Victor's Engineering Blog

Reverse Engineering Project Blog : Victor Nguyen Summary Through this project, I learned again what reverse engineering is. Reverse engineering is taking apart an item to see what it is made of and how it works. After choosing our groups and choosing an item that has more than 7 parts, my group wrote a proposal. The JetJat Nano Drone and Drone Remote has 10 parts, altogether. The batteries send energy through the wires, that power energy to the motherboard, which sends to signal to the drone when you move the joysticks. The screws interacts with the parts, because it keeps everything together. Engineers go through many steps of the EDP, to make this item, and now I know how it works. After six weeks of learning about conflict, I used it in this project. As you can see, this is what I learned in the Reverse Engineering project. Backward-Looking Before this project, I already knew what reverse engineering was because I did a similar project last year in another class. Even if I h

Project Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Image our build Summary For this project, we are working on our build portion of this End of the Year Project. We are to build our prototype. I learned many things in this project. My EOY group is me, Frank, and Jessica P. Our clients is Abram, Jennah, and Tiffany. We are to build their project, and they are to build our project. Our clients wanted to redesign the old garden area, right outside Ms Garcia's classroom. We wanted to redesign the cafeteria, and have more modernized furniture and color. I learned that we can connect our build to our mission statement, which is Revolutionizing a Space, Where Students can Hang Out and Feel Welcomed. If you we make our space more modernized, students might wanna go there. So as you can see, I learned many things doing this End of Year project.  Backward Looking Our work tells a story. It shows that we redesign this place. From a bland, boring place where not many students usually hang out and

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we on the  prototype of scale model  of the  Make and Test a Model  step, because we are not done building.  Summary This week, we did many things. For example, on Monday, we continued to build. We needed 25 grey chairs, so that is what we started on building. Jessica brought black and white clay, so we combined the two and made grey. The chairs was kinda simple to build, because we first made the legs, then built the seating cushions, and the then the back cushions of the chair. On Tuesday, we continued making the chairs. I, with the help of Frank made the tables. Our clients wanted clear tables, so we used water bottles to make it clear. We used cardboard as the legs of the the table. On Wednesday, we also continued doing the same thing, like continued, and finish making the chairs and table. On Thursday, we painted the base to make it green like grass, and make it black like the sidewallk and street. After the base

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we on the prototype of scale model of the Make and Test a Model step. Summary This week, we did many things. For example, on Monday we finished up our questions and we also interviewed our clients. Our clients, Abram, Jennah, and Tiffany also interviewed us. We are building their redesign of the old garden. They are building our redesign of the cafeteria. On Tuesday, we started our sketches, and showed our clients to see if thats how they want it. On the bottom you should see. On Wednesday, we decided who will bring the materials to be able to build. We are going to use toothpicks/popsicle sticks for the hamac, cloth for the canopy, clay/playdoh for the chairs and table. On Thursday, we kinda started building. Without Frank, it was kinda hard to start, because he's kind of the one that creative. We also created our mission statements in ela; our mission statement is " Using the power of revolutionizing a space

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we completed  the  brainstorming and thumbnail sketching   step . Now, we are on the prototype and scale model  step, since we just start to sketch. Summary This week, we did many things. This week, we had block schedule due to testing, so we only had this class Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.. On Monday, we finished up our sketches. We decided that our cavern will be 1.88 km per inch. Our cavern will be 16 in x 5 in x 6 in tall. On Wednesday, since it was a short day, we just decided on who will bring the materials. I was supposed to bring the newspapers. My team members, Frank and Kaden were supposed to bring cardboard and clear wrap. On Thursday, we started to create our cavern. Me and Frank starting measuring out the cardboard. After that, Kaden cut the cardboard into its correct shape. As a team, we taped up the cardboard with masking tape and duct tape, to crest a rectangular box. Then, we covered up the entire

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we are completed  the  background research  step . Now, we are on the brainstorming and thumbnail sketching step, since we just start to sketch Summary This week, we have done many things,  like continuing the Asteroid Impact  project .  On Monday, we continued learning and completing activities about asteroids and rocks. We complete, "Lesson 4: Possible Locations." My group, Kaden and Frank, we found some possible locations our cavern could be. We chose some of these locations because they have clear paths, away from physical/natural features, can get water easily, and is away from highways, and railroad. We also researched rocks, for its hardness, color, granularity, and luster. On Tuesday, we finished researching the rocks, and completed, "Lesson 6: Ranking the Rocks." We used our researched to rank the rocks giving it points. We then ranked the points, seeing which rock is the best. 2 of our pos

Background Research Throughout many lessons and activities, I have learned many things. I learned whether our cavern should be big. We said our cavern should be as big as 1/10 of the state. We looked at the map, and made sure our cavern is not in the way of any physical or natural geographical features, like mountains and fault lines. We learned how big each person takes up. After measuring the classroom, and dividing it by the amount of people, we found out each person should take up about 66.25 meters squared. For 10,000,000, it should be about 662.5 km sq. We then, compared the size to military base. We learned how big one map square is which is 10km by 10km. We found possible locations of the cavern. (D4,D5, E4,E5,F4,F5) (E24-26, F24-26, and half of G24-26), and (D11, D12, E11, E12) .We chose 3, because some of the locations are clear path of physical/natural features, and has a good rock. Out of 3, 2 of these locations have good rocks, like gneiss and granite. As you can see,

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week,  we are still on  the background research step, because we are still doing and completing lessons and activity Summary This week, we have done many things,  like starting  a new project .  On Monday, we started new project, the Asteroid Project. My group, is me, Frank and Kaden. This project, we are to create a shelter that can withstand an asteroid. This shelter must be able to hold 10 million people. We were given a worksheet, "Lesson 1: What's the Problem?" With our group, we finding the problem, and coming with ideas of where we can have our cavern. On Tuesday, we were given another worksheet, "Lesson 2: How Big?" Again, with our group, we found out the measurement of the classroom, with the area of 110 meters squared, and a volume of 354 meters cubed. We were figuring out how big the shelter room should be, and how many beds can fit, and how big the room should be for eating, sleeping, playi

Project Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Image This is our bridge. Summary For this project, I'd say was quite difficult. Like I've said in the past, in this project, we are to create a bridge that can have a farmer, a fox, a chicken, and corn to cross over a 1 meter bridge safely. I'd say this project was difficult, because we had less building time, and the material to build the bridge was quite hard to build with. Before building, me and my group kinda brainstormed some different bridges types, and chose to do arch, with some combination of some parts of other bridges. Then, we decided to use penne pasta, because it has a harder and stronger than some other pasta. So we decided on a penne and spaghetti pasta, arch bridge. In this project, I have learned many things, like the 6 different bridge types, beam, suspension, arch, truss, cantilever, and a cable stayed bridge. Each bridge has 4 different types of stresses, compression, tension, torsion, and shear forces. Com

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, we have fin ished the brainstorming of t he Ge nerate Possible Solution s step. Now we are on and ho pe to fin ish the protyp e of scale model of the Make a nd Test a Model step. Summary This week, we have done many things, like continuin g a new project . On Monday, we cont inu ed what w e d id last week . Me and one of my teammates, Eduardo fin ished up our pro s and cons a bout bridges. While the other two in team, Jennah an d Jewel started to p lan what w e are going to have in our bridge. On Tues day, when everyone was done , we all plann ed out our bridge. So we decid ed to combine different parts of different bridges and made it this bri dge. We have a truss from a truss bridges, and some other t hings tha t will give the bri dge some tension and compression. On Wed nesday, Jennah brou ght som e penne, bec ause our main material is penne, instead on spaghetti. Since Mrs . Gar cia gave each group a box of

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I am on and almost done with the background research of the Define the Problem step. By next week, we should be and hope to be on the brainstorming - idea trigger method  step.  Summary This week, we have done many things, from starting a new project to having an extra day to work our fifth grade partner. On Monday, we started a new project, the Bridge Project. The goal of this project is create a bridge that is made of limited items: spaghetti, tape, and glue. This bridge is over a river and allows a farmer to cross over with his hen, fox, and corn safely. My group is me, Eduardo, Jennah, and Jewel. On Tuesday, we continued working on this project. On Tuesday, we continued working on this project. We researched the 4 different stresses on a bridge each. Jennah researched tension, Jewel did shear forces, and Eduardo did compression. I learned about torsion on a bridge. You can click on the link below to see more. I lear

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I would say I'm not on a design step, because we have been working with the 5th graders on a different project. But I would say I completed the protype or scale model  of the Make and Test a Model step. I would say this, because on Wednesday, we worked with Ms Yip on a Marshmallow Design Challenge. We had create something, so I would say I completed that step. Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. Mainly this whole week, we kinda started a new project in Ms. McMillan's class. We started the Hero's Journey Partner Interview Project. On Monday, we were all given a 5th grade partner. My partner, her name is Gabi. For the two class periods in this class, I've learned many things about her. For example, I learned that she does a Filipino stick fighting thing called Eskrima. Then on Wednesday, we did something different. We worked with Ms. Yip and did a design challenge. It was a marshmallow

Project Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Image This is a our tirfold and our eco house Summary At the beginning of the project, we were already assigned group. My group was me, Minh Anh, Jewel, and Ben. No offense to Ben or Jewel. Even though half our group wasn't or didn't much of the work, we were still able to complete the task of the project. The task of the project was to build a house that was eco-friendly. Before building, we did our green write up. I learned that instead of spending hundreds of dollars on heating and cooling, you first close up any leaks at door or windows. This way the air can stay inside the house. Or you can use central heating and cooling, by using heat exchangers, blowers, burners, and less gas. You never want to use too much gas, because that's polluting the earth. Even though I didn't necessarily researched, or wrote about these parts in the green write up, I still learned about them since I have to present the project myself during S

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, with my group, I am on Communicate Final Design. I, with my group are finishing, and wrapping up our project. Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. This whole week, we continued to finish of model of the eco house, and started on finishing the project. For example, on Monday, we were not at school, no work was done. On Tuesday, we had Ben and Jewel finish the house. So they did. Me and Minh Anh worked on our individual real estate flyers. On Wednesday, since now that our whole team is here, we had more help. We didn't have much time, since it is Wednesday. We each did our own part, either on the flyers, starting on our video, or finishing the house. On Thursday, we were in Ms. McMillan's room, for 3 periods to learn about video editing from CreaTV. On Friday, we writing our blog. If we have enough time, we are continuing to work on our project. As you can see, we have done many things this wee

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, with my group, I am almost done with the ' prototype or scale model' step of the "Make and Test a Model."  Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. This whole week, we continued to build and finish of model of the eco house. For example, on Monday, since half of group wasn't here, me and my other teammate, Minh Anh, had to make some furnishing. We could not glue down to our house, because the model was with our teammate. We should have finished by last Friday. But, since some of us didn't finish, we a bit extra time. On Tuesday, since the half of our team wasn't here, we had one of them, Ben, had his mom bring it in. So they did. Me and Minh Anh continued to make more furnishings, like the kitchen and dining room. On Wednesday, since now that our whole team is here, we had more help. Me and Ben worked on the first floor, while Minh Anh and Jewel worked on the second floor, w

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I have complete the background research  part of my project. Now, with the help of my group, we are brainstorming solutions  for our eco house. Summary This week, I would say we have done many things. For example, on Monday, we continued to finish up our green write up. I have finished my part. On Tuesday, we are doing any final touches to our green write up as to it due. I have learned different ways to say the amount of heating and cooling, to use it, with more eco-friendly solutions. On Wednesday, we started to think of ideas of what we should have in our house. I came up with a one story house that had the same outline as a house I once lived in. My team members, Minh Anh and Ben came with their own house plan. At the end, we came up with one house, that had what we all wanted. We still have to remember that this all ties into a eco-house, which means we shouldn't have something that would take up too much energy

Weekly Blog : Victor Nguyen 7A Design Process This week, I am finishing up the background research  step of the Define the Problem  stage. By next week, I should start to brainstorm some solutions.  Summary This week, we have started on a new project, called the Eco-House Project. We were put into new groups. My group is me, Ben, Minh Anh, and Jewel. In this first part of this project, I have learn that many people use a lot of money, on heating and cooling. But with that money, they are using on gases, that pollutes the world, and that is never the planet and for living things. Instead, people should be living in houses that are eco-friendly, so that they spend their money wisely on heating, cooling, gases, etc. that is good for the ecosystem. On Monday, we didn't have school. On Tuesday, we were introduced on this project, we chose our spot for our house, and we started on our green write up. On Wednesday, we continued to work on our green write up. On Thursday, Ms. Garc