Today: Friday 5 October 2007
Location: --> Johnson Center (2nd Floor)
Time: 3:00 PM (SHARP!) until whenever we get finished.
--> Sheel will be absent today, but he will be sending me all the information.

Bring to the meeting:
All of your gathered materials - either on a zip drive, a CD, a floppy-disk, or in printed form. *2003 or 2007 Office*

-- Agenda for today: FINISH the Preliminary Report, begin on the Power Point


Rough draft of the preliminary report below: (Please take in to account that this is UNformatted for Wetpaint.com, and that the original preliminary report to be turned in will have a cover sheet and introductory paragraph for each section).
Preliminary Report

Team One, List of Members:
1. Project Manager: Michael Dupuy
2. Assistant Project Manager: Jason McCall
3. Secretary: Ehsan Qaium
4. Principal Design Engineer: Colin Edwards
5. Secondary Design Engineer: Sheel Patel
6. Treasurer: Robert Kwalwasser

I. Identification of a Need

A. Infrared Signal Detector
i. The need is based upon the desire to determine whether or not an infrared-signal emitting device is working.

B. Sound Amplifier
i. A device is needed that provides the ability to allow a set of speakers to reproduce a sound at a higher volume than it was originally.

II. Problem Definition

A. Infrared Signal Detector
i. A problem exists, the uncertainty of whether or not an infrared-based device is functioning properly. A simple solution would be to create a device which has the ability to detect an infrared signal and to report its responses through a mean of visual communication, for example, a flashing LED light.

B. Sound Amplifier
i. Without a device that is able to reproduce a sound at a higher wattage, the distance in which that sound is heard is drastically reduced. This leads to the solution of developing a device that would intensify the level of volume of a particular sound, which in-turn eliminates the distance barrier in which that sound is heard.

III. Research

A. Infrared Signal Detector
i. The infrared signal detector is used in many instances such as to calculate whether or not an infrared-based device is within a certain radius. It also allows one to test whether a certain product is working by reading the signals that are being produced.

B. Sound Amplifier
i. Sound amplifiers are most prominent in the entertainment industry. Common uses are derived from concerts, instrument players, and bands. Also, certain locations use sound amplifiers to create a personal announcement (PA) system.


IV. Constraints

A. Infrared Signal Detectors
i. General Constraints
a. No dangerous items
b. No explosive or corrosive items
c. No knife-like edges
d. No bullets or shotgun cartridges
e. No guns
f. No more than $40.00

ii. Team-Imposed Constraints
a. No larger than 4”x4” dimensions
b. No heavier than 1 lbm
c. Must be able to detect a signal within a 1 ft radius
d. Must be powered by a “readily-available” sized battery

B. Sound Amplifier
i. General Constraints
a. No dangerous items
b. No explosive or corrosive items
c. No knife-like edges
d. No bullets or shotgun cartridges
e. No guns
f. No more than $40.00

ii. Team-Imposed Constraints
a. No larger than 6”x6” dimensions
b. No heaver than 1 lbm
c. Must be able to produce a sound that is heard within a 10 ft radius
d. Must be powered by a “readily-available” sized battery

V. Criteria
A. Difficulty of Construction (5%): This is defined on a scale of one through ten, where one is extremely difficult to complete and ten is extremely easy to complete.
B. Time of Construction (5%): This is defined on a scale of one through ten, where one takes the largest amount of time and ten is completed quickly.
C. Portability (20%): This is defined on a scale of one through ten, where one is very difficult to move/carry and ten is very easy to move/carry.
D. Usage (30%): This is defined on a scale of one through ten, where one is seldom used and ten is frequently used.
E. Cost (20%): This is defined on a scale of one through ten, where one is very costly and ten is relatively cheap.
F. Difficulty of Operation (20%): This is defined on a scale of one through ten, where one is very difficult to operate and ten is very easy to operate.

VI. Alternatives

A. Infrared Signal Detector
i. References: http://electrons.psychogenic.com/modules/arms/art/13/InfraRedSignaling.php
http://www.radioshack.com/
ii. Bill of Materials (Estimated):
iii. Diagram:

B. Sound Amplifier
i. References:
http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/
http://www.radioshack.com/
http://www.digikey.com/
ii. Bill of Materials (Estimated):
iii. Diagram:


VII: Analysis

A. Infrared Signal Detector

i. Pros
a. The infrared signal detector will be able to test whether or not a remote control is functioning properly.
b. The infrared signal detector will also be able to test if a cell phone is emitting infrared signals.
c. The infrared signal detector will be portable and relatively cheap to construct.
d. The infrared signal detector will use a relatively cheap and available power source.

ii. Cons
a. The infrared signal detector may pick up interference from other devices.

B. Sound Amplifier

i. Pros
a. The sound amplifier will be able to recreate sounds at a much higher volume than the original sound.
b. The sound amplifier will be much cheaper to produce than any other amplifier existing in the market.
c. The sound amplifier will be portable.
d. The sound amplifier will use a relatively cheap and available power source.

ii. Cons
a. The sound amplifier may not reproduce the sound as clearly as the original sound.
b. The sound amplifier may pick up or cause interference in the sound that it is trying to reproduce.

VIII: Decision Matrix