Itaipu Dam

Brief Background:

The Itaipu Dam is the largest hydroelectric energy producer in the world. The Dam is located on the Parana River and also on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. Its construction began in February 1971 and the first unit was complete in May 1984. As of 2009, 20 units have been completed. The Itaipu Dam itself is 7919 meters long and 196 meters high. A total of 12.3 million cubic meters of concrete was used and the total cost came out to $19.6 billion. In 2008 it produced 94,684 megawatts to become the largest amount of power ever produced by a single dam.

How It Works:

The Itaipu Dam is made of four different parts: the earth-fill dam, rock-fill dam, main concrete dam, and wing concrete dam. This dam is a gravity dam, which means that it holds back water by shear size and weight. A cross section of the dam would look like a triangle where the largest part is at the bottom so that it can hold the full force of the river behind it. To generate power 20 generators 53 feet across were installed in the powerhouse. The water in the reservoir then flows through a tube and into the generators each producing 700 megawatts of power.

Pros:

• Produces enough to supply Paraguay with 90%, and Brazil with 25% of their power needs
• Renewable energy
• Efficient

Cons:

• Expensive
• Forced 10,000 families to relocate
• Submerged Guaira Falls

Future:

In the future I think that more Hydroelectric plants will be created and that they will become the main source of renewable and clean energy. If each country creates one or two of these facilities, pollution would decrease and the environment would be better off.

Works Cited

“The Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam Project, Brazil.” Power Technology, www.power-technology.com/projects/itaipu-hydroelectric/.

“Seven Wonders of the Modern World: The Itaipu Dam.” Seven Wonders of the Midieval World - Stonehenge, www.unmuseum.org/7wonders/megadam.htm.

3D Printers

Brief Background:

3D Printing first began in 1980 when Dr. Kodama used it as a rapid prototyping technique. Over the next few decades the technology began to advance and was slowly integrated into the world. However, when President Obama mentioned 3D Printers in his 2013 State of the Union Address the idea took hold and its development and use has been increasing ever since. Advancements have been made: Daniel Kelly's Lab has been successful in printing bone, a full car was printed, and the process grows faster everyday. 

How It Works:

Some types of 3D Printing include Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Electronic Beam Melting (EBM), and Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM). All of these different techniques are used for different purposes and use different materials. Most use plastic or metal that is melted down or in powder form to create layers of the object until it is complete. The Printers are controlled by a computer that directs the arm and head in the X, Y, and Z directions. The melted plastic or metal is placed in specific spots on the base as the Printer forms the first layer. After the first layer is finished it will move up to the next layer and repeat the process until the object is fully constructed.

Pros:

• Quick for Prototyping
• Can Create almost any Object
• Products can be made right at house
• Easy to make Custom Products

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can only use certain Materials
• Size restrictions
• Inefficient for Factories

Future:

In the future 3D Printers could be used to produce almost all goods. They could use any material and be any size so eventually they could even print houses and buildings. They could also be used to print human tissue and organs allowing many more people to be able to receive the care they need.

Works Cited

3dprintingfromscratch.com. “Types of 3D Printers or 3D Printing Technologies Overview.” 3D Printing from Scratch, 2 Feb. 2016, 3dprintingfromscratch.com/common/types-of-3d-printers-or-3d-printing-technologies-overview/.

“The History of 3D Printing: From the 80s to Today.” 3D Printing Blog: Tutorials, News, Trends and Resources | Sculpteo, 23 Nov. 2017, www.sculpteo.com/blog/2016/12/14/the-history-of-3d-printing-3d-printing-technologies-from-the-80s-to-today/.

Walker, Andrew. “3D Printing for Dummies: How Do 3D Printers Work?” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 21 June 2013, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/3d-printing-for-dummies-how-do-3d-printers-work-8668937.html.

Robotic Lawn Mower

Brief Background:

The first Lawnmower was created in 1830 by putting a cloth trimming machine on wheels. However since then the Lawnmower has come a long way. Today many companies have produced fully automated robotic lawnmowers that can eliminate the need to ever go out and mow again. These mowers, much like robotic vacuums, allow people to not worry about these tedious tasks.

How It Works:

Robotic Lawnmowers are composed of three main systems: Navigation, Charging, and Cutting. The Navigation System uses a wire that the owner places around the edge of their yard and around places that should not be cut (ex. flowerbeds). The wires act as an invisible fence and allow the mower to map out the entire yard. The mower then plans a route to make sure that it cuts everything it needs to. The mower also has on board sensors that can detect if it were about to run into anything. The Charging System is comprised of a charging station located along the perimeter wire. When the mower gets low on battery it will follow the edge back to the station and charge itself until full where it then returns to the point it stopped. The Cutting System is set up so that the mower cuts more often but only a little length at each time. This allows for more nutrients to be but back into the lawn which in turn creates a better and healthier lawn.

Pros:

• Fully Automated
• Low maintenance

Cons:

• Expensive
• Will not create patterns
• Can only mow up to about one acre of lawn

Future:

In the future this technology will become even more widely used as it gets upgrades. Eventually they should be able to mow large spaces, have 100% coverage, and be able to make patterns.

Works Cited

Batya, et al. “How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?” Robotic Lawn Mower Reviews UK & US, easylawnmowing.co.uk/how-do-robotic-lawn-mowers-work/.

“The History of Lawn Mowers.” Robomow, 3 Nov. 2016, www.robomow.com/en-GB/history-lawn-mowers/.

Railgun

Brief Background:

The idea of using electromagnetic force to propel projectiles has been around since WWI however the ideas were not tested until December 2010 when General Atomics tested their Blitzer electromagnetic railgun. This shot reached a speed over Mach 5 and exceeded a force of 33 megajoules. This force is roughly equal to a freight train traveling 100 mph. Now a shot can easily travel over 100 miles above Mach 7 with complete accuracy. It also has the power so travel through several layers of steel or concrete and deliver the same damage as a Tomahawk Missile.

How It Works:

Railguns are made of three basic components: two parallel rails, a projectile, and many capacitors. The projectile runs between the two rails and so that when a current is applied it travels up one rail, across the projectile, and then back down the other rail. Each rail creates a magnetic field but since they point in the same direction it creates an even stronger field that propels the projectile.

Pros:

• High speed
• Pinpoint accuracy
• Shoots farther than any other gun
• Does not take up much space on a ship
• Can penetrate through defenses
• Does not require guidence

Cons:

• Requires a large amount of energy
• Hard to transport
• Need to replace rails
• Magnetic Field can cause damage to nearby electronic equipment

Future:

In the future this weapon is expected to be able to reach speeds of Mach 10 and fire over 220 miles. It will also be able to shoot multiple rounds per minute. Scientists also expect that they could combine it with a typical combustion powder system to create an even better and more advanced version.

Works Cited

Allain, Rhett. “The Physics of the Railgun.” Wired, Conde Nast, 3 June 2017, www.wired.com/2014/08/the-physics-of-the-railgun/.

Dailymail.com, Mark Prigg For. “Radical Railgun Revealed: US Navy's 'Star Wars' Weapon That Can Fire Shells at Mach 6 and Penetrate Concrete 100 MILES Away Shown in Public for First Time.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 19 May 2015, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2941525/Radical-railgun-fire-shells-mach-6-penetrate-concrete-100-MILES-away-shown-public-Navy.html.

Garrun, Daniel. “Highly Charged – the US Navy's Electromagnetic Railgun Programme.” Naval Technology, 27 Sept. 2012, www.naval-technology.com/features/featureus-navy-electromagnetic-railgun-programme/.

Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge

Brief Background:

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is the worlds longest bridge stretching 164.8 km. The bridge has a span of 260 ft and is on average 100 ft above the ground. It was constructed for a high speed train connection between Shanghai and Nanjing. The bridge was opened in June 2011 after four years of work. Overall it took 10,000 people and $8.5 billion to build. Because of this bridge China now holds all top three spots for the worlds longest bridges.

How It Works:

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is supported by over 9,500 concrete pillars. When constructing the bridge designers and engineers had to take into account the rivers, lakes, canals, deltas, lowland rice paddies, and uneven terrain. Also since the bridge is so immense they had to consider the curvature of the Earth. The main part of the bridge spans a 9 km section of the Yangcheng Lake. This section alone used 2,000 pillars and 450,000 tons of steel structure. This section was built to withstand magnitude eight earthquakes and collisions with naval ships that weigh up to 300,000 tons.

Pros:

• Provides quick transportation between Shanghai and Nanjing
• Breaks many different bridge records
• Provided many jobs

Cons:

• Expensive
• Time consuming

Future:

In the Future this bridge will be used as an outline to complete many other projects like it. China has already announced that they are planning to construct an even longer bridge or add onto the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge to connect their entire country.

Works Cited

“Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge: The Longest In The World • Lazer Horse.” Lazer Horse, 25 Mar. 2018, www.lazerhorse.org/2014/05/24/danyang-kunshan-grand-bridge-longest-world/.

“The World's Longest Bridge - Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge.” Longest Bridge in the World - Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge - Facts and History, www.historyofbridges.com/famous-bridges/longest-bridge-in-the-world/.

Shanghai Tower

Brief Background:

The Shanghai Tower is the worlds second tallest building. It is 2073 feet tall with a total of 128 stories. It not only has the highest observation deck in the world (floor 121) but also the fastest elevators (46 mph). Work began on the tower in November 2008 and was not completed until September 2015. In total the building cost $2.4 Billion and was designed for high energy efficiency.

How It Works:

The tower features a twisting triangular form with a facade that curves 120 degrees from its base. Its structural system consists of a 90-by-90-foot concrete core connected to a system of outriggers and super columns supported on 1,079 concrete and steel bore piles driven deep into ground. This allows for effective wind and seismic resistance. Because of the curved shape the wind load decreased 24%, which resulted in a lighter structure and reduced material cost. The building achieved LEED Platinum for renewable energy because it houses 270 wind turbines.

Pros:

• Energy Efficient
• Breaks Many Records
• Allows For Comfortable Living

Cons:

• Expensive
• Time Consuming

Future:

In the future this building will be used for the standard to which buildings should be made. Its excellent efficiency system will be used in other buildings and its unique design will inspire designers to think differently.

Works Cited

“Shanghai Tower.” Thornton Tomasetti, www.thorntontomasetti.com/projects/shanghai_tower/.

“Shanghai Tower.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Tower.

Global Positioning System

Brief Background:

The Global Positioning System or GPS is a system of satellites that was originally started by the United States Department of Defense in the early 1970's. The 24 satellite system became fully operational in 1993 for military navigation and tracking. Today GPS has two different levels of service: Standard Positioning Service (Available to Everyone) and Precise Positioning Service (Available only to the U.S. Armed Forces).

How It Works:

The satellites orbit the earth an altitude of 20,000 km and constantly beam out radio waves that carry a signal to your receiver. Each satellite has four atomic clocks on board that time stamp each radio wave which allows for it to be timed on its way to the receiver. Then it combines the time and how fast the radio wave travels to determine the distance between the satellite and receiver. No matter where you are on earth you will be able to receive a signal from at least 4 satellites. This allows it to use a method called Trilateration to pinpoint your position. Trilateration is where at least three satellite use their distance to the receiver to form overlapping spheres that will show where they intersect.

Pros:

- Allows for easy travel

- Inexpensive

Cons:

- Requires the use of satellites

- Privacy issues

Future:

In the future GPS will play a large role in the automation of farming by creating self driving tractors. It will also be used to create a system of self driving cars and self flying planes. GPS will eventually eliminate the need and use of radar technology.

Works Cited

Dunbar, Brian. “Global Positioning System History.” NASA, NASA, 5 May 2015, www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/communications/policy/GPS_History.html.

How Does GPS Work?| Explore, www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=55.

www.explainthatstuff.com/howgpsworks.html.