maxwell's laboratory

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Research Engineering and Learning Institute Concept Design DocumentAnthony Valenzano 2005-1 REV-1

Maxwell's Laboratory

Research Engineering and Learning Institute

Concept Design DocumentWritten by: Anthony Valenzano

Introduction

The United States is quickly losing it's technical edge over the rest of the world1.There are many reasons for this, but one reason clearly presents itself; less interest inengineering. Forty years ago, with the space race, engineering interest in this countrywas at it's peak. Now, unfortunately engineering interest has dwindled to almostimperceptible levels. One possible reason for the lack of interest in engineering could bethat it has become localized to a few parts of the country. The rest of the nation is left

with little, or no engineering at all. This causes our country to miss out on manypotential engineers, because quitesimply, children do not knowanything about it. Without themedia attention, like from the spacerace, science and engineering haslost accessibility to children whoseparents are not involved in thosefields. There is also anotherfundamental issue that blockschildren's understanding ofengineering, in that a child can noteasily observe these technical fieldsin society. Doctors, lawyers, andteachers can all be observedperforming their tasks in society.This is not true of most engineers.Engineering is highly competitiveand therefore done behind closeddoors. It's not likely that children aregoing to choose a career that theyknow nothing about. This document introduces a program which is intended to helpspark interest in science and engineering in communities where engineering is not

common-place. This program will bring science and engineering out to be observed bythe public and therefore make it a more obvious career choice for young adults. Thisprogram therefore proposes to design and construct a science center unlike any other.This center will be partly an learning institute and partly a working research center. Thisway the visitors will observe actual engineering and scientific research. The research willalso allow the institution to attract and retain talented scientists.

While this document proposes to design and build one institute, this document isdesigned to guide the planning of many of these institutes. This plan is specificallydesigned for cities under 100,000 in population, will little existing engineering and withno other science centers. This plan may be modified to suit other cities.

1 Broad, W. J. US Losing Its Dominance in Sciences.New York Times. May 3,2004

Selection From:Rising Above The GatheringStorm: Energizing and Employing America for a BrighterEconomic Future.National Academy of Sciences. 2005

www.nap.edu

Programme for International Student Assessmentmeasured the performance of 15-year-olds in 49industrialized countries and found that US students scoredin the middle or in the bottom half of the group in threeimportant ways: our students placed 16th in reading, 19thin science literacy, and 24th in mathematics.

After secondary school, fewer US studentspursue science and engineering degrees than students inother countries. About 6% of our undergraduates studyengineering; that percentage is the second lowest amongdeveloped countries. Engineering students make up about12% of undergraduates in most of Europe, 20% inSingapore, and more than 40% in China. Studentsthroughout much of the world see careers in science andengineering as the path to a better future.


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Purpose

The purpose of this program is to introduce children and young adults toengineering, and develop the local engineering community. This program proposes to do

this by developing a science center that is tuned to just this goal. The science institutefunctions will be threefold. First it will be a learning center for school students. In thisrole the institute will provide educational displays on specific topics, laboratories forlessons in major fields of engineering, and access to people working in the scientificcommunity. This institution will be more hands-on than other comparable sciencecenters. It will consist of more lab experiments than museum-type push button examples.The purpose is to show students their own abilities in engineering and not to intimidatethem with complex examples of engineering. The other two functions are derived fromthis most important function. The second function is as a working research center, as thiswill give the students the best understanding of engineering. By making the institute aresearch center it gains actual 'living' science. Visitors can see science developing beforethere eyes, and just how this is done. The research has two other purposes, to attract

bright engineers, and to provide additional income for the institute. The third function ofthe institute is to spread engineering to the entire community. This center will be aresource for everyone in the community, with everyone welcome to join the institutionand utilize the labs under supervision of lab attendants. The salient goal of this instituteis to improve the technological state of this country, this goal is not well served by justshowing students science and then abandoning them later. This institute will nurture allkinds of science and engineering, for all people. Students will be able to return to thecenter to try to build things that they have learned. As adults they will be able to turn tothe institute as a place to work on a project that they are developing outside or their nineto five jobs. This is an important aspect of the institute, people are most effective whenworking on projects they are passionate about, but they are rarely able to work on those

projects as a living. This institute provides these people with access to the resources theyneed to complete these goals. The institute will also be an excellent resource for homeschooled children and their parents, who often don't have access to science labs. Lastly,the institute will provide a meeting and work place for science-based student projects,such as Junior Achievement.


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Description

The institute will require a building of at least 15,000 sq ft of floor space. Thebuilding should have an industrial look with modern accents. Preferably the building will

be two stories with a large open area that can make up the central floor / display area.The first floor should also house the cafeteria. The second floor will consist of four labsand an engineering library. In addition there will be several small offices, andconference rooms. The building would be best if positioned high on a mountain or hillfor the use of ham radio as well as telescopes, and radio astronomy equipment. Toaccommodate telescopes and antennas the building will need roof access. All aspects ofthe institute will be designed to accommodate 60 children per day.

To ensure security for the institute, video cameras, and recorded devices will beutilized in critical locations in the building. Fiber-optic locking systems will be attachedto all lab equipment and oscilloscopes probes will be secured to each scope. The doorsall labs will have magnetic badge readers to ensure that visitors are not allowed in the

labs alone, both for security and safety reasons.

Illustration 1: Sample Floor Plan, 2nd FloorIllustration 2: Sample Floor Plan, 1st Floor


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Central Floor / Display Area

The central floor will contain displays much like other science museums. Thesedisplays will be interactive and educational. Each display will consist of writtenexplanation that will be narrated by the push of a button. Displays may also includemonitors to provide visual understanding of the display. The display should be arrangedin a semi-circle around the central floor, with an open area in the center for livedemonstrations, speeches, or a focused display. Displays will also show where itsparticular science shows up in the real world. For example, the Friction Display will tiethe display activity to how cars grip the road.

The walls of the first floor will contain many educational wall displays whichdescribe events in the history of science and engineering. The wall will start in the centerof the north wall and progress clockwise in a chronological order. The purpose of thiswall is to tie today's very complex science and engineering to a time when it was muchsimpler.

Possible Displays:Van De Graaff GeneratorMechanical AdvantageJacob's LadderAerodynamic LiftFrictionMagnetic ForcesRelativity /Time-space relationWet-Cell Battery ConstructionCommunicationsFeedback Systems

For more information on display see the Display Requirements Document.


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Computer Engineering Lab

Personnel: Two computer engineers + Two part-time lab attendants

This laboratory will consist of approximately thirty computer systems with a

variety of open source operating systems. These operating systems are powerfuleducational tools as well as powerful research tools. These systems will allow the usersto develop programs, interact with robotic systems, and develop web pages, along withnumerous other activities. Open software is also free of cost and can be modified tobetter suit a purpose. The computers will be equipped with large hard drives toaccommodate several operating systems. Seeing as computers are used in all forms ofengineering, the computer lab will be equipped with all the software to perform theseengineering tasks.

Possible open operating systems:Mandriva LinuxFedora Core Linux

Debian LinuxFreeBSD

Software Programs:OpenOffice Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation SoftwareQCAD Mechanical Drawing ProgramDia Diagram drawing programOregano Electrical Simulation SoftwareGnuplot Graphing ProgramScilab Matrix Math ProgramKde Edutainment Educational SoftwareThe GIMP v2 Image editing software

Mozilla-FireFox Web browser

Workstation Computer Specifications:17 CRT Display3-bay mini-tower case w/ power supplyAMD-64 mainboard w/ processor 3.2 GHz200 Gigabyte hard drive1 Gigabyte memoryDVD/CD-RW DriveSound card / SpeakersMouse/Keyboard

During educational lessons approximately thirty students will each sit at acomputer. They will be introduced to the operating system and will be taught to use oneparticular piece of software, depending on their age. At the end of the lesson the studentswill be able to print out their work and take it home. Possible projects may includedesigning a web page, editing a photo, or making a mechanical drawing. In addition,older students may write programs while younger students will utilize the educationalsoftware on the computer.


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Electrical Engineering Lab

Personnel: Two electrical engineers and two part-time lab attendants

This lab will have all the equipment required to create ten lab stations. Each of

these stations will have one two-channel 300MHz digital oscilloscopes, one dual variablepower supply, a soldering station, and a signal generator. The lab may also have hamradio equipment, weather measurement equipment, and electrical instrumentation.Various other equipment maybe acquired and kept in a supply area to be signed out whenneeded. Hand tools and electronic parts will also be kept in the supply area. Equipmentat each station will be carefully controlled.

Future expansions to this lab will include a network analyzer, spectrum analyzer,Anechoic chamber, and optics equipment.

During educational lessons approximately sixteen students will sit two per labstation so that they may work together for these experiments. Students will utilized someor all of the lab equipment for preform and experiment. One possible such experiment

might be a microphone and speaker communication system. Here each set of studentswould be given a microphone and a ear piece. First the students would be instructed toattach the microphone to the oscilloscope to view their voices as they speak. Next theywould attach the signal generator to the ear piece and listen to the sounds it is outputting.Lastly they would connect the microphone with the ear piece and one student will speakand the other will listen at some distance away.

Mechanical Engineering Lab

Personnel: Two mechanical engineers and two part-time lab attendants

The mechanical engineering lab will have several work tables and machining area.

The machining area will be carefully segregated from the rest of the lab for safetyreasons. This area will require safety glasses and clothing before working in the area.There will also be safety training before visitors are permitted to operate the machines.This lab will have supply room that will contain all other power tools and hand tools aswell as any materials. Only engineers and lab attendants will have access to the supplyroom.

Future expansions to this lab will include a color plotter, plasma cutter, and rapidprototype machine. Several other smaller tools will also be added.

Aerospace Engineering Lab

Personnel: Two aerospace engineers and two part-time lab attendant

Aerospace engineering has an advantage over other forms of engineering when iscomes to educating children, and that is because model airplanes and rockets follow thesame laws of science as their larger brethren. This fact can be used to give a very goodunderstanding of aerospace, at a fraction of the cost. In this lab students can construct awing, and test it in a miniature wind tunnel. Students can measure the thrust of smallmodel rocket engines, exactly in the same way engineers would test much larger rockets.Along with observing the work of real aerospace engineers, the students will have a greatunderstanding of this field of engineering.


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Engineering Library

Personnel: One librarian and one part-time attendantThe most important part of successful engineering is access to information. For

this reason the institute will have an engineering library on the premises. This will allowresearches and visitors to have access to all of the information they need to complete theirtasks. The librarian will be responsible for signing out and returning all books as well asorganizing and maintaining the information resources. This lab will have five computersavailable for Internet searches.

Cafeteria

To accommodate a full day of activities for school students the institute willrequire a cafeteria. The cafeteria will be operated by a food services contractor. The

cafeteria will not be completed until later in the project, until that time lunches will haveto be 'brown bag'. The cafeteria will accommodate 75 people for lunch. This will be 10tables with 8 people per table. The cafeteria will also double as a gathering area forgroups.


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Education Methods

Children should be brought to the institute several times during their schoolingcareers, and each time they should walk away with a better understanding of science and

engineering. For younger students, a wonder of science should be introduced, but thisshould not be left at that. If left at the the wonder stage, science can seem toounattainable and mystifying. Therefore children should be taught that they too cancontrol and manipulate materials. This can only happen if students are shown that theycan work with the laws of science. This can start with the simplest of gears and levelersand end in an understanding of complex electronics.

Research Plan

Research is a very important part of the institute. This is the key to showing the

children how engineering works. The research is also vital to employ engineers, asengineers want to do engineering, and if they are not doing engineering, they are notengineers. The research also has another positive aspect, it can help supplement theengineer's salary, even the institute itself.

The research can be SBIR from the national agencies. Phase I SBIRs are $75,000for initial research, lasting just a couple months. Phase II SBIRs often follow phase ISBIRs which are worth $750,000 and usually have a duration of two or three years.

Another source of research engineering is from private industry. Many companiesdo not have the resources or personnel to develop some product that they wish to market.These companies can contract with the institute to help develop their product.

Engineers working at the institute will also have the opportunity develop theirown research projects. They will present the concept to their peers and, if approved, willbe able to work on these projects as budget allows.


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Funding and Resources

Government

The National Science Foundation offers grants for programs that bring science tostudents. The institute will search out and apply for these type of grants. The institutewill look to local and state government for additional funding, including the possibility ofsuppling the building.

Private Industry

Private high-tech companies will be a great resource for the institute. Companiessuch as Lockheed Martin routinely encourage employees to help out with communitiesprograms, and will often donate money to these causes. The institute will look to thesecompanies for donations of equipment, time, and money. High-tech companies will also

be encouraged to develop displays to be added to the main floor display. These displayswill follow the same guidelines as all of the institutes's displays, in that they areeducational and interactive.

Research Gains

Money acquired from research gains will be folded back into the institute to helpsupplement the other sources of income. This will in turn provide money to improve allaspects of the institute and reduce the costs of attending and joining the institute. Thegoal is that eventually the doors of the institute may be opened, free of cost to the public.

DonationsDonations will be particularly important to startup the institute. The largest costs

will be to acquire the equipment needed before the doors are ever opened.Donations will also help to reduce the cost for students to attend the institute.

Universities

The institute will have close relationship with local universities. Universities willfind the institute a resource for locating possible engineering students. They will also beable to utilize the labs where their labs fall insufficient. Engineers working at theinstitute may have the opportunity to teach engineering classes at the university.


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Implementation Plan

Phase I Planning, 1-3 months

Gather funding. Refine concept. Draw up plans and documents.

Phase II Forward Motion, 2-3 months

Some funding acquired. Search out more funding. Acquire location. Select firstemployees. Develop first lesson plans. Find research opportunities. Develop initial website.

Phase III Construction, 3-5 monthsConstruct facility. Acquire tools and materials. Develop displays. Continue to developlesson plans. Select remaining startup employees. Begin research.

Phase IV Initial Operations, 6-12 months

Open doors with minimal staff. Evaluate operation and adjust as needed. Grow staffingand capabilities at a reasonable rate. Finalize web site. Notify schools.

Phase V Full Operations

Normal operations. Add cafeteria. Hire any remaining staff. Stabilize costs vs earnings.Make any final adjustments. Open doors to public.


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Financial

Staffing

Position BeginningPhase

Description Salary

General Manager / EE I Oversee all operations, begin funding,EE/AE Labs $65,000.00

Technical Leader / EE II Oversee all technical aspects, Run EE lab $65,000.00

Business Leader / HR II Oversee all business aspects, HR, Safety,Funding

$60,000.00

Mechanical Engineer III Run ME lab, develop displays, developlesson plans $50,000.00

Computer Engineer III Setup CE lab, develop lesson plans $45,000.00

Librarian III Setup Library, Community Outreach $35,000.00

Aerospace Engineer IV Run AE Lab, develop lesson plans $50,000.00

Mechanical Engineer V Run ME lab, Research, Present $50,000.00

Computer Engineer V Run CE lab, Research, Present $45,000.00

Electrical Engineer V Run EE lab, Research, Present $55,000.00

Business Staff V Accounting, Acquire Funding $35,000.00

Aerospace Engineer V Run AE Lab, Research, Present $50,000.00

Monthly salary expenses according to Phase:Phase I $5,400/monthPhase II $15,800/monthPhase III $26,600/monthPhase IV $30,800/monthPhase V $50,400/month


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Materials Acquisition

Table 1: Computer Engineering Lab, Material Costs

Item Quantity Cost Total

Computer Workstation 30 $1,550.00 $46,500.00

Computer Servers 2 $1,750.00 $3,500.00

Projector 1 $1,700.00 $1,700.00

Ethernet Equipment 1 $5,500.00 $5,500.00

Various Software 1 $8,000.00 $8,000.00

Interactive Hardware 1 $4,500.00 $4,500.00

Electrical Materials 1 $5,000.00 $5,000.00

Desks 15 $250.00 $3,750.00

Chairs 30 $55.00 $1,650.00Computer Accessories 1 $1,000.00 $1,000.00

TOTAL $81,100.00

Table 2: Electrical Engineering Lab, Material Costs


Oscilloscopes 12 $3,500.00 $42,000.00

Power Supply 12 $1,000.00 $12,000.00

Signal Generators 12 $700.00 $8,400.00Soldering Stations 12 $250.00 $3,000.00

Digital Multimeter 12 $200.00 $2,400.00

Hand Tools 1 $2,000.00 $2,000.00

Electrical Materials 1 $5,000.00 $5,000.00

Desks 5 $1000.00 $5,000.00

Stools 15 $30.00 $450.00

Microscope 3 $400.00 $1,200.00

TOTAL $81,450.00


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Table 3: Mechanical Engineering Lab, Material Costs


Drill Press 1 $800.00 $800.00

CNC 1 $18,000.00 $18,000.00

Band saw 1 $2,500.00 $2,500.00

Lathe 1 $2,500.00 $2,500.00

Grinder 1 $350.00 $350.00

Three-axis Mill 1 $3,500.00 $3,500.00

Hand Tools 1 $10,500.00 $10,500.00

Desks 12 $350.00 $4,200.00

Stools 25 $30.00 $750.00

Tool Cabinet 4 $400.00 $1,600.00

TOTAL $44,700.00

Table 4: Aerospace Engineering Lab, Material Costs



Materials 1 $13,000.00 $13,000.00

Equipment 1 $24,000.00 $24,000.00

Desks 12 $300.00 $3,600.00

Chairs 25 $55.00 $1,375.00Projector 1 $1,700.00 $1,700.00

TOTAL $46,775.00


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Table 5: Engineering Library, Material Costs



Engineering Books 1 $25,000.00 $25,000.00

Bookshelves 10 $300.00 $3,000.00

Desks 10 $300.00 $3,000.00

Chairs 25 $55.00 $1,375.00

Projector 1 $1,700.00 $1,700.00

TOTAL $41,825.00

Table 6: Central Floor, Material Costs

Item Quantity Cost Total Computer Stations 6 $1,550.00 $9,300.00

Education Displays 10 $3,000.00 $30,000.00

Accessories 1 $7500.00 $7,500.00

LCD Monitors 4 $2200.00 $8,800.00

Chairs 40 $35.00 $1,400.00

Information Desk 1 $1,500.00 $1,500.00

TOTAL $58,500.00

Table 7: Facility Materials


Video Displays 1 $11000.00 $11,000.00

Cafeteria Chairs 90 $35.00 $3,150.00

Cafeteria Tables 10 $250.00 $2,500.00

Decorations / Accessories 1 $3000.00 $3,000.00

Security Equipment 1 $10000.00 $10,000.00

Basic Supplies 1 $1,500.00 $1,500.00

TOTAL $31,150.00


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Table 8: Office Supplies


Employee Computers 12 $1600.00 $19,200.00

Employee Desks 12 $350.00 $4,200.00

Employee Chairs 12 $150.00 $1,800.00

Various Office Supplies 1 $5500.00 $5,500.00

Copier / Fax / Printer 1 $2500.00 $2,500.00

Ink jet Printers 8 $400.00 $3,200.00

TOTAL $36,400.00

Table 9: Total Material Costs

Area Cos

Computer Engineering Lab $81,100.00Electrical Engineering Lab $81,450.00

Mechanical Engineering Lab $44,700.00

Aerospace Engineering Lab $46,775.00

Engineering Library $41,825.00

Central Floor $58,500.00

Facility Supplies $31,150.00

Office Supplies $36,400.00

TOTAL MATERIAL COSTS $421,900.00


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Operating Costs

Table 10: Expenses Per Month For Each Phase

Expense Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV Phase V

Salaries $5,400.00 $15,800.00 $26,600.00 $30,800.00 $50,400.00

Facility Lease / Payment $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00

Lab Materials $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 $5,000.00

Office Materials $500.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00

Employee Benefits $500.00 $1,000.00 $1,500.00 $2,000.00 $3,500.00

TOTALS $36,400.00 $47,800.00 $59,100.00 $66,800.00 $90,400.00


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About the Author

Mr. Anthony Valenzano is an electrical engineering consultant with five yearsexperience. Most recently at AeroAstro (Ashburn VA), he was the principal electrical

engineer for the design of a modular flight computer for a satellite. He has also designedanalog power control systems as well as S-Band RF circuitry. Prior to his employment atAeroAstro, Mr. Valenzano was an Electrical Design Engineer at Lockheed Martin -Missiles and Fire Control (Archbald PA), where he designed flight control systems forlaser-guided and GPS-guided munitions. He was lead engineer for their Laser-GuidedTrain Round and Mission-Readiness Test Set programs. Before Lockheed, Mr.Valenzano obtained his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Penn StateUniversity where he focused on analog circuit design, high-speed power circuity, andmicrowave design. At Penn State, he was also a lead member of a team that successfullydesigned and launched a sounding rocket from NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Duringthis program he developed an interest in bringing engineering to children when hebecame involved in the SPIRIT Outreach Program. This was a program that introduced

K-12 students to aerospace engineering. Since then Mr. Valenzano has mentoredfreshman college students through their college careers and also introduced other studentsto engineering. Lastly he taught science to 3rd and 4th graders at Abington ElementarySchool as part of an after school program designed to introduce students to differentcareers.

For more information contact:

Anthony Valenzano

RELI

570-498-7223

[email protected]

http://www.maxwells-lab.com

1305 Pittston Ave 2S

Scranton PA, 18505
mailto:[email protected]://www.maxwells-lab.com/http://www.maxwells-lab.com/mailto:[email protected]

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