Experimento Prototype #4

In our Prototype #4 of the Experimento we enhanced our base's design and material usage, instead of using cardboard which is flammable or plastic which easily melts, we used a pure aluminum base and aluminum coatings for the other bases. Unfortunately, we were not able to test our Prototype #4 since it was raining (tropical country = a lot of rain) outside.

Reflection Questions ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ How did I help to move this project forward for this particular step?Pietro: I brought in the materials and had the main idea of coating the bases in aluminium in order to protect it them from the flames. I also was the one who had the idea of stringing the base to the bag with COPPER wire instead of thread because it doesn't burn.2) What insights or insightful questions did this step in the project uncover or generate?4) State and describe one action that I could improve upon to help my team and make my final product the best that it can be?Pietro can focus outside of our meetings (alone) on perfecting the base so that next time we test our prototype we won't need to spend time focusing on something we have already decided upon. Shin can find and buy the proper balloon materials and find the right heat source to light the balloon up.5) How often are you meeting and will it be enough to make progress until the next deadline.


Shin: I was to one who built the bases and the one who had the idea to coat three different types of bases so that we would have access to different weights of bases in case we need a heavier or lighter base. I also decided where to place the base (right on the bag's opening) so that the fire would be most effective.

The first question in our minds is if this prototype will work because we haven't had the opportunity to test it yet. The second question that came up is about the "balloon" being use: what is the appropriate material/size for an effective and lasting flight? This second question can be the key to success in the Experimento.
3) What is my role on this team up for this step in the project?
Pietro: For the next step of our Experimento I will decide on a definite base and finalize anything base-related so that we may focus on the balloon.Shin: For the next step of the Experimento I will find out and bring the proper material for the balloon and will make or bring the proper torch



We meet once to twice a week now and I believe that it is more than enough for us to make a final design in the next deadline and make it fly in the end.
6) What is working well with this prototype? What can be improved upon? How will you improve upon it?
The base is working very well it seems because it is easily usable and versatile and it seems to be sturdy and resistant. The balloon has yet to be improved but the binding materials for the pieces of the balloon seem to be trustworthy and resistant. The balloon needs to be improved on and it will be through the use of a new materials which is lighter and proper for a hot air balloon.

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Experimento Protoype #3 Video

Experimento Prototype #3

In Prototype #3 of our majestic Experimento we made a square base out of thin plastic, tied it up in a four string formation, and made a torch out of used matchsticks. It failed, again. But there was progress, the flame is now decided upon as well and the formation that will hold the base together.

Reflection Questions ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

1) How did I help to move this project forward for this particular step?

Pietro: This time I reduced the flame into use match sticks so that it would have potential but still have a small enough flame not to burn our bag to ashes. 
Shin: I made the base into light plastic so that it would be easier for the balloon to float and also it wouldn't burn with the flame upon it. I also enhanced the structure by the use of 4 string bases connecting our plastic base to our plastic bag.

2) What insights or insightful questions did this step in the project uncover or generate?

We are now questioning the type of material our balloon should be made of (paper???). We are also questioning if the base is stable enough and if the balloon requires more straws for it to have a good format to float (weight??)

3) What is my role on this team up for this step in the project?

Pietro: For the next step I will finally perfect the flame and I will find up to five different balloon materials. This will revolutionize the structure of our balloon.
Shin: For the next step I will find out a way to make a base as light as the plastic but sturdier (also it can't be flammable). I will also perfect the four-string formation tested in this prototype.

4) State and describe one action that I could improve upon to help my team and make my final product the best that it can be?

Pietro can stop kicking the balloon and ruining it again and again (can he?). He will also find and bring more and more materials to compose our balloon. Shin can bring more sophisticated bases and string replacements for the base of the balloon.

5) How often are you meeting and will it be enough to make progress until the next deadline.

We are meeting once a week to discuss the design (not test it), and it is helping us to go right into action when we have time in class. We are making sophistication progress but we are still maintaining simplicity as a strict guideline.

What is working well with this prototype? What can be improved upon? How will you improve upon it?

The flame is working well in this prototype, it is not too strong or not too weak. The balloon material on the other hand is not working well in expanding and not burning down easily. The base is also weak and unstable, we have to make the base stronger (still very light though) and the balloon more sophisticated by changing the material and shape.


RIP Prototype #3 2015, you were good to us...

Experimento Prototype #1 and #2 Videos

Hot Air Balloon Experimento #1 and #2

In the first experimento, we used a cup as the base to light barbecue sticks as our hot air balloon. It was a very primitive design for it was our first trial and the materials were scarce. It didn't fly or float in any manner. The base design for our balloon was set by this experiment, we must now work on the flame and on the base.

Reflection Questions ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

1) How did I help to move this project forward for this particular step?

Pietro: I had the idea of the base design of a cup filled with wooden (flammable) sticks for a powerful and stable flame. This helped us kick start our first prototype of the epic experimento
Shin: I had the idea of placing sticks on the top of the plastic bag for more stability and surface area for the heat to act upon. I also had the idea of the combined use of strings and tape to create a strong support for the plastic cup base.

2) What insights or insightful questions did this step in the project uncover or generate?

We began questioning what type of material should be used for a base, we began questioning the thickness/size of the plastic bag that would act as the balloon, and we began questioning the size of the flame and the positioning (close or far away from the plastic bag)

3) What is my role on this team up for this step in the project?

Pietro: For the next step I will be the "pyromaniac", meaning I will be the one to decide on the flame's size and power as well as its positioning according the the plastic bag.
Shin: For the next step I will be the engineer and I will design a new base and balloon structure for our hot air balloon.

4) State and describe one action that I could improve upon to help my team and make my final product the best that it can be?

"I can have less rage when we fail and not step on the project or kick it into a pulp" (Pietro 2015). Shin would bring more materials for prototype #2 of the experimento and both of us will have more perseverance and do more trials upon the same idea.

5) How often are you meeting and will it be enough to make progress until the next deadline.

We are meeting once a week to discuss designs and materials. It will be enough to reach all the deadlines and at the end of this semester we will have revolutionized the hot air balloons with our amazing final product that will come out of the hard and unforgiving process of the Experimento.

What did you learn from your test run? What are your next steps to improve your device and push your project forward? Are you able to work on your project over the break?

Through this test run of Experimento Prototype #1 we learned that making this will be harder than we expected, but that won't stop us. The next steps we will take is to work on the design only, and after meticulous planning we will put our improved designs to work. Unfortunately we will only be able to meet twice during the break because Shin is going to Thailand.

Meet the Scientists

Shin and Pietro
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Reflection Questions, Ideas for the Experimento

1)    How did I help to move this project forward for this particular step?

Pietro: I gave incentive for me and my partner to create a possible compound idea of a hot air balloon working together with a Rube Goldberg machine and hyped the idea so that we could get hands on as fast as possible.

Shin: I gave the initial ideal and incentive to make a hot air balloon because I know my partner would like it as well as I would. From that me and partner have been elaborating and building more and more on top of my original idea.

2) What insights or insightful questions did this step in the project uncover or generate?

How high can the balloon go?
How fast do we need to make a marble go for it to break a string?
How long should our Rube Goldberg machine be?
How strong does the fire have to be to make the balloon reach the ceiling?

3) What is my role on this team up for this step in the project?

Pietro:  I am responsible for the Rube Goldberg machine and the safety involving the Hot Air balloon flame. I am also responsible for finding the materials online and to make sure that they are appropriate and reliable.

Shin: I am going to design the Hot Air Balloon initially and help with the physics involved in the Rube Goldberg Machine. I will also be responsible for the materials for the Rube Goldberg section of our investigation.

4) State and describe one action that I could improve upon to help my team and make my final product the best that it can be?

We think that we should meet more and start to work in advance of deadlines so that we can improve and refine the best we can. This will give us more time and help us have better and more reliable bases for our experiment to evolve and become better.

5) How often are you meeting and will it be enough to make progress until the next deadline?

We are meeting at least twice a week during Lunch or even during weekends after school. If it is not possible for a physical presence on the meeting we will meet online through Skype or other online connection programs.