FP Outline

* Introduction

* Background of the Problem
     - Deepwater Horizon Explosion "BP Oil Spill"

* Design Brief
     - Group: To design and create an educational system to model the capture and transport of oil from undersea gushers
     - Individual: To design and construct a model of a device capable of transferring an oil-like substance to a retrieval storage device.

* Specs
     - Must remain inside of tank at all times during testing
     - Must be able to stay on the surface of the water
     - Must be able to gather all oil without any help
     - Must be free of any leaks

* Limits
     - Cannot exceed the size of the tank
     - Cannot take to long to build (preferably before testing)
     - Total cost cannot exceed $200
     - Power cannot exceed the amount of power available for the entire model to use

* Test Procedures
     - Will model transportation of the captured well oil to a retrieval storage device
     - Amount of "oil" will be measured before and after the transportation stage
     - "Oil" lost will show how bad the system is
     - Multiple videos should be taken from different angles to document the results accurately
     - Sample Questionnaire:
          1) Was more "oil" added to the water during transportation?
          2) Did the transportation stage run smoothly?
          3) How convenient is the method of transportation chosen to transport the oil-like substance?
          4) Is there a simpler way to transport the substance?

* Brainstorming
     - Getting the oil out of the water:
          1) Water Vacuum System
          2) Oil Skimmer
          3) Oil Sorbent
          4) Manually
     - Moving the oil from the rig:
          1) Small Barge (ideal for moving small amounts of oil)
          2) Small Tanker
          3) Large Tanker (ideal for moving massive amounts of oil)

*Conclusion

Log 11/9/10

Today I will be working on my alternative solutions and I will try to get my blog updated.

Log 11/3/10

Presentations continued today. My team, and ES and MM, did not present today. Instead, we will all be presenting after the four day weekend when DA comes back.

**Since there were only three days of school this week I decided to write my log today.**

Log 11/2/10

Presentations began today. My team is scheduled to go tomorrow, but I will not be presenting until after the four day weekend.

Log 10/27/10

Today my group had a meeting with DA and CMcD. We talked about where each of us stood and we discussed what each of our responsibilities were. Prior to this meeting there was some confusion as to where our individual jobs ended and the next person's began. I also though about possible alternative solutions.
 

Log 10/25/10

So far this week I finished my background/summer research and I uploaded it to this blog. I also got a mentor (CR), a former MAST student who CMcD recommended.

(CR is an MIT graduate with degrees in Urban planning and Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. CR has has also worked in basic research as a programmer, and is currently in law school.)

Log 10/22/10

I haven't heard from any possible mentors that I have contacted. I'm finishing up the background information and getting the pictures for the background information ready to upload.