Identify the technological problem. Identify Criteria and Constraints

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1 Name Aeroponics & Vertical Farming Vertical Garden Design Challenge Objective: Students will design and construct a functional aeroponic vertical garden. Assignment Description: You are an agricultural engineer who has been hired to develop a small-scale vertical garden for families living in urban areas. Your team has been tasked with designing an inexpensive, self-contained vertical garden unit that can produce food for a family. Use the Engineering Design Process to complete this challenge. You will be provided a 5-gallon bucket, a pump, 1 or more sprinkler heads, and plastic pipe. You will need to design the vertical garden so that the roots of all the plants in the system can be evenly sprinkled with nutrient-rich water every 30 minutes. Your goal is to maximize both the number of plants that can be grown, and the rate of growth of the plants (determined by averaging the height of all the plants at the end of a predetermined period of time). The plants will be provided. 1 Identify the technological problem A technological problem is a problem that may be solved through the development or improvement of technology. 1. What is the problem? 2. What will solving it accomplish? 2 Identify Criteria and Constraints Criteria = a set of standards that determines whether a solution is successful or not. Constraint = limitations on the solution Criteria Your solution must be contained within 6 of the 5-gallon bucket in any direction (excepting plant growth, and any power cords) Your solution must not cost more than $10 in additional supplies beyond what you are given You may only use items listed above Your solution must be able to grow at least 5 plants to a minimum in the allotted time Constraints You will be provided with: o A 5-gallon bucket, with lid o A 300 gallon-per-hour pump o 1 sprinkler head o 12 of plastic threaded pipe o Plants o An Arduino board with necessary accessories (including a solid-state relay) o Unlimited hydroponic nutrient/water mixture o Tools as needed You may also ask for: o More plastic pipe or pipe fittings, up to 2 additional sprinkler heads, or a different style of sprinkler head

2 3 Brainstorm Solutions Make a list of 5 or more possible solutions. More ideas increase your chances of success! 4 Select the Best Solution List the positive and negative points of each idea from your brainstorm list, consider the criteria and constraints, and choose what you think is the best solution.

3 5 Develop and Construct a Prototype Develop a plan (including measurements and detailed views), gather needed materials and tools, and construct the solution. Teacher approval to begin construction 6 Test, Evaluate, and Improve Test the solution (by each component and as a whole) to determine if it works. Refine the solution as necessary, then test and refine the solution again.

4 Design Challenge Rubric: Size Cost Materials Plant Growth Meets (3 points) Solution meets Solution costs $10 or less in additional supplies No materials not specified are At least 5 plants are grown to a Partially Meets (2 points) Solution is within ½ of Does Not Meet (1 point) Solution is within 3 of No Attempt (0 points) Solution exceeds size restriction by more than 3 $12 or less $15 or less More than $15 (supplies will not be purchased) 1 piece of material not specified is At least 3 plants are grown to a 2 pieces of material not specified are At least 1 plant is grown to a More than 2 pieces of unspecified material are No plants reach 6 in height

5 Design Rubric Daily Log Drawings and Diagrams Meets 3 points includes a daily log of all activities, with date includes detailed drawings and diagrams showing design progression Written Detail Written detailed and shows the thought Quality is legible and organized throughout Partially Meets 2 points Missing 1 day includes some drawings showing design but are not detailed Written present, but lacking in some important details or missing links is mostly legible and organized Does Not Meet 1 point Missing more than 1 day includes few drawings and does not show the design Written materials are missing significant chunks, and lack detail Significant portions are not legible or disorganized No Attempt 0 points No daily log No drawings or diagrams included No written included Most of the notebook is illegible and lacks any organization Student Self- Instructor Total: /15 /15