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Wednesday, 13 July 2011 09:30

Two men, one pedal boat and a big ocean

Project Torpedalo - Extreme Machine from Extreme CAD

Project Torpedalo is quite simply the most advanced pedal boat ever created and it is to be used to cross the Atlantic! Madness you say? Well two Design Engineers from Bently Motors: Mark Byass and Mike Sayer have designed and built their own pedalo and they plan to pedal 3,000 miles (naked!) in December 2011. It is important to note this is for charity (also to break the World Record), the objective is to raise £250k for Make-A-Wish Foundation and Motor Neurone Disease Association. So what has this got to do with Computer Aided Design (aka CAD)? Well you can't take this boat on a real test drive, you can't sit and pedal for 30 days just to make sure it works. So what do you do? DIGITAL PROTOTYPING

Digital Prototyping in a Real World

When people think of CAD they think of architects designing buildings or manufactures designing everyday objects but they think of these as static models without intelligence. Digital Prototyping (in architecture called BIM) is revolutionising the way the design industry is creating and building more and more advanced machines. The designers and engineers work together to create a virtual machine, in this case a pedalo.

The boat is built in a computer in 3D with every screw, nut and bolt and then tested; virtually. We are now at a stage where computers can give an object(s) intelligence. Example: your testing a bridge which you want to build to see how it will stand up against storms. Computers can simulate weather conditions and apply stresses to the virtual bridge. This bridge is programmed to react in exactly the same way as if it was built and how it will survive these stresses over time. Currently the new Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco (currently being built) was tested in this way. Also the Millau Viaduct in France (tallest bridge in the world) designed by UK Architects Foster and Partners was only made possible because of this amazing technology.

Back to Project Torpedalo

Mark and Mike designed their own closed-cockpit, triple compartment self-righting pedal-driven monohull (aka Pedalo) from scratch. It is 8.3m long from bow to stern, with a single pedalling position and a sleeping cabin at the back, the boat has been carefully engineered to do everything that it needs to do, and is optimised for an ocean crossing. By designing the boat themselves, they were able to focus on making the boat efficient and fast, whilst remaining stable and important ability to self-right in the event of capsize (which is likely considering 40 foot waves with 8 foot breakers).  The boat also has to be their home for at least 6 weeks and carry everything that two people need to survive for that long.

Crucial CAD for a Crucial Design

The initial plans involved building large scale models of the boat and testing it in a wind tunnel. While the resources for this were secured, timing plans couldn’t be worked around the availability of the tunnel. So, instead the designers decided to use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model the airflow over the boat in the variety of wind conditions. This modelling takes a lot of computing power and specialist software but saves time and money in creating scale models which would have to be tweaked many times before they bring the correct results. By using a powerful computer tweaks can be made quickly and efficiently on the virtual model to achieve the results needed for the project.
 
The drivetrain design is clearly crucial to the success of the adventure. It had to be light, efficient, easy to service, and simple. The first concept for the drivetrain featured a vertical driveshaft with a right-angle gearbox at each end, but quickly they realised that this layout would be heavy and difficult to fix if it failed without taking heavy spare gearboxes. Head of Engineering at Bentley Motors, suggested using a belt drive. Modern belts don’t stretch, are very efficient, are light, don’t need perfect alignment (unlike chains) and crucially can be twisted – meaning the direction of rotation of the drive train (from pedal to propeller) can be changed without a gearbox. Once again through CAD models and testing this could be proved, the image of the drive train is shown on the right, which is was created as a full virtual working model.
 
The original boat concept had a propeller at the stern, but with the amount of vertical pitching that the boat will do in rough seas they noticed that a stern prop could be lifted out of the water. For this reason, and with the pedalling position in the centre of the boat, they decided a propeller on a keel board directly under the pedaller was the best solution.
 
The result of over a year of design work with the help of amazing software is a fast, stable boat that cuts well through the water and the air and most importantly be able to cross the Atlantic.

Charity and the World Record

This project is a charity event like no one has ever seen! Mark and Mike have done all the design work themselves, sourcing materials, companies and professionals to help them. The boat will take part in Woodvale Challenge, a trans-Atlantic rowing race involving roughly 30 rowing boats that takes place every two years – Mark and Mike be the first crew ever to compete in a pedalo. A pairs pedalo has only ever made this journey once before, in 1994, taking 111 days. They want to do it in 38 days (most definitely possible) and if they succeed, they will set a new World Record.
 
I have full confidence that both Mark and Mike will succeed and I write this blog not only promote the use of Digital Prototyping and CAD but to promote them and their amazing project. If you can please donate and if you have any questions about the article please comment or contact me regarding the use of CAD for different projects.
 
 
Published in Matthew Jackson
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Friday, 04 June 2010 08:23

iPod Touch classroom starter kit

iPod Touch (4G) classroom starter kit

The iPod Touch is proving to be an invaluable teaching and learning tool. Useful right the way across the curicullum, teachers are acheiving fantastic results in projects ranging from basic literacy through to modern languages, geography, maths and physical education. The 4th generation model iPod Touch brings a host of innovative new features including dual cameras (front & back) for capturing stills, HD video and video chat using FaceTime.  With thousands of educational APPs now available and with elegant web browsing, iPod Touch is a cost effective way to achieve 1-2-1 and is becoming increasing popular in both primary & secondary schools.

Our classroom starter kit includes the latest Apple MacBook Pro 13" where teachers and students can easily create and share digital content such as podcasts, audio files, eBooks and PDFs. AppleCare Protection Plan offers enhanced and extended 3 year support and warranty. We then include a Parasync dock complete with 20 x New iPod Touch 8GB (4G). The Parasync is a robust docking station allowing you to quickly and easily syncronise and charge all 20 iPods connected to one host computer.

 

Apple MacBook Pro 13"
AppleCare Protection Plan
20 x iPod Touch 8GB
Parasync dock
 

£4,450.00 + VAT

Parasync dock (pictured with a selection of iPods)
Parasync dock on it's own £895.00 + VAT

For more information about use of Apple mobile technologies in education, see our mobile learning blog.

Published in Education
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Friday, 21 May 2010 13:26

Mobile learning blog

Through our ongoing series of mobile learning forums we regularly meet and consult with educators across the spectrum of education from Primary right through to HE. This blog provides a range of useful links to help you explore Apple mobile devices in a teaching & learning context. Please continue to e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Deployment

iOS 5 Education - Deployment Guide

Learn how to deploy and support iOS devices in an education environment. This guide is designed for those responsible for the deployment of iOS devices, from IT leadership to implementors. It highlights best practices and considerations relevant to deploying and supporting iOS devices in education environments. Much of the content is US-centric but still very useful: Download PDF

Getting Started with Apple iOS

A guide for using iPad, iPod touch, and iTunes for K-12 teaching and learning: Download PDF

Education Resources

http://www.apple.com/uk/education/resources/
http://www.apple.com/uk/education/ipad/
http://www.learningintouch.com/

Education Apps

http://www.apple.com/education/apps/

http://www.apple.com/ipad/apps-for-ipad/
http://www.capita-sims.co.uk/sims-app-apple-android
http://www.ipadineducation.co.uk/
http://www.tme.ie/

Coding & Creating Apps

http://twolivesleft.com/Codea/
http://www.runrev.com/solutions/k-12-high-school/case-study-high-school-uk/
http://www.makeanapp.info/

Configuration Profiles & Device Management

iOS Configuration Utility: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1465
http://www.apple.com/uk/support/lionserver/profilemanager/
http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/integration/mdm/

Wiki Server & WebDAV

Wiki Server provides an easy to use environment to empower collaboration in the classroom.
WebDAV is the technology used to save documents to your school server.
See: http://www.apple.com/macosx/server/

More Great Links & Blogs

http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/
http://www.heppell.net/
http://www.cloudlearn.net/
http://www.digitalgeography.co.uk/
http://www.scoop.it/t/ipads-in-special-ed
http://www.applenuggets.com/
http://edtechteacher.org/index.php/teaching-technology/mobile-technology-apps/ipad-as

iTunes U

The largest collection of eduational resources on the internet:
http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/
 

If you have information you’d like to share with this group or If you have further questions, please get in touch.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Published in Simon Birch
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Thursday, 20 May 2010 10:47

Financing the 1:1 initiative

Financing the 1:1 initiative

The 1:1 initiative is a long term vision to provide a mobile device for every student in school.

There are three key decisions to be made:

1) Choose a suitable WiFi infrastructure to support hundreds, potentially over 1000 devices.
2) Choose which devices to provide or recommend.
3) Choose how to finance the initiative.

In the current economic and political climate, more schools are looking for new ways to implement the 1:1 initiative. In particular, it is becoming increasingly common for schools to make a significant investment in the back-end infrastructure and then offer cost effective ways for their parents to contribute towards the mobile devices.

In partnership with Apple Financial Services, Solutions inc. have a finance scheme known as iStudent where schools can provide Apple technologies to parents for a monthly fee. Parents can benefit from our education pricing (normally only available for school purchases) and the scheme also includes insurance cover. At the end of the rental term, the title of equipment is passed on at a nominal fee (currently 2%).

Pricing will vary depending on the scale of your deployment but the following illustrations are based on a minimum commitment of £20,000.00. These monthly payments are calculated over three years (we can provide finance over 2 or 3 years). It is also possible for the school to part fund the scheme in order to reduce the cost burden to some or all parents.

* Prices exclude VAT. Through communication with schools using similar schemes, we understand that schools are not required to charge VAT when charging a monthly fee for the use of equipment. However, Solutions inc. cannot be held responsible for this. It is up to the individual school to establish your own accounting procedure.

Contact your Regional Education Advisor for a tailored quotation: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Published in Education
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Saturday, 15 May 2010 06:39

Runnymede RTC

Runnymede

Regional Training Centre

 

About the centre

Our aim is to provide an informal environment where teachers and technicians can explore Apple technologies regardless of experience or expertise. We host regular hands-on workshops where teachers learn to use technologies to enhance creativity in the classroom, right across the curriculum. Our own staff host most sessions, but we also invite teachers and technicians with specialist skills to present and run workshops throughout the year across all of the following subjects:

• Mobile Learning
• Podcasting for Primary teachers
• Podcasting for Secondary teachers
• Stop-frame Animation
• Music technology
• Advanced Video & Music Production

 

Listings

Get Set for Mobile Learning
An afternoon with David Kirtlan
Wednesday 7th December

We are excited to announce our first afternoon of free hands-on workshops for teachers hosted by David Kirtlan, Apple Distinguished Educator and Director of Education at The Backstage Academy.

The afternoon is arranged in three sessions; feel free to attend as many as you can. The third session starts at 3.30 but we will welcome later arrivals up to 4.30 pm.

To reserve your place contact Anthony Jorge:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

All teachers are welcome to attend.

1.30 - 2.15 pm : Learning Diaries
This practical session will explore simple content creation. Using the built-in camera, we’ll capture  and edit video and add narration & music. We’ll also discuss how this can be used within the curriculum for assessment purposes.

2.30 - 3.15 pm : Storyboards & Newsletters
Using the iWork suite we will experience how to create storyboards and newsletters to help students evidence their own learning, encourage reflective thought and peer assessment.

3.30 - 5.30 pm : Mobile Learning
This session will demonstrate the key aspects of mobile learning, highlighting the benefits and issues when using such technology within a classroom. We will explore some of the best applications available, focusing on learning and providing examples of successful projects with student outcomes. We will also allow time to discuss the range of mobile devices supported, focussing on embedding them into the curriculum and schemes of work.

 

 

Can't find what you're looking for?

Contact Education Advisor, Gary Moore This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Published in Regional Training Centres
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