The Rube Goldberg

We're about to say goodbye to our CTS module! So let's end it with a grand finale, shall we?

Behold the final episode of our superheroes, the ultimate CTS project - the Rube Goldberg. A rube goldberg machine is a complicated device designed to perform one single and simple task. We're to create this machine based on our superhero - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

This is a brief intro of how TMNT is and our story of our episode for our machine :

 The flow of our contraptions for our Rube Goldberg.

The Turtles and The Storyline of our Machine

This is our progress on our project.

The Rube Goldberg Idea Journal from Carmen Chan

1. The requirement which is to ensure all our contraptions work in our machine is the challenging issue. If one fails, it won't work anymore. And that strives us to work on each contraption with all our efforts. If we identify a problem in a contraption, we'll give it thorough thought and attempt to find solutions for it.
2. The fun part about this machine is that we're having a theme for our machine - TMNT. We enjoyed finding ways to get rid of our villain as the task of our Rube Goldberg - which is to melt the villain in acetone. It works...wickedly. And to design our machine to mimic a pizza factory..that's really exciting to do.
3. This project also deeply challenged our teamwork. Our contraptions have to work together in order to make our assignment successful. Hence, it encouraged us to discuss our issues and solutions together.

So after a few nights together either in the studio, corridor, or classrooms, this is our final assignment!

Hope you enjoy the video.

It was the best project we've done so far. Kudos to everyone in our team and to the whole of FNBE! I will remember the times we as a class spent the nights together...although it's severely unhealthy huhu.

The Cube

The first episode of our superpower series is over, now let's advance to the next phase - displaying our powers in the form of a cube. Pretty absurd idea, and cool at the same time.

We have several requirements to meet in our cube project :

• it should be played/operated manually by hand
• it needs at least 3 mechanisms/functions
• it should be made of recycable materials
• it must include at least a ping pong ball (I was like whuuuuttt, but nevertheless, let's do it!)

This is my progress for my assignment.

The Cube Idea Journal from Carmen Chan

I'm replaying my role as Dr Alivio again. And since my character is known for creating the most absurd of 'healing pills'. I'm going to create my own story based on this concept, and hence, designing my cube to be a child's toy. The story goes like this:

Dr Alivio has just discovered vitamins which will cure almost every disease in the world. Howver, these vitamins are babies and they are the most mischievous little rackals around Dr Alivio's lab. Tey recently found a way to escape and found themselves trapped in a mysterious dimension. Now they want out and it's your job to help save them!

Presenting to you my cube. The cover is actually the dimension where the baby vitamins are trapped in.

Me (center) along with my friends before presenting our cubes to the panel.

Like any other CTS project,

1. I need to apply the concept of thorough thinking and engineering into my cube (I can never escape engineering huhuhu).
2. Creating functionable mechanisms need failure and progress to be successful. So you have to be patient. Keep trying and you'll get there!
3. My workmanship of my cube was still not there. I need to learn how to strive for excellence and "perfect" presentation in every project.

Overall, it was a fun project although it's frustrating at times due to failed trials at my mechanisms. Anyway, we've all done a good job!

The Mask

Everyone has inner superpowers. We are just shy of discovering them. For this reason, our next assignment is all about identifying our powers by conjuring a mask which reflects them.

First thing I need to ask myself is, am I more of a superhero or...a supervillain? I explored both. And in comparison, I'm more of a superhero. I'm too good for a villain hehe.

Presenting to you my superhero - Dr.Alivio. Alivio means 'relief' in Spanish. Since I like to provide comfort to people, my character is similar to a doctor's. Hence, the lab coat and my self-proclaimed anti-virus spray.

Oh, you're curious why I concealed just three quaters of my face? That's because in my superhero story, I met an accident which disfigured my face, but one day I found out, my face was healing on its own - my first founded power was self-generating abilities. Sadly it's not real haha but it's pretty cool right?

The Mask Idea Journal from Carmen Chan

1. This assignment really challenged me to discover my inner self, encouraging me to explore my strengths and weakness. It forced me to open myself and to express myself on my idea journal and to the public *gasps*
2. It may be a chill assignment and probably one of the easiest assigments I'd done in my CTS module. But to talk about myself and showing off my 'powers' in front of people could be a nerve-wrecking experience. However, since all of us were doing it, it was fun and everyone enjoyed themselves.
3. Designing my mask took some research as well as I had to find meaning and reasons why I designed this way. Do you know the wings are actually a symbol of healing? *Angel wings*

Question of the day: What's your inner superpower?

The Flying Eggs

It's time to get our brain juices stirring as we started on our first ever CTS assignment, and that was - to create a non-motor gliding device to transport two eggs across a distance.

This was our progress. Since it's about gliding, we went off to research about aerodynamics, how the wings should be designed in an aerofoil shape, and how the center of gravity should be measured.

 First group prototype

 My individual prototype - called it the Flying Squirrel

Us trying out materials

And finally, our final prototype. We opted for the safer and simpler way - which was a cardboard plane. Surprisingly, the presentation of our assignment turned out well! Thank God for good wind-free weather. It managed to glide for a great distance! And our eggs were safe and uncracked. Thanks to the "engineer" of the team - Jia Chin.

The Flying Egg Idea Journal from Carmen Chan

1. It's important to brainstorm your ideas and note down your progress on paper. It can be an extra work but it helps you greatly to see how you advance in your journey in the assignment. The display of your progress can help you make better descisions and conclusions, too!
2. Sometimes, if you can't crack your head in time for complex ideas, go for the simple. As long as you meet its criteria.
3. Always preservere and be patient if your ideas don't work. Don't give up!