Cardboard Motor Car
Built a car from cardboard and tape using required parts within strict length limits. Learned to distribute weight so it ran steadily. After setbacks, my partner and I built the fastest car in the class.
Projects
Things I've built.
From my Introduction to Engineering Design class and my own projects. Every one has a problem, a build, a failure and a lesson.
Fastest in the Class
The payoff for not giving up. My partner and I took medals, and our fling machine also launched farthest in class, over 100 inches.
Radar Sensor Project
An ultrasonic sensor on a servo, wired to a microcontroller and joystick on a breadboard, held up with painter's tape. Prototype first, polish later.
[ add Fling Machine photo ]
Fling Machine
Using only the given items, we built a machine to fling a cotton ball as far and as accurately as possible within a time limit. Our second idea worked about ten times better than our first.
[ add Fusion 360 CAD photo ]
CAD in Fusion 360
Puzzle Cube, ISO Shapes and Automata Box. I recreated dimensioned objects, built an interlocking puzzle cube, then joined parts, rounded edges and animated the finished box.
My path
One class led to the next.
This is the route I'm taking through my school's engineering program. Each course builds on the one before, and each has its own portfolio page.
Introduction to Engineering Design
Where I learned the design process, CAD in Fusion 360, isosketching and teamwork. Eight projects, all documented.
Principles of Engineering
Applying engineering concepts across mechanisms, energy, materials and control. See what I have built and learned.
Aerospace Engineering
Flight, propulsion and how aircraft and spacecraft work. Follow what comes next in my portfolio.
Start yours
It's simpler than you think.
You don't need a lab or a big budget. You need a free Saturday and the willingness to be bad at it for an hour.
Pick something small
One problem, one weekend. Smaller than you think.
Set a time limit
A deadline keeps you finishing instead of perfecting.
Document as you go
Photos and notes. Your failures are your best content.
Share it
Show a friend, teacher or this site. Sharing makes you better.
Starter ideas
💡 LED circuit with a switch🖨️ Design and 3D print a phone stand📟 Arduino temperature sensor🚗 Cardboard or balloon car🤖 Simple line-following robot🔧 Fix something that's broken💻 A small script that automates a chore🌉 Spaghetti-and-tape bridge
30-day challenge
Small steps, every day, add up.
Spend even 20 minutes a day on a build, a sketch, or learning a tool. Tap each day you showed up.
Share yours
Built something small? Tell me.
Send me your project and I may feature it. Questions are welcome too.