The report is about the development process of the final project of the Master in Design and Engineering. The project was born from the desire to develop a product able of harvesting electricity from daily movements and has led to the definition of a children play equipment adapt of installations in municipal playgrounds. The final product is configured as a roller coaster with a car moving along a closed loop track organized in a spiral ascent and a descent with a varied curved route. Electrical energy is generated from a mechanical mechanism and it is subsequently employed to implement the game functions. Therefore the resulting game is a captivating attraction that amuses the child while showing the physical principles that regulate the electricity production. During the initial development of the product I focus my attention in observing all situations when children learn by direct experience and in analysis those products able to fascinate and amaze through cutting-edge technologies. At the same time it was carried out an in-depth study about the stages of cognitive and physical development of the child with the aim of creating a product adapt to the specific age range. The technical and mechanical aspect resulted as the centrepiece of the project as well as the most critical element. To allow the car to ascent the track and to produce electric energy I elaborate a mechanical system able to generate a high torque upon application of a reduced force. The electricity produced is used within the product to modify the game environment using light effects. Throughout the course of project development I carried out tests and analyses of the technical feasibility of the product that revealed the inability of some configurations considered.
La relazione tratta il processo di sviluppo del progetto di tesi della laurea magistrale del corso di Design and Engineering. Il progetto è nato dalla volontà di sviluppare un prodotto capace di produrre corrente elettrica a partire da movimenti svolti quotidianamente e ha portato all’ideazione di un gioco per bambini da istallare nei parchi-gioco cittadini. Il prodotto finale ha una configurazione simile ad una montagna russa ad anello chiuso che prevede una risalita a chiocciola e una discesa lungo un percorso vario a curve. La corrente elettrica viene prodotta attraverso un sistema meccanico e conseguentemente utilizzata per implementare le potenzialità del gioco stesso. Quello che ne risulta è un gioco capace di divertire il bambino e, allo stesso tempo, mostrare i principi fisici alla base della produzione di elettricità. Durante lo sviluppo iniziale del prodotto è stata data rilevante importanza allo studio di tutte quelle situazioni in cui i bambini imparano attraverso l’esperienza diretta e a quei prodotti capaci di incantare e stupire attraverso innovazioni tecnologiche. Allo stesso tempo è stato svolto uno studio approfondito riguardo gli stadi di sviluppo cognitivo e fisico del bambino per poter creare un prodotto adatto allo specifico target d’età. L’aspetto tecnico e meccanico è risultato il fulcro del progetto nonché l’elemento di maggiore criticità. Per permettere la risalita della macchina nonché la produzione di energia elettrica è stato sviluppato un sistema meccanico capace di produrre un'elevata coppia motrice a partire dall’applicazione di una forza ridotta. L’energia così prodotta è stata utilizzata per modificare l’ambiente di gioco attraverso effetti di luce. Durante tutto il percorso di sviluppo progettuale sono state svolte prove e analisi della fattibilità tecnica del progetto che hanno evidenziato l’impossibilità di alcune configurazioni considerate.
Thunder clap. Educational playground equipment producing electricity by children kinetic energy
ZUCCALA, MARINA AMALIA
2013/2014
Abstract
The report is about the development process of the final project of the Master in Design and Engineering. The project was born from the desire to develop a product able of harvesting electricity from daily movements and has led to the definition of a children play equipment adapt of installations in municipal playgrounds. The final product is configured as a roller coaster with a car moving along a closed loop track organized in a spiral ascent and a descent with a varied curved route. Electrical energy is generated from a mechanical mechanism and it is subsequently employed to implement the game functions. Therefore the resulting game is a captivating attraction that amuses the child while showing the physical principles that regulate the electricity production. During the initial development of the product I focus my attention in observing all situations when children learn by direct experience and in analysis those products able to fascinate and amaze through cutting-edge technologies. At the same time it was carried out an in-depth study about the stages of cognitive and physical development of the child with the aim of creating a product adapt to the specific age range. The technical and mechanical aspect resulted as the centrepiece of the project as well as the most critical element. To allow the car to ascent the track and to produce electric energy I elaborate a mechanical system able to generate a high torque upon application of a reduced force. The electricity produced is used within the product to modify the game environment using light effects. Throughout the course of project development I carried out tests and analyses of the technical feasibility of the product that revealed the inability of some configurations considered.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2015_04_Zuccala.pdf
non accessibile
Descrizione: Testo della tesi
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18.83 MB
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/105268