The Student Projects Lab and Shop (SPLASh) - Program Proposal

Program Proposal:

The Student Projects Lab and Shop (SPLASh)

SPLASh is a model program to demonstrate the practical application
of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
education to develop technologists.

Introduction

!       SPLASh is a program organized by the DeAnza Physical Sciences, Mathematics,
and Engineering (PSME) Division intended to encourage and facilitate student interest
in the fields of Engineering, Robotics, and Applied Science. Its goal is to encourage and
foster an interdisciplinary environment that will give all students an outlet for individual
creativity and team ingenuity. This environment will emphasize the use of technology
and material recycling as a focus in the implementation of student ideas to practical
projects.
!       SPLASh is administered by PSME, but will not be restricted to PSME students.
SPLASh is a multidisciplinary effort to enhance learning in all fields by introducing
students to the practical, hands-on activities that use the concepts learned in the
classroom.
!       SPLASh participants will demonstrate the concepts and practice of
environmental responsibility to the Foothill – DeAnza campuses and surrounding
community. SPLASh will be an inspiration for the practical, small scale implementation
of green technology and sustainable living, as well as a benefit to traditional science
laboratories across the DeAnza campus.
!       SPLASh is a showcase for the ingenuity and dedication of DeAnza students, and
a preparation and development of skills essential to their continuing education.
!       This document gives the basic requirements to establish the SPLASh program,
broken down into several general areas: setting up the SPASh facility, a practical
justification for SPLASh, a proposed SPLASh curriculum, and funding SPLASh. It is
focused on the materials and facilities required for SPLASh. The document will give
insight into the potential benefit of SPLASh to the entire campus community.

A background for SPLASh

!      One of the precursors to SPLASh can be seen in the Engineering Technology
Club and Robotics club (ETC). The club has constructed some student-inspired
projects such as a Tesla coil, trebuchet, photoelectric demonstrator, and a compact disk
parabolic mirror / solar cooker. The club has participated in intra-campus competitions
with neighboring community college campuses. However, the clubʼs demonstration
projects are largely unknown and unseen by much of the DeAnza community. Some
projects have continued over several years solely due to the difficulty of procuring new
equipment from vendors. Some club efforts have been made possible by personal
equipment and supplies provided by staff and faculty, but if the club advisors are not
able to provide equipment and funds as needed, the club is in danger of stagnating
because of the lack of activities to keep members interested.
!      Clearly, students have the inspiration and are willing to put in the effort to
accomplish engineering projects. The ETC website lists many former members and

officers who credit ETC activities as a factor in their acceptance to prestigious four-year
colleges and universities. At the same time, initial ETC interest after club day has fallen
off due, in part, to the long lead time between planning projects and getting materials,
and the unavailability of facilities outside of Friday afternoons and some weekday
evenings.
!       SPLASh takes student involvement to a new level by providing them with the
guidance, materials, and the facilities to channel the energy they have demonstrated.
SPLASh expands the STEM educational movement outside the classroom into large,
practical, interdisciplinary projects to inspire and encourage other students into the
program. SPLASh provides equal opportunity for practical experience to students who
have not been selected for internship programs.
!       SPLASh provides the facilities and materials to students without the worry that
they must rely on club advisors. SPLASh will coordinate its resources and those of
faculty and staff to ensure that there is no “single-point failure” if an advisor is not able
to provide the equipment necessary or provide time when the students are able to work.
SPLASh will facilitate creativity by providing a center of coordination for faculty, staff,
and students to provide time and expertise, not only as ideas, but practical, hands-on
proposals, methods, and solutions.
!       SPLASh offers the focus to link disciplines through practical projects. Just as the
Learning in Communities (LinC) program presents students with interdisciplinary
concepts, SPLASh offers the opportunity for cooperative efforts, particularly among the
sciences, which can be displayed and demonstrated to the DeAnza community.
!       SPLASh provides a history for DeAnza student achievements. Student projects
will be documented and not be one time events that are displayed once and then
forgotten. SPLASh will provide the expertise to submit articles and editorials to
professional journals and local newspapers/magazines to promote DeAnza college and
its student activities, not only documenting student successes, but giving students a
sense of pride in seeing their name in print.
!       With the current budget situation, students are often not able to find the classes
they need to work toward their goals past DeAnza College. SPLASh would give
students an alternate way to channel their energy and gain practical knowledge and
experience that they are unable to get with the traditional community college curricula
and class schedule.
!       Transfer students are often at a disadvantage because four-year universities
offer established, comprehensive programs, such as the University of California
Berkeleyʼs Robotics and Intelligent Machines Lab, which give students a continuous
exposure to and immersion in the use of technology. By the time transfer students enter
such a program, they are behind their peers who started in such a program from the
beginning.

The Student Projects Laboratory and Shop

!     The essential component of the SPLASh program is the Student Projects Lab
and Shop facility. Outside of DeAnza Club activities and other exceptions, the practical
hands-on learning experience is restricted to the laboratory schedule and in most cases,

there is no laboratory available. SPLASh will give students the opportunity to use these
facilities on their own time with the proper supervision.
!        Unlike traditional laboratories, SPLASh will be an open facility. This is essential
for fostering creativity and ensuring efficient work practices. While some students are
be productive during regular school hours, other student engineers are most active and
get their best inspiration in the evening hours. Also, some students are frustrated when
restricted to fixed activity periods. SPLASh offers the opportunity for efficient learning.
Some students would prefer to keep working on a project if they feel they are making
good progress, rather than interrupting the process and waiting until the next day or
next lab period before being able to continue. Some students need time to absorb and
process concepts and their creative process is stifled if they get their understanding and
inspiration at the end of the period, but cannot continue to develop their insight.
!        Even before the recent California budget cuts, access to engineering, robotics,
and other project materials is a very expensive proposition. By using recycled material
such as car parts, discarded electronic apparatus like printers, VCR players, computer
components, etc., the student has access to sophisticated electronic/robotic materials
such as sensors, harnesses, motors, and gearboxes at minimum cost. This will also
encourage recycling by creating very sophisticated projects out of discarded materials,
i.e., “Junk”.
!        In addition to giving students the opportunity to work with technology, SPLASh
would give students a way to document their experiences which will enhance their
acceptance at a four year institution. SPLASh will also give the student the chance to
earn credit for their studies. If interested faculty members can be found, SPLASh
facilities can be used to offer the students 0.5 credit hour courses in special/advanced
projects.
!        A primary emphasis of SPLASh is the concept of recycling and reuse of waste
material. Once SPLASh facilities have been put into place, SPLASh activities will
continue at low cost because, with few exceptions, many project materials will come
from electronic equipment which is scheduled for surplus and disposal, as well as car
sensors, motors, regulators, fuses, etc. These materials can cost hundreds of dollars
new, but just a few dollars in a junk yard.
!        Finally, SPLASh can give DeAnza College laboratories in traditional subjects
(Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science) an opportunity to use advanced
technology sooner than would be available through regular funding sources. One of the
purposes of SPLASh would be to build laboratory equipment that can be used in
laboratories around the DeAnza campus. Laboratory programs have equipment needs
that are difficult to fund. Some equipment is too expensive to purchase without years of
proposals and advanced planning, and some funding sources, such as Measure C,
have restrictions that prevent the purchase of equipment that does not meet a threshold
amount or fall within specific categories. Some equipment is needed in a more timely
fashion than can be obtained through regular funding sources to incorporate world
events as “teaching moments” such as the recent tsunami and nuclear disaster in
Japan. SPLASh provides the capability for DeAnza instructors to request customized
instrumentation systems and the facilities to manufacture them to the instructorsʼ needs
and specifications. These systems include area monitors for environmental studies,
detectors for geologic and meteorological events, and mass and motion triggered

sensors for physics experiments. Such specialized equipment uses basic sensors. A
light sensor might incorporate a filter to detect a certain energy of light or substance in
the environment, or can be combined with a light source to form a gate for detecting
motion. Implementing the concept of recycling and reuse, this technology would be
available at a fraction of the cost of purchasing it from a vendor.

Cost estimate for establishing the SPLASh

!      A detailed cost estimate is provided in the attached appendices. The following is
a summary of the estimated costs. Some categories are rounded upwards to account
for sales tax and shipping expenses. These costs do not account for any discounts or
incentives negotiated with the vendors.

Setting up SPLASh

SPLASh facilities

!       A key component of SPLASh is a dedicated room or rooms for the storage of
equipment and, more importantly, a space where students may work, uninterrupted, on
their projects. While students are responsible for keeping SPLASh facilities clean and
organized, they would not have to completely disassemble a project or experiment at
the end of a session. It is imperative that students take responsibility for the integrity
and smooth operation of the lab.

The laboratory

Storage

!       Storage in SPLASh will be wall mounted shelving units. The project shelving
units will be configured to allow a laboratory cart to be wheeled in. The shelves will be
installed above the laboratory cart and have doors for security and earthquake safety.
There will also be tools and equipment storage on heavy duty shelves, also with doors
for security and safety. There will be two sets of tilt storage bins mounted on the wall or
on the back of a door, as space permits. SPLASh will have four laboratory work
benches. Large storage bins will be available for student projects sized such that they
will completely contain the project with no disassembly required.

Equipment

!      SPLASh will have the electronic, mechanical, and electrical tools to support
building projects and recycling equipment.

– Electronic equipment

!      SPLASh will have the equipment required to build student projects and recycle
electronic equipment.

– Mechanical equipment

!      SPLASh will have the equipment necessary to build mechanical projects.

– Computer equipment

!     SPLASh will have one FHDA district computer to run FHDA licensed software.
SPLASh will have several computers for design and testing of projects with unrestricted
software, and these computers will be surplus or donated equipment.

– Software

!      SPLASh computers will have software necessary for the design of mechanical,
electronic, and electrical components, and for computer and microprocessor
programming.

– Startup Supplies

!      SPLASh will acquire basic supplies to begin student projects. After the initial
issue, the SPLASh will obtain components and raw materials from surplus equipment.

– Recommended equipment

!      Two critical pieces of equipment are essential, if the budget allows. The first is a
laser cutter which is used for manufacturing precision pieces from wood, plastic, or
metal. The laser cutter should be as powerful as allowed within the budget. The
second is a large format display. SPLASh manager and instructors will use this board
as a teaching tool. This will enable them to display prepared lectures and
demonstrations, and also retain any modifications made during the class or teaching
sessions.

– Safety equipment

!      SPLASh will have safety equipment available for small groups.

– Support

!      SPLASh will be supported by manager who will act as a dedicated technical
assistant, and act as a contractor for SPLASh facilities, as required.

Summary

                      Category                                 Estimated cost

 Storage                                                                       $10,000

 Electrical/electronic equipment                                                $7,500

 Mechanical equipment                                                           $7,500

 Computer equipment                                                             $2,500

 Software                                                                       $1,000

 Startup supplies                                                               $5,000

 Recommended equipment                                                         $12,500

 Safety equipment                                                               $5,000

 SPLASh manager / contracting costs                                           $100,000

 Total                                                                        $151,000

Faculty support

!    SPLASh will solicit support from faculty willing to supervise selected students for
academic credit for advanced projects.

Funding SPLASh

!     SPLASh will probably be funded from multiple sources for flexibility. Some
sources may allow SPLASh to purchase surplus equipment or scrap materials.

Sample SPLASh program

Laboratories and tutorials
!
!     The 3 Basics of robotics “RMD, PAI, RES”
!     !      Robotics mechanical design (RMD)
!     !      !      Gearing
!     !      !      Servo installation
!     !      !      Basic mechanical design, legs, arms, bodies, etc
!     !      !      Motion tracking and balancing
!     !      Programming and AI (PAI)
!     !      !      Requires Basic programming skills
!     !      !      Understanding AI modules
!     !      Robotic Electronic Systems (RES)
!     !      !      Sensors
!     !      !      Step motors
!     !      !      Servos
!     !      !      Primitive CPUs
!     !      !      Circuit design and testing
!
!     Reverse engineering
!     !      Mechanical
!     !      Electronic
!     !      Environmental systems
!
!     Power generation
!     !      Solar
!     !      !      Parabolic mirrors
!     !      !      Solar Panels
!     !      !      Evaporation methods
!     !      Wind
!     !      !      Turbines
!     !      !      Kites
!     !      Water
!     !      !      Turbines
!     !      !      Water wheels!        !     !
!
!     Material recycling
!     !      Car parts “Sensors, Harnesses, Motors, Gearboxes, etc”
!     !      Waste “Cans, Bottles, Inner tubes, Construction waste, etc”
             Components “Printers, VCRs, TVs, etc”

SPLASh anecdotes

Ernest Rutherford

!      One of the inspirations for SPLASh is Ernest Rutherford, known as the father of
nuclear physics. Rutherford was known for constructing experimental apparatus from
ordinary materials, and inspired the experimental work of his laboratory assistants.

Robotics competition

!      The Robotic Competition, originally funded by the University of California at
Santa Cruz under the Developing Effective Engineering Pathways (DEEP) project, is an
example of the need for SPLASh facilities at all community college practices.
!      One recent example of this is the Robotics Competition. DeAnza College
students were able to work on their robots in the evening with the supervision of a staff
member. Ohlone College students were restricted to times when they could be directly
supervised by a faculty member, except for the night before the competition when the
faculty advisor allowed the student to work in his garage so that they could finish the
project in time. This gave the DeAnza Engineering Technology Club an edge and may
have been a factor in their success.

Wind assisted propulsion system

!       Fortunato, the originator of the SPLASh concept, was contracted to build a
prototype, shipboard, wind propulsion system. This system used various sensors to
monitor the the ship and the sail, and employed a robotics system to adjust the sail for
optimum operation. The project was almost deemed as impractical due to the
estimated $7000 cost of the prototype system, but Fortunato used recycled auto parts to
build the system for $900.

Physics laboratory equipment

!       The DeAnza Physics Department long term plan is to incorporate the use of
computerized data acquisition and analysis (DAQ) in the laboratory program. One way
of obtaining this equipment is by purchasing an equipment package from a vendor. This
package would contain the proper sensors to monitor any experiment that an instructor
might design, and would meet funding restrictions of the intended source, Measure C.
However, with any package, some unnecessary material would be included, and
purchase of only the equipment needed would not meet the Measure C funding
restrictions. In order to equip a full laboratory section with DAQ, the expense would be
over $42,000. SPLASh would provide the same capability for 1/3 the cost or less.