https://cambridge.nuvustudio.com/studios/long-term-projects/transit-wheel

The objective of this project was to design a rugged, off-road version of the existing Two-Wheel personal vehicle. The existing Two-Wheel is designed solely for use on flat, open spaces where there are no obstacles or barriers to block its movement. Even large enough sidewalk cracks can cause the wheels to get stuck, resulting in the user falling off and getting injured. Our Two Wheel keeps the easy to use design, but it vastly improves handling on rough terrain.

We set out to change the fact that the common person could not ride a Two Wheel over uneven areas. Even the slightest hazards could send the passenger flying off of the product. When we designed the All Terrain Two-Wheel, we wanted to put the rider in the position of power. We did not want sticks or cracks in the road to be able to dictate the direction in which the rider traveled. Our vehicle has two, ten-inch diameter wheels to handle all terrain.  Its body is also designed to travel over unforeseen obstacles. Underneath the foot stand, the body slants down to a smaller flat piece on the bottom. This angle allows the All Terrain Two-Wheel to not get caught up on objects beneath it; instead, they just slide through. We used an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a potentiometer to control speed and direction. All the rider has to do is to lean in the direction they want to go. To turn, the person has to put one foot in the forward position and the other in the backward position, so the wheels spin in opposite directions. For this project we used an Arduino and motor controller to make the motors work. We did not know very much coding, so we had to learn as we went while modifying existing code. The wheels were also a little tricky. It was hard to get them perfect, but eventually we were satisfied.

http://issuu.com/nuvuhub/docs/final/1

    In this studio, we were challenged to make an art piece that kept people busy while they waited for the bus. The first solution we came up with, was making a pedal box under the bus stop seats, that would allow commuters to pedal and generate electricity. This could be used for charging electronics or powering a sign that tells you when the bus is coming. We later pivoted because this was kind of a solitary idea. Although it encouraged you to charge and use your phone, it wasn't really a form of art. So, we wanted to make something that was interactive, communal, and is a piece of art. We split up to come up with ideas, and we all decided on a large cylindrical music box that you could spin around a pole making music.

The idea for our project was to create something that could be passed down from generation to generation, but allowed them to have a closer connection as well. This collar allows you to record your stories and when a relative goes back to that spot the collar will light up and start playing the story.

Two weeks ago the entire group had a large meeting to decide which IPP project they wanted to do. Because it was the Fall term all the IPP projects were continuations of projects that we had done in the past over the term. All the projects that the coaches suggested we continue were written  on the board and we were allowed to pick the ones we especially liked. Our entire group decided to work on the Visual Lullaby and a couple of us chose to work on the Floating Jacket so we combined the two ideas. After lots of research and sewing we decided to scrap the jacket part and continue on a variation of the headrest; a collar.

The Memory collar is made up of three main parts that we each chose to focus on  : the LEDS, the recording piece, and the GPS. The LEDs are programmed to make the trailing light pattern that it does currently inspired by sound waves and have it light up when a person returns to where a story was recorded. The sound aspect made up of an Arduino UNO connected to an Adafruit audio sound fx board. Finally, the collar’s structure is made of acrylic hinged to felt which is sewn to a layer of cotton with batting in between for comfort.

Originally we wanted to combine the Visual Lullaby and the Floating Jacket attaching the headrest to the hood, but after spending time thinking about it, we felt that the project lacked a focus group and we changed directions. Another one of our ideas was having the jacket to be the recording device and having the lights attached to the shoulders like epaulettes. We liked the idea of having the jacket be passed down from generation to generation and having them travel to hear the stories from their family members.  However, once we tried making our own jacket we felt that the whole piece would be very clunky and hard to transport  so we focused on making something that was easier to move. After lots of brainstorming, we decided that the collar would be the best way to fabricate our idea because it would be less unwieldy.

Our main challenge was time. Our project changed numerous times over the course of the two weeks that was allotted to us, because of this it was very hard to know what we were working towards and if it would be completed. During the first week we spent lots of time attempting to make a coat and in the end, we came to the conclusion to not use the structure of the coat. During our process, we spent lots of time waiting , the electronics to come and in the final presentation it will only be a demo version of it and other large cuts were being done on the laser cutter and we had to wait for long periods of time.

The first iteration was the original jacket that we made. We traced a jacket and cut the pieces out of paper and taped it all together.  We took the pieces and used them as templates to cut the fabric out. After we cut all the pieces  we realized that we needed to have made the measurements more precise and leave space for the seams because it was way too small.

For the second iteration we got rid of the coat structure completely and began working on the collar design. We modeled pieces on Rhino and laser cut them attaching them with duct tape to get the flexible shape. We added in two holes at the sides as well, to connect the collar to the user.

For the final iteration we reprinted the pieces out of cardboard. We also cut the felt and cotton in the laser cutter and then attached the cardboard pieces to the fel with hot glue. After we sewed the pieces all together.

The Minds Behind the Mission to Mars illustrates that future for our planet is interplanetary space travel. We talked to numerous people with knowledge and experience in space exploration, planetary science, astronomy education, as well as general interest in space itself. Throughout our piece, there are many topics covered about how space affects humans. Both NASA and Mars One plan to send people to mars and into deep space. However, Mars One is sending four people at a time in waves on a one way trip. NASA plans to bring the astronauts there and back. This will be the first time that people have ever traveled into deep space, and out of Earth's orbit.