Gizmos Whir, Buzz, Boom, Spin, Zip, Splash, Beep - and
Occasionally Sputter-- in Physics 121 Student Project Showcase

By Paul K. Mueller I March 21, 2005

Video Clips Professor, C. Fred Driscoll GNARLY, acronym for GPS Navigated Autonomous Rover Location Instrument Hall Effect Levitation The Balancing Broomstick Autonomous Helium Blimp

Up until to a couple of weeks ago, the projects were still more ideas than working prototypes - a tangle of wiring, a handful of computer chips, an electric motor or two, software code not yet tested or debugged, wheels and gears scattered on work tables. Now, though, the deadline for the class projects has arrived, and the student teams must demonstrate that their varied gizmos function as planned.

It's time for what their professor, C. Fred Driscoll, describes as "general panic," as the physics and engineering seniors' "main event" gets under way. It's week 10 of a class divided into five weeks of studying data-acquisition and control using microprocessors, then five weeks of working in teams to develop, build and demonstrate a device of their choosing.

Students Alex Clemesha and Evan Friis talk about their PIC Robot, aka Barbie's Balancing Bicycle.

It's time for the 26th annual Physics 121 Special Projects Showcase in 2120 Warren Lecture Hall - wherein, as the printed program says, "the diligent physics and engineering student teams demonstrate their mastery of computers and connections to the real world, with some deference to Rube Goldberg."

"The theme might be described as 'just go for it,'" says Driscoll, "with the only requirements being that the project detect something in the real world, process the information, and control something in the real world." About half of the projects use embedded microprocessors, he says, while some use PC-scale computers, and some aren't computer-based at all.

"The class doesn't generally demand 'slick' engineering design and construction," Driscoll says. "Given the five-week time frame, it's more the excitement of trial-and-error. Actually, this seems to be how students learn best, and some projects actually are slick."

With the help of teaching assistants Dan Creveling and Tom Driscoll, and engineers Earl Dolnick and Allen White, the student teams have assembled some slick projects, indeed, including a balancing broomstick, a toy care that is steered by closed-circuit camera, and a helium blimp that is piloted using a wireless Internet connection. (See sidebar below for description of all projects presented.)

Students Benjamin Migliori and David Myer with their project, GNARLY, acronym for GPS Navigated Autonomous Rover Location Instrument.

"Some background in electronics can be helpful," says Driscoll, "but expertise is not required. Given the team nature of the projects, some students emphasize hardware, some build electronics, some enjoy the challenges of programming."

And not all students follow the course of study into careers in science or engineering. Mike Judge, one of the winners of the Physics 121 demos in 1985, became famous not for his version of the "Balancing Broomstick," but for the (some would say unbalanced) "Beavis and Butthead" cartoons.

As a good crowd of guests and other observers witness, the team members explain their projects and strut their technological stuff. The gizmos whir, buzz, boom, spin, splash, beep - and sometimes sputter - to the laughter and applause of onlookers.

Students Puneet Khattar demonstrates his stripe-following car.

As in the "real world," not everything goes according to plan. Some electronic components embarrass their teams; some sensors prove vulnerable to interference from nearby cameras and other distractions. But the blimp does rise and fall on command; the toy cars, perhaps a little erratically, zip around the their courses; the broomstick actually does balance on its motorized platform; the tuning fork's tone is reconstructed and displayed; the magnet does in fact levitate and travel forward; the child's bike, propelled but not steered or balanced by a team member, manages a somewhat drunken but upright circuit of the courtyard.

The unholy tangle of wires, chips, gears and components of two weeks ago have been transformed into working devices - very special projects, indeed.

The students vote, and the winners are announced: a three-way tie! Best Project Awards go to GNARLY, The Balancing Broomstick, and Hall-Effect Levitation - the first time such a tie has occurred.

Winners and runners-up alike enjoy refreshments as Driscoll, the teaching assistants and the engineers beam. "This is the strongest set of projects we've had so far," says Driscoll and, floating behind him, the Mylar-sided blimp nods in agreement.