This material has been produced by the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ)
under contract to the Ministry of Education. It has been written to assist teachers
and schools in their delivery of the technology/ hangarau curriculum statements.
The project is jointly coordinated by personnel from the Technology Education
New Zealand (TENZ)
and National Association of Māori Mathematicians, Scientists and Technologists
(NAMMSAT) networks. Monitoring and evaluation of the material is carried out
by a national project advisory group.
Award ceremony
Awards Organiser Ross Peterson with some of the winning students
The 2001 Bright Sparks Awards were presented by the Hon. Annette
King MP at a mayoral reception held at the Wellington Council Chambers on
Friday 9 November 2001.
The competition, which is part of the New Zealand Hi
Tech Awards (www.hitech.org.nz), is judged by an independent panel of industry
judges. In 2001, there was a huge increase in interest, not only from students
and schools - with nearly three times as many entries as in the previous year
- but also from the industry itself.
The function was attended by 200 industry and civic representatives,
as well as the winning students and their families. Projects representing
all place-getters were on display and the young people were available to answer
questions and demonstrate their entries.
Awards were presented in seven sections in four judging categories.
Ross Petersen, the National Education Manager for the Electrotechnology
Industry Training Organisation (ETITO), outlines the range of awards made
and makes some comments on the winning projects:
Category A: Modify a kitset (11 to 14 year-olds)
Entrants
in this category presented modifications( either in the electronic circuit
or in its application in a useful product) to a purchased kitset.
First: Hamish Gardyne - Longford Intermediate School, Gore Solar
Powered Remote Gate Controller: A modified Dick Smith Electronics kit project
using the infrared remote controller (K2810) and the battery converter (K3231)
linked to a model farm gate fitted with motor, gearbox, relays and micro-switches.
An additional modification is the use of rechargeable batteries with a solar
panel on the roof of the model shed!
Hamish dreamt up this idea because he is not keen on jumping
out of the truck door at lambing time on those freezing Southland mornings
to open the gate.
Second: Tim Dunn - Bayfield High School, Dunedin Safety Bike Helmet: A Dick Smith Electronic Knightrider Scanner kit (K3168) was modified to fit
a bike helmet and features a sequenced series of superbright LEDs. The bike
rider would look like an approaching alien spacecraft in the dark!
Third: Nick James - Devon Intermediate School, New Plymouth Lunchbox
Theft Alarm: Nick spliced together three Dick Smith Electronics kits: Light
activated switch (K2632), Morse code trainer (K2623) and Wireless microphone (K2631)
to make an alarm that transmits its signal to a receiver in an adjacent room.
Category B: Modify a published circuit. (11 to 14 year-olds)
(15 to 18 year-olds)
Entrants in this category modified either the circuit itself or made adaptations
or changes to develop a useful end product.
Junior:
First: Alan Grimmer - Papatoetoe High School Photovore Robot: Alan found this beautiful little BEAM ( Biology, Electronics,
Aesthetics and Mechanics) "Photopopper" robot on the internet. Measuring
a svelte 5x5 cm, it is powered by a solar cell charging a capacitor. Tiny
motors (sourced overseas, as were some other components) drive the robot
in controlled bursts of energy from the capacitor (no batteries needed) towards
the direction of the light. Photodiodes provide the 'eyes' that control the
motors through two 1381 voltage triggers. Alan adjusted component values in
the circuit, produced the PCB and worked through a series of prototypes to
the final result.
Second: Justin Port - Glenfield College Night Strike Laser Game: The Glenfield trio have done it again, with this
scoop of places in this category. Meticulous in final presentation, Justin,
Brendon, and Kevin have adapted circuits to create very innovative and useful
results.
Justin's game modified a basic electronic dice circuit to accept
input from a laser gun striking a row of light dependent resistors. A randomly
lit LED indicates which LDR to aim for, with a 5 second window allowed to
score a hit. The result is displayed on a pair of seven segment LEDs, counting
to 99.
Third equal: Brendon Port - Glenfield College Sound-activated Torch: This is a torch that can be used normally or set up
as a security device, turning on its beam if there is a sudden noise. Features
are: timed turn-off, operational only in dark, manual switch override.
Third equal: Kevin Budden - Glenfield College: TV Theft Alarm: Kevin's project features a compact, low-profile hinged box
with an alarm that can be armed to react to a TV, video or similar appliance
being lifted off the trigger switches. An ear-splitting siren and a flashing
light sequence is the consequence of 'stealing' the object placed on top of
the box.
Senior:
First: David McDowall - Edgecumbe College Level Crossing Proximity Sensor: David has thought for a long time about designing
a sensor to detect approaching trains by sensing sound through the rails.
With encouragement and a little help from his mentor/teacher, David adapted
a VOX ( voice-operated relay) circuit and tested his device on local railway
lines.
Second: Nicholas Moss - Temuka High School Volume Regulated Radio: Nicholas' bedroom was cluttered up with electronic
bits and pieces, so his parents banished him to the garage. He is happy there,
working and listening to the radio, until his brother decides to operate the
lathe nearby and then Nicholas can't hear the radio. So this bright spark
designed a radio that turns its volume up automatically when the lathe starts
up. To do this, Nicholas used a graphic equaliser as a frequency filter so
the radio doesn't trigger its own volume increase and only the low frequencies
of the lathe noise set it off.
Third equal: Kirsty Ngaia - Opunake High School Cyber Teddy: Kirsty's bear plays a lullaby when you hug him. She has constructed
a compressible foam switch that connects a capacitor to a melody chip. As
the capacitor discharges, the bear "goes to sleep", as presumably
does the child holding it.
Third equal: Tyne Davey - Opunake High School Musical Memo Board: Tyne surveyed her class to find out what makes an effective
memo board. Her board sits on the outside of the fridge and is triggered by
light when the door is opened ( the sensor is inside the fridge). It attracts
attention with flashing LEDs and a musical melody. Tyne designed her circuit
on Crocodile Clips.
Category C Original Circuit Design (11 to 14 year-olds) (15 to 18 year-olds)
Entrants in this category designed a circuit, or a modification of an existing
circuit, to produce a useful finished product.
Junior:
First: Steven McCabe - Morrinsville College Humanoid Arm: The latest of Steven's ambitious projects (earlier engineering
feats have included an electronic pinball machine and a personal robot waiter),
this robot arm weighs around 20kg with its compressor and is capable of gripping
and lifting a range of object shapes, with its individually cast aluminium
finger and wrist joints. The hand is directed by a modified joystick activating
solenoids and stepper motors through an analog to digital control circuit.
Steven obtained advice and help from a wide range of mentors and industries
in the Waikato. His capabilities have attracted interest at a national level
from research and development agencies.
Second: Peter Leijen - Havelock North Intermediate School Electronic Wind Vane: Peter 's project demonstrates a range of skills, through
metal and wood technology to the design of the electronic circuit that gives
the compass direction of the wind that the aluminium indicator is pointing
in. This is achieved through a series of reed switches connected to individual
LEDs.
Third: Desmond Ewans - Devon Intermediate School Power generation demonstrator: This neatly presented display converts electricity
to motion and back to electricity again, powering a light bulb.
Senior:
First: Mikael Stewart - Northcote College Hexapod Robot: This elegant piece of craftsmanship is complemented by some
fine software and electronics, efficiently packaged in a lightweight body.
The locomotion in itself is a fine effort: this robot moves like an elegant
beetle, legs coordinated perfectly and can even mount obstacles. Mikael has
shown the range of capabilities in a CDROM and has described the development
in detail on his website. The MHex can also be fitted with a CCD camera, which
Mikael has used to take remote photos. Code for the movement is written in
Picbasic Pro.
Second: Erin Smith - Otago Girls High School 3D Sound Maker: This project encapsulates the considerable abilities and imagination
of this young person, who took first prize in Category B in last year's competition.
The judges commented that this project shows that Erin has made exceptional
progress since her last effort (an LED strobe clock) and clearly has design
abilities. The Sound Maker is a musical artist's dream; it links light sensitive
diodes to a tone burst generator (constructed from a circuit ideas book)
and one is able to create a variety of eerie and futuristic sound effects
using one's hand or a supplied laser pencil.
Third: Oliver Whalley - Nelson College The Mowbot: Oliver's love affair (not!) with mowing lawns suggested to him
the idea of a robotic lawn mower that would use electronics to control both
the powerful motors operating the blade and would navigate the mower within
a defined area of operation (the lawn). Working per e-mail with his mentor,
Oliver has produced an impressive set of designs and plans that build on his
555 PWM (pulse width modulation) motor speed controller project from last
year's competition. His "work in progress" is now beyond the chassis-motor
stage (Oliver used two powerful old tele-printing press motors as the drive)
and is considering various options for sensing the difference between cut
and uncut grass. These include LDR-bulb reflection, touch sensors (for detecting
the edge of the lawn) and GPS (for locating the grass-dumping heap).
Highly Commended: John Stowers - Te Aroha College Homework Helper: The winner of last year's Category C with his portable MP3
player, John has supplemented his very busy school life with some electronic
innovation again. Not yet at the final "working" stage, the Homework
Helper is a PIC based diary that records dictated homework on a Chipcorder,
organizes it according to school periods in the day and plays it back in sequence
when the student gets home that night. John chose PICBasic over C as the former
has a shorter development time.
Highly Commended: David Williamson - Hamilton's Fraser High
School Electronic Dice: David has worked with a mentor from Tait Communications and
Visual Plastics to produce a smart electronic die that utilizes a programmable
9808 chip to decode a decade counter and a seven segment display as an output.
The dome casing is blown acrylic. David designed his PCB using AutoCad.
Category D: Original Software Design (11 to 14 year-olds) (15 to 18
year-olds)
This category recognises the role programming plays in modern electronics
control technology. Entrants in this category were invited to submit software
relating to an electronics and control application i.e programming designed
to meet practical human needs. The programming could be in any language, use
embedded or reprogrammable chips or be linked to a dedicated computer.
Junior:
Highly Commended: Jeremy Mason - Homeschool Maze Mania: A game programmed in Basic developed from a published computer
war game program. There are four different themes, using a different character
for each maze.
Senior:
First: Alex Taylor and Andrew Stewart - Rotorua Lakes High School TechVisual Lighting Guru: This well-established design duo have developed
a project that was partly completed in 2000 and produced a complete stage
lighting controller for their school. The Guru utilizes affordable electronics
and computer linked control programmes to control analogue theatre lighting
systems. An excellent accompanying video explains the rationale behind the
development of the project.
Second: Jack McVeagh-Pivac and Tim Clegg-Marshall - Opunake High
School Domestic Waste Heat Recovery Monitoring System: A functional model of a home
heat exchanger that extracts heat from wastewater and returns it to the hot
water cylinder was constructed and tested using a data logging program analyzing
temperature data input from thermistors and a pump controlled through a PLC
linked to a Dick Smith Parallel Port Interface kit programmed by a 386 computer.
Jack and Tim have designed and evaluated experiments around baffling and water
flow rates to improve the efficiency of the heat recovery system for the house.
Third: Vincent McNabb - Hutt Valley High School Fire Control Panel Utilities: A professionally produced package that uses
Windows to control, monitor and configure the control panel that is at the
heart of fire detection and response systems marketed by Pertronic Industries
Ltd, Lower Hutt. Vincent was contracted and worked as part of a team at Pertronic
to develop the software that simulates the F100 and F120A fire control panels
that are used worldwide in major buildings like the Geelung Skytower in Taipei.
His entry featured the software package that he has developed on CDROM that
allows the user to link directly to a control panel at Pertronic and create
a virtual panel on which changes to configuration can be made. These changes
can then be downloaded to the actual panel by direct cable or modem. Vincent
worked with mentors from Pertronic.
Prizes were sponsored by Gough Technology and Dick
Smith Electronics.
Bright Sparks Programme
Bright Sparks is an initiative of the Electrotechnology
Industry Training Organisation (ETITO). The programme aims to increase the pool
of young people entering electrotechnology and related careers or accessing
further training in the field.
Bright Sparks uses a targeted approach to achieve its aim. The
activities in the programme reflect this approach, moving from the wide establishment
and support of its NCET (National Certificate in Electronics Technology) qualifications
in secondary schools to its close, daily relationship with students in the
Bright Sparks e-mail Clu
NCET ( National Certificate) programmes in schools
Teacher training and Support Network
Industry student teacher focus days
National student project Competitions
Mentor support network
Student e-mail club
Further information is available from the ETITO web site at
www.etito.co.nz
Awards Organiser Ross Peterson with some of the winning students
