STEM Exploration Day-The Rockets, The Gliders, and the Egg Drop

GLIDERS

OK, So as soon as you walk in, there's a bunch of kids throwing things seemingly every which way. These were gliders made from wooden kits (or self-designed crafts in some cases),  there was a runway (designated by caution tape, a great choice of warning if you ask me). But if that many planes swerved off the runway at a real airport I think ATC Investigators would be asking questions.

EGG DROPPINGS

So once you get past the airplanes flying at you, just hope that you don't end up with Egg on your face! Kids wrapped eggs in scotch tape, plastic bags, popsicle sticks, anything they thought might work and hoped to take their whole egg to the top tier and watch it drop-safely-to the ground. Not everyone was succesful

Rocket Movers, Shakers, and Launchers!

 Here we see our young Aerospace Engineers in the Design Phase of the Paper Rocket making process

Then came the fun part, we went out to the Lower Fields and LAUNCHED THEM!!!

HAHA got the rocket in this one!!!

At the VERY VERY top I captured this one during launch!

This one is hanging horizontal, making a nice arc,
right near the top of the photo, did you catch it?

STEM Exploration Day; Bridges, Turbochragers, Flashlights, PAUL, and HAM

Today, I found myself at ERAU's activity center at STEM Exploration Day, sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers.

The society of Women Engineers would include these fine folks. From Left to Right; Abby C, Ciara T (president) and Dr. Brenda Haven (who also happens to be my academic advisor) 

Lots of clubs from Embry Riddle were Represented, IEEE, Spacecraft Detail and Design (ok, that's a class, not a club), Centrifugal Flow Systems, AIAA Design-Build-Fly, and Eagle Amateur Radio Club.

PAUL

So, this is PAUL. PAUL is the "Precision Automated Lander" designed by The Spacecraft Detail and Design Class.

 AIAA Design-Build-Fly

This was actually test-flown at one of my favorite places on all of campus-the RC field! They hand-built almost every aspect, it's part of the rules. This was designed by members of the AIAA design-build-fly group. They spend almost all of their time on computer designs and simulations to design their own RC planes (PS-i just got my own RC plane and I'm learning to fly it!!!)

IEEE MAKE YOUR OWN FLASHLIGHT

Fun Fact: These were LED flashlights. This stands for "Light Emitting Diode". I know I learned this before, but I forgot; was quite gruntled to be reminded. (Look up Gruntled. It's an AWESOME word!!!)

BRIDGES

This Person's Bridge held 30lbs!
If she doesn't go to school here, SHE SHOULD

There was a contest, to see whose bridge could hold the most weight. I'm not sure who the winner was, but I bore witness to one girl's bridge holding 30lbs. I remember doing this from High school, and mine barely got past 5. So, I was impressed.

Shoutout to Eagle Space Flight Team. You guys are cool.

EAGLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

So, shamefully, I did not know we had this cool club on campus. They work with a real satellite that, from what I understand, ERAU developed, called EagleSat. They communicate using HAM radio. I was like, dude! AWESOME!

CENTRIFUGAL FLOW SYSTEMS

Ok, already intimidated by big words? Yeah, I was too. Apparently, this is a turbocharger. It's what's in your car. They 3D printed a mini model. From what I understand (you would probably be better off looking this up almost ANYWHERE else) it has hot air, and it mixes with cold air that the car sucks in, and makes a fan spin and makes car go fast. (If you know more detail, feel free to explain in the comments!)

Shoutout to this awesome person who took the time to explain this to me. Takes patience to explain stuff to me, sometimes. My brain needs time to break stuff down into smaller pieces.

Believe it or not, this is only Part I, there's a whole nother part about the Rocket Launches and Gliders and Aviation Stuff. Hope You've enjoyed this Martian's Eye View of STEM Exploration Day (Part I)

xoxo Martian