"Oh boy, this is going to be exciting!" was the first thought that entered my head when the project was announced. We are going to build a steam driven car. I have always had a thing for steam driven machines, and I continue to think about their possible applications with modern technology, but with this project I would get to actually build one.
First we got into teams to build the car. My team consists of Myself, Matt, Kevin, and Chris. I had met both Matt and Kevin before, and Chris was new, but he was a pretty cool guy, so it was all good. Our team then had to pick roles. I immediately knew that I wanted the Turbine, which is like the heart of the car, transferring power to the rest of the vehicle. I was also picked for Team Manager, which was fine, as I can handle the responsibility of being in charge just fine.
Next, Matt wanted the Boiler. He was very enthusiastic about it. I assume its because he has a good love of trains (the epitome of actual steam driven machines). Chris and Kevin didn't care either way, so I choose their parts for them in my capacity as Team Manager. I knew Kevin a little bit, and initially felt that he should do the more important job of the wheels, but thought it would be a good measure of Chris if he took the wheels instead.
That left Kevin with the chaisis, but I also had Kevin be in charge of the final fitting together. This gave him the responsibility that I wanted him to have. Chris seamed like he could handle his details, so I had him sign up for quality control. Matt, being the enthusiast that he is, would most likely have noticed anything wrong in the initial testing phases and been able to address those problems.
We began work that Monday, and since I was the PM and closest to the work place, I was also given the responsibility for keeping the parts together.
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Begining
Is always a good place to start. I've obviously not been posting at the "correct" times, but thats why I'm making up for it now.
This blog is for the ENG 198 class at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. We are to write about our experiences and analyze them as part of the multidisciplinary class that iFoundy is. I'll be the first to admit that I had no idea what this class entailed, or even whats its purpose was. This was made clearer and clearer at each meeting and class I attended.
From what I gather, the class is here to make us more well rounded students. Much like dice, the more well rounded a person is, the more things that person can do. A six sided die has only six possible answers and sharp 90 degree corners. In contrast a 12 sided die has 12 possible answers and rounded 120 degree corners. The die that looks more like a circle has more possibilities than the well defined and common square die.
My first experience with the class portion went pretty well. I came out with knowledge in my head, mixing with ideas and creating new ones. (the chem example is still fresh in my mind) But I was soon met with a difficult situation. A week into class and I still couldn't get a hold of the books required for the class. It wasn't until a friend told me that they could be found at the TIS bookstore that I was able to obtain one.
My first impressions of the books are that both are applicable, and that I prefer the much more informal tone of the Napkin book. It wasn't written for college students specifically like the Entrepreneurial Engineer was, so I find it a bit more interesting.
This blog is for the ENG 198 class at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. We are to write about our experiences and analyze them as part of the multidisciplinary class that iFoundy is. I'll be the first to admit that I had no idea what this class entailed, or even whats its purpose was. This was made clearer and clearer at each meeting and class I attended.
From what I gather, the class is here to make us more well rounded students. Much like dice, the more well rounded a person is, the more things that person can do. A six sided die has only six possible answers and sharp 90 degree corners. In contrast a 12 sided die has 12 possible answers and rounded 120 degree corners. The die that looks more like a circle has more possibilities than the well defined and common square die.
My first experience with the class portion went pretty well. I came out with knowledge in my head, mixing with ideas and creating new ones. (the chem example is still fresh in my mind) But I was soon met with a difficult situation. A week into class and I still couldn't get a hold of the books required for the class. It wasn't until a friend told me that they could be found at the TIS bookstore that I was able to obtain one.
My first impressions of the books are that both are applicable, and that I prefer the much more informal tone of the Napkin book. It wasn't written for college students specifically like the Entrepreneurial Engineer was, so I find it a bit more interesting.
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