Research work for high school - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Simon123
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:19:52 pm
content: Hello!i and some schoolmates want to work research work about something, but we dont know about what. It could be electronics or some other technical stuff.So i ask you for any suggestions?

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:29:59 pm
content: What kind of research, what class is it for?

author: Simon123
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:35:16 pm
content: We can research what we want, but i dont have any idea.I know something about electronics, woodworking and little bit about mechanics.I am in electronics class by the way.We can also make inovations, but i dont know how this will go. :s

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:37:38 pm
content: Ok, but what electronics class is it? Digital, analog, transistor theory? You in middle school, high school, graduate program?

author: Simon123
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:50:07 pm
content: I am in middle school.its not part of any class

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:55:00 pm
content: Oh, when you say research, I think write a paper!As a group then you guys were probably be better off building something, such as a small robotic platform. Build the platform yourself, make it wonder around without banging into stuff!

author: AndrejaKo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:02:58 pm
content: This is a type of question I often get from my younger brother as well.First step would be to actually think about what you like to do. Try to make a concise list of that. Do write that down. Think a bit about it. Think what you could research about it. One you have that "basic" list, then come back and share that ideas with us.Right now, there's a high chance that we could recommend something to you that would not interest you. Electronics are a wide field and you could do electronics research together with almost anything.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:14:40 pm
content: Generally when you say "research" in middle school, it really means practical learning by doing experiments and/or making something.So really you need to narrow down on what interests you. What do you find fun? What would you like to do?If you want ideas of something to make or do, then the "make a robot" suggestion above is a good one. There you have mechanical aspects and electronic aspects to work with.

author: Simon123
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:25:09 pm
content: But make a robot isnt any special.It has to be something new-like new invention and thats hard.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:32:13 pm
content: Quote from: Simon123 on October 23, 2013, 04:25:09 pmIt depends, robots are very different.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:38:00 pm
content: Quote from: Simon123 on October 23, 2013, 04:25:09 pmOk, I challenge you to make one that walks, proficiently.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:46:34 pm
content: On TWO legs...!

author: Alana
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:49:46 pm
content: If you want to go into robotics look at amateur robotics contests and themes of designs from them.But try not to go too high with your goals and expectations - we did and it crashed our team.Thing is - how good are you and your team with general electronics like power supply and motor drivers? Do you have someone good with mechanical design? What have you done in the past already that worked and could be re-used or re-created? This are key factors that we neglected.

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 04:59:56 pm
content: well for a robot it would be good motivation to look at some sci-fi which used some clever designs. not transformers and such. or even games which has mechs exoskeletons in it

author: divelectservices
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 05:21:54 pm
content: Some of the things my friends and I did in High School:Constructed a robotic arm with 3-finger "hand" and rotating wrist completely from parts/pieces found in the shop class junk boxes. It used air cylinders and an Allen Bradly programmable controller.Found an old Helium-Neon laser while cleaning out the science room closets. My friend and I constructed a circuit to pulse the laser and used it to measure the length of the school hallways.We later used that laser to make holograms in a makeshift sandbox.I constructed a monster light show with 200 colored flood lamp bulbs and a box of solid state relays donated to the school. It was controlled by the programmable controller. Quite amazing to see. I wish I would have taken some pics of it.A local manufacturing company donated a CO2 laser head my senior year. We started construction of the power supply and the cooling system but unfortunately I graduated before it was finished. The next year, almost all the shop and electronics programs were cancelled. Heaven forbid kids might hurt themselves learning a practical skill or two!

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 05:31:56 pm
content: Keep it simple. You don't know all that much about electrical engineering just yet. Look up some simple projects on google (cmoy headphone amplifier, TV-B-Gone, crystal radio, etc) and work with those. If you project requires innovation, try modifying the origonal design just a little to show you have an understanding of why/how the product works.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 06:04:26 pm
content: Quote from: Simon123 on October 23, 2013, 04:25:09 pmI think the key thing about research is that you learn things that you didn't know before, and you learn how to go through the discovery process. The process is as important as the results. You should learn how to plan what you want to do, how to take a careful and methodical approach, how to keep notes about each experiment you do (with details of what you did, what worked, and what didn't work). You should learn how to adapt your plans when your ideas don't work out or when you can't obtain particular items.I research things a lot, and it's not so much to add the the stock of world knowledge, it is for my own education. It is all about curiosity. First of all you have to be curious about things. Then see what you are curious about, and think of experiments or projects to satisfy that curiosity.Try to do something that is new toyou, thatyouhave not done before. You will soon find out that that getting results can be harder than you think.

author: Simon123
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 06:22:19 pm
content: Ok, i have some idea, its pretty simple, ill post it if we decide to make it.

author: Dongulus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 06:40:10 pm
content: Look for some sort of science fair or competition for students your age. In the US, Science Olympiad offers some project or test-based competitions and they also offer some resources for learning.