Project A1: Interactive Exhibits on Fluid Power

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1 Project A1: Interactive Exhibits on Fluid Power 1. Statement of Project Goals The purpose of this project is to educate the public about fluid power and the CCEFP through creating and displaying exhibits that convey the basic message of fluid power as well as exhibits that highlight CCEFP research. Prototypes and exhibits developed and field-tested at the Science Museum of Minnesota, an organization affiliated with the CCEFP, will serve as models for dissemination to other science museums around the world. 2. Project s Role in Support of the Strategic Plan SMM supports the CCEFP by developing products for Hydraulic Transmission public exhibition that will reach Minnesota museum audiences and that can be replicated and/or adapted by other educators and program leaders for new audiences. These products introduce public audiences to the concepts behind fluid power and the possibilities for future industrial and social applications of fluid power. 3. Fundamental Challenges and Solutions Challenge: To interest museum visitors in what might seem to them to be a prosaic and old technology. Solution: Focus on interesting and accessible new applications; highlight applications that address highprofile physical, social, and economic problems; develop open-ended exhibits that allow visitors to engage longer and more deeply in investigation and experimenting. Challenge: To get around problems that hydraulics can pose such as leaks, friction, need for high pressures, invisible flow. Solution: When possible, build exhibits that use water-based hydraulic fluids and are leak-tolerant; experiment with pneumatic systems where appropriate. Challenge: Finding off-the-shelf hardware that is the appropriate size for use in museum interactive exhibits has been difficult. Solution: CCEFP industry partners have helped with donations; however, we have not found good sources for small hydraulic axial motors and pumps. It may be necessary to fabricate some parts in the museum machine shop (though this is expensive and not always ideal). 4. Achievements to Date SMM has pursued two approaches to date: working with senior undergraduate mechanical engineering classes to develop exhibit prototypes as capstone design projects and building display prototypes in SMM s exhibit shop. Axial Piston Pump Capstone Projects: In 2007 and again in 2008, small teams of University of Minnesota seniors developed exhibits as part of their capstone design courses. One was an exhibit about a hydraulic scheme for regenerative braking in vehicles. Another was an exhibit that introduced two basic principles of fluid mechanics: the use of fluids to transmit force and the development of mechanical advantage through coupling cylinders of different diameters. A third was a comparison of the use of pulse-width modulation for control of electrical lighting circuits with its use for controlling fluid power applications. The fourth was a prototype of a water-based fluid power experiment lab for use by museum visitors. The first of these exhibits is on display at the museum. Two others have inspired exhibits now under construction by museum staff. 105

2 Museum Projects: SMM prototypers have produced two finished exhibits that are now on display on the museum floor. One of these is a hydraulic variable torque transmission with accumulator-based energy storage. The second is a working cut-away variable-displacement axial piston pump arranged to pump tall streams of clear hydraulic fluid. SMM is currently prototyping a fluid power experiment bench that allows museum visitors to set up their own fluid power demonstrations and experiments. This bench consists of a large shallow tank mounted on legs at table height. Visitors will use clear water tubes with quick-connect fittings to build fluid power circuits that include pumps and reservoirs; check valves and spool valves; flow indicators; raised tanks and pressurized accumulators; and actuators of various kinds. SMM has also developed a fluid power activity kit that volunteer staff use to introduce visitors to concepts in fluid power. Visitors experiment with a long-tube water level, syringe systems filled with air and water, a hydraulic jack, an airzooka that sends a puff of air ten feet, and a set of air-powered cylinders and valves that toss and catch tennis balls. This activity is presented regularly at the Experiment Gallery Activity Station. Hydraulic Hybrid Supermileage Car 5. Other Relevant Work In the winter and spring of 2008, SMM staff assisted an Eden Prairie High School student team to develop and build a hydraulic hybrid Supermileage Car. Driven by an electric-start internal combustion engine, this car automatically matched hydraulic output to maximum engine efficiency, stored energy in a pressurized accumulator, and recovered energy from braking. In May 2008, the car achieved 160 miles per gallon in tests on a raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota. Students and staff made additional improvements over the summer and the car is now on display in SMM s Experiment Gallery. 6. Plans for the Next Five Years In Years 4-5 of the Center, SMM will design and build a hydraulic lift to serve as the centerpiece for its group of current fluid power exhibits. The new exhibit will allow visitors to pump up a jack that will lift them about a foot from the floor, thereby demonstrating the mechanical advantage available in a fluid power system. SMM will also redesign and install two exhibits (from its warehouse) that show how fluid power can support large weights and lubricate bearings. The first consists of a 12 marble cube with one face ground convex and spherical. This face rides on water pumped into the center of a matching concave base. The cube oscillates freely as a pendulum. The second consists of a granite spherical cap supported by air flowing into a spherically-ground concave base. A rod extends vertically from the center of the cap on which visitors can adjust a weight to change the vibration frequency of this double weight pendulum. SMM staff plan to work with Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Students on new projects that will result in prototype exhibits that communicate to museum visitors basic ideas about compact and efficient uses of fluid power. In Years 6-8 of the Center SMM plans to continue developing exhibits linked to CCEFP test bed projects. In particular, SMM will focus a set of exhibits on the design and development of fluid-powered orthoses. One idea is to develop an experiment bench at which visitors design and put together an ankle-assist orthosis and test it on a dummy walking leg. 106

3 SMM proposes to work with CCEFP member institutions and corporate partners to make a set of exhibits available to science museums and science centers located in their communities. This set of exhibits could be circulated to centers sequentially or could be duplicated for longer term installation at a number of centers. CCEFP Partner Location Nearby Museums Georgia Institute of Technology Milwaukee School of Engineering North Carolina A & T Atlanta, GA Milwaukee, WI Greensboro, NC Fernbank Science Center, Atlanta Discovery World, Milwaukee North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Durham Purdue University Lafayette IN Indianapolis Children s Museum UIUC Vanderbilt University Urbana-Champaign IL Nashville, TN Indianapolis Children s Museum St. Louis Science Center Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago Pink Palace Museum, Memphis Louisville Science Center, KY Adventure Science Center, Nashville 7. Expected Milestones and Deliverables June 2009 Hydraulic Lab (fluid power experiment bench) October 2009 Hydraulic Lift (centerpiece) February 2011 Prototype exhibits on orthoses. February 2012 Further prototype exhibits on test bed projects (TBD) 8. Member Company Benefits Member companies can participate in the development of and enjoy the educational benefits from planned future fluid power exhibits placed in their community museums. 9. Leadership Team Project Leader: Other Personnel: Post Doc(s): Graduate Students: Undergraduate Students: Industrial Partner(s): J. Newlin, Director of Physical Sciences & Technology Master Exhibit Prototypers: Forrest Price, Peder Thompson, Richard Gagnon Exhibit Designer: Richard Leerhoff; Graphics Designer: Roger Barrett NA NA University of Minnesota ME Capstone Design Students To date: Eaton Corp. and MTS Systems Corporation 107

4 Project A.2: Fluid Power Youth Science Team 1. Statement of Project Goals The Fluid Power Youth Science Team is a group of twelve high school freshmen through seniors from St. Paul and Minneapolis public schools employed through the Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center is both a youth employment and youth development program designed to engage underrepresented middle and high school students in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) learning through museum work. The goals of the Fluid Power Youth Science Team are to develop hands-on fluid power activities to test with visitors in the museum galleries and teach K-12 groups at outreach sites including schools as well as after-school centers. In addition, the Fluid Power Youth Science Team designs and co-fabricates an exhibit display with assistance from Science Museum of Minnesota Exhibits staff highlighting the research projects and applications in the CCEFP. The third goal is to foster relationships between youth, Science Museum of Minnesota staff, volunteers, the University of Minnesota, and CCEFP. 2. Project s Role in Support of the Strategic Plan The mission of the Education and Outreach Program of the CCEFP includes educating the general public, integrating current research findings into education, and actively recruiting and retaining a diversity of students in fluid power research and industry. The Fluid Power Youth Science Team was recruited in October 2007 and is composed of a diversity of students including girls, economically disadvantaged youth, and youth of color. Many of these youth are exploring the field of mechanical engineering for the first time and already have expressed interest in pursuing careers in this field. The hands-on fluid power activities they are creating are used on outreaches and in the Science Museum of Minnesota galleries to educate the general public about fluid power and its applications. The exhibit the youth created will serve to disseminate the research and applications of the CCEFP to the general public. 3. Fundamental Challenges and Solutions A fundamental challenge for the Fluid Power Youth Science Team is developing successful partnerships with researchers so youth can gather stories about fluid power research topics. To overcome this challenge, 1-2 key contacts in the network of researchers were established and with clearly communicated expectations for researcher commitment. Another potential challenge is disseminating the fluid power activities and findings of the Fluid Power Youth Science Team with the CCEFP network. The solution is to update contacts within the CCEFP network regularly through the Team s website ( and disseminate findings to future Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center teams in order to continue the youth team s work after the program ends in the summer of A book compiling the hands-on fluid power science projects will be completed by the end of the August Achievements to Date Eleven hands-on fluid power activities have been created to date and used with over two thousand visitors and children on outreaches (see the table, Team s hands-on fluid power projects). The Fluid Power Youth Science Team also led an adult volunteer workshop about their fluid power activities that are currently being used in the Experiment Gallery at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Some examples of the activities include building an air cannon to explore the concept of air as a fluid and how it is compressible, and using Lego pneumatic kits to create elevators and dentist chairs to explore fluid power systems and circuits. 5. Other Relevant Work The Fluid Power Youth Science Team connected with Exhibits staff during monthly show-and-tell sessions to work on the fluid power exhibits. They also interviewed CCEFP researchers as they built the Center-focused exhibit on display since February in the Experiment Gallery of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Lastly, the team collaborated with other Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center teams to do activity critiques and joint outreaches. 108

5 6. Plans through August 2009 The Fluid Power Youth Science Team will complete 10 outreaches by the end of August They are returning to new outreach sites such as the Makers Day and past sites such as the Museum Magnet School and Sioux Trail Elementary. The Team will also continue fieldtrips to various sites to gather ideas for new fluid power activities. Sites include the University of Minnesota engineering research labs, Bonfe s auto shop, and Ford Dam (Mississippi Lock and Dam No. 1). They will document their trips and post information on their website 7. Expected Milestones and Deliverables On January 28, 2009, the Fluid Power Youth Science Team hosted an Opening Day Reception to show the exhibits that the Science Museum of Minnesota has been working on. In February, the exhibit about CCEFP test beds went on display in the Experiment Gallery. Between February and August, the Fluid Power Youth Science Team will complete ten outreaches into the community to teach fluid power activities and develop a pdf and book form collection of fluid power projects. 8. Member Company Benefits The Fluid Power Youth Science Team provides a youth employment and development experience for youth in the Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center at the Science Museum of Minnesota. They develop an understanding and appreciation for the field mechanical engineering and connect to researchers in the field. Also, they gain an appreciation for engineering applications and provide opportunities to share fluid power content with community partners and visitors through the development and testing of fluid power activities. All of these activities lay groundwork for an informed future workforce that industry seeks. 9. Leadership Team Project Leader: Other Personnel: Faculty: Rachel Gates Kristen Murray (education advisor), J. Newlin (Project Leader of Exhibit Team), Zoua Pha (Youth Program Manager), and Forrest Price (Senior Exhibit Prototyper) Kim Stelson, William Durfee, Thomas Chase, Monika Ivantysynova, Perry Li, Wayne Book and Michael Goldfarb Graduate Students: U of Minnesota: Abhijit, Brett, Jesse, Mickey, Jicheng and Aravind A model of the Excavator Test Bed Project by members of the Fluid Power Youth Science Team Fluid Power Youth Science Team Website: 109

6 Team s hands-on fluid power projects Activity Description STEM Content Air Cannon Fluid Theaters Fluid Toys 1Lego Lifts Robotic Catch Sailboats Sand and Water Clocks Straw Rockets Wind Tubes Wind Turbines Hovercrafts Shoot compressed air at target cups or volunteers Pop up characters in theater dioramas Take apart and put together fluid toys Construct a model elevator using Lego parts Construct and test 2 robotic "arms" designed to pop a tennis ball up into the air and catch it Create a boat to determine if it floats, how fast it moves across the water, and how creatively materials are used Construct a tornado tube that takes exactly 10 seconds to run Construct and test an airpowered rocket Construct an object that will hover in the middle of a wind tube Construct a mini wind turbine and use your own air power to make it spin Construct your own hovercraft and watch it move across a surface Explore and engineer a large-scale piston (used extensively in fluid power industry) Explore fluid dynamics and the difference between compressible air and incompressible water Explore and engineer a hydraulic accumulator, an apparatus for storing energy or power used in hybrid cars Explore and engineer a pneumatic lift system used in elevators, desk chairs, and dentist chairs Explore and engineer a pneumatic piston system used in the robotics field Explore and engineer a small-scale racing boat. Concepts include density, buoyancy, surface area, and velocity Explore and engineer a historical timekeeping device using fluid. Concepts include rate (amount of liquid/time) and the bottle-neck effect. Explore and engineer a rocket using your own breath as air power Explore and engineer an object that reaches equilibrium (gravity force of the object is equal to the force of air opposing it) Explore and engineer a wind turbine to understand how wind can be used as power Explore and engineer how a hovercraft works using air to power it 110