It's Official!

I got the OK on the preliminary project proposal! Literally. (It was a one-word message. Is OK even a word? I digress...)

Below I've copied my preliminary proposal, it's about a page long in word.

SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL

PROBLEM: A theme park is looking at expanding their attractions with the addition of a roller coaster. A budget will be given, as will a plot of land with limitations.

PURPOSE: Roller coasters are one of those things that most everyone loves, but most don’t really wonder or care how these scream machines are created. I hope to clarify this and prove that it’s really not just as simple as connecting some pieces of track.

PROCEDURE: After deciding on a theme, limits such as budget and size will be investigated and will factor into the original design sketches. After a general concept is developed, a virtual model will be created and tested before continuing with a physical model. Terrain will also factor into the virtual model. Calculations will then be made to determine the safety and appropriateness of the ride. Once everything checks out well, a physical working scalar model will be created and displayed.

OUTCOMES: This project will hopefully enlighten both myself and others on the topic of roller coaster design. The field is greatly under the radar and only a small number of engineers go into the amusement industry, so I hope to introduce that field to those who may not have realized what it’s like.

ROUGH SCHEDULE:

            Weeks 1-2: deciding on a park, area, type, size, and budget; logistics of how roller coasters work; research.

            Weeks 3-4: estimate budget for materials and construction, designing and manufacturing

            Weeks 5-6: create virtual model/simulation

            Weeks 7-8: adjust design as needed. Order or pick up supplies needed for physical model

            Weeks 9-10: begin building model

            Weeks 11-12: finish building model, test, adjustments if needed, present project

OTHER:

            I’m thinking about keeping a blog to update as I go rather than have a ton of files just hanging around on the computer. This helps organize the process and will provide a wonderful reference for the final report. It also helps keep things simple, concise and clean. I will still be making a presentation and report, however. The blog is solely for my personal organization.

I've obviously decided to go ahead with the blog idea, but copy and paste makes life easier.

I'm really excited to start working on this and see this idea take shape!