Friday March 16

Today we launched ourselves into working on the droppping aspect of the challenge. We had previously decided that the dropping and climbing could be approached as seperate problems. We further divided the dropping into two components, slowing down the device and cushioning the fall. Our first potential candidate for slowing down the device parachute. Being the pessimists that we are we decided to list potential problems first.

1)Not opening fully
2)Not being effective enough over a short 12ft drop
3)Since parachutes are characteristically flimsy, danger of ripping
4)Possibility of the device drifting off course
5)Parachute could fall on top of the device and trap it underneath

Then we talked about some potential solutions

1) Using an umbrella to keep the parachute open and stiff
2)Attaching the umbrella to box which contains the device, allowing the device to break down or run through the wall on impact
3)Pre-cut slits on the box so it would collapse on impact leaving the device to begin its ascent up the ramp unfettered
4)Fin.

We felt that we should pursue this venture a little more thoroughly , as such we decided to check out the local home depots and toystores for ideas and come back next week to put some ideas into action.