A2 - Design and Technology - Project Ideas

[Kieran]

Well,
It's come to the time where I have to make another MAJOR project for my A Level Design and Technology but I'm stuck for ideas this time! Last year I did a remote control crane.

Please give me ideas! They have to be electronics related, but make them as wacky as you like!

Thanks

[JackBuddy]

I don't do electronics, but I do A2 GMT. I'm just doing an exhibition board for the 2012 Olympics and am hopefully going to be working with my local council in the design process.

I can't think of things for you because I don't know what you're capable of and what you can do :p. Although I would recommend choosing something with a sustainability/ environmental theme.

[Kieran]

Well I've been told I should apply to do something electronics/engineer based at Oxford if that helps.

I have come up with one idea:

There are plugs with appliances attached to them (Television, Lights, etc) and these plugs transmit signals wirelessly to a central screen. On the screen the user can select a label for each plug and it shows if the plug is currently on or off and the user can then press a button on the display and it turns the plug on/off depending on its previous state.

[Technologic]

I can see how it would be able switch off remotely but how would you turn it on remotely if there is no power to the plug?

[Kieran]

The plugs will always have power, but they cut off the onward power if you get what I mean. So it would be like:

Socket -> Plug -> Cutoff -> Appliance

so the cutoff is what gets turned on and off.

[CHA!NGANG]

Your lucky, we have a new course and we have to make what the school tell us too and it cant be bigger then a small box shape... Its a stupid course in honesty.

[Technologic]

I see what you're getting at now but imo i still don't think you should go for that

[Kieran]

And why not? There is nothing on the market with a display controlled socket. It will provide me with extensive coding and electronics, the parts I'm damn good at!

[Technologic]

And why not? There is nothing on the market with a display controlled socket. It will provide me with extensive coding and electronics, the parts I'm damn good at!
I s'pose it's a good idea, good luck on getting a cheap touch screen though. Do you have to do all the faffing about with A level DT like you do with GCSE?

[Kieran]

Not a touchscreen. A graphical LCD with buttons located at the side :P
Faffing about? As in the massive write-up?

[Technologic]

It's been a year and i haven't even started my project yet :l

[Kieran]

Erm. No my school isn't like that :S
I start in October officially.

[JackBuddy]

Your lucky, we have a new course and we have to make what the school tell us too and it cant be bigger then a small box shape... Its a stupid course in honesty.
This is A level not GCSE...

[Kieran]

My GCSE was the same...

[Recursion]

And why not? There is nothing on the market with a display controlled socket. It will provide me with extensive coding and electronics, the parts I'm damn good at!

Home Automation systems that do this, and more, exist.

[Kieran]

Show me one then...

[Kieran]

Can't edit:

*Show me one that does what mine does*

And it doesn't matter if it does exist. My remote controlled crane last year already existed but I still got full marks!