC with push buttons to create different audio frequencies. A volume knob and metronome will support the experience. The entire device will be housed in a cardboard box.
Semler, O.
LED Dice
This project uses a 555 Timer IC and multiple LEDs to simulate the rolling of a die. The circuit features slow-down behaviour in which the LEDs slow down before settling in on a final state.
Taylor, C.
Square Wave Synthesizer
Using a 555 Timer IC to produce a square wave and a low pass filter I will construct a synthesizer. Time permitting, I will add a volume envelope to the output.
Tessier, W.
Scoreboard
The circuit I am attempting to build is a seven-segment display that increases a number every time a button is pressed, with an additional reset button.
Vendittelli, H.
Scoreboard Circuit
The Scoreboard Circuit is a device that uses logic and seven-segment displays that can maintain a team's score for up to 9 points.
Wheler, J.
Police Siren
I will build a miniature Police Siren. My ISP will include the siren, red and blue flashing lights, and a series of switches that will change the pitch of the siren. The device will use NPNs and electrolytic capacitors, with blue and red light alternately turning on and off.
 
Benson, C.
555 Door Sensor
This device uses a 555 Timer IC and a magnetic sensor to generate a tone as an alarm. This sensor has the ability to detect whether a door is open or closed.
Brink, F.
Quiz Button Circuit
The 555 Timer IC Quiz Button Circuit is built for quiz competitions. Three contestants each have a button. When he game master poses a quiz, the first side to press their button triggers an LED and locks out the other two.
Chapple, D.
Sweater Weather Detector
This device will employ a bicolor LED and thermister, along with other components, to detect temperatures over/under a certain temperature threshold.
Goldman, A.
Laser Security System
A laser shines continuously on an LDR (?). When the beam is broken a buzzer sounds. A 555 emits a square wave causing a sequence of on and off sounds on the buzzer. The buzzer will continue to sound until a reset button is pressed.
Leckie, E.
Heat-Activated Cooling Fan
I am going to create a circuit that can be used for cooling the fan within a PC.
McKenna, R.
Scoreboard with Clock
A counting scoreboard with seconds clock.
Ovenell, L.
555 Alarm Clock
A simple 555 circuit with an LED and buzzer.
Strain, B.
Stopwatch
This device will be a stopwatch that includes buttons for START, RESET, and LAP at time. It will be able to display up to 99 seconds.
Thompson, L.
The 'Adder'
This circuit adds two binary numbers to produce their sum. The goal is to produce the sum on a seven-segment display.
Tkachuk, M.
Dancing LEDs
The Dancing LED device responds to the volume and length of a song. The LEDS turn on and off according to the music pattern. You can control the speed of the drum beat.
Van Duynhoven, M.
Roulette Circuit
This device is a roulette circuit using a 555 Timer IC and a 4017 IC breadboard. This circuit emulates a casino's roulette table. The ball is reflected by a single LED that turns on in sequence.


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.