Project opportunities for Spring 2021

All of these projects are learning opportunities for the Spring 2021 semester. While some of the projects were started in the Fall 2020 semester, there are plenty of options to advance and improve the current systems.

Be part of an experiment

• This experiment is new to all of us. What do you think this experience should look like?
• Sense emerging future opportunities for change, and decide what you want to contribute to and do it.

Independent studies that need to be continued

• Wind turbine design - see ISR-G from fall 2020 - Notes - Wind Turbine ISR-G
• Accessible interior cabin design

Community building

• What does it take to live in an intimate community of ten or more people?
• Intentional community engagement - how to address conflicts, balance community needs, develop relationships
• Ceremonies, intentional group meetings,
• Being immersed in a supportive off-grid farm community

Activism and direct action

• Be part of an experiment - this is something new for everyone. What opportunities do you see?
• How to leverage our collective network to co-create lasting change
• Humanitarian outreach and design for people who need your help as an artist, engineer, and thinker
• Learn how to take a stance and become an activist: make stickers, raise money, read about systemic injustice
• Engage in or create an activist community. What does it mean to be an activist and engineer/designer?

Art, sewing, crafting, cooking

• Make your own earrings out of clay
• Thread bracelets,
• Screen printing
• Use the 30 acres on the farm to install your art installations

Inclusive design and accessibilty

• Inclusive cabin design for the elderly

Electrical/technical work

• Wireless Arduino-based control system to regulate power consumption from the fridge. Measure input from the solar panels, wind turbine and determine if we have enough electricity to run the fridge.
• Deep-cycle battery maintenance and protection
• Wind turbine power electronics - see Wind turbine system
• Weather station to data log and measure wind speed, temperature, air pressure
• Internet optimization with LTE antennas, Wifi extenders
• Micro-hydro brushless generator maintenance
• Backup self-starting generator electricity supply

Carpentry and wood working

• Furniture
• Mechanical prototyping
• Interior architecture
• Small tool cabin building

Mechanical (and electrical) building/design

• Solar panel panning mechanism to track sun; integration of sunlight sensor to self-calibrate
• 3 kW wind turbine blade design and iteration on current design
• Solar hot water system

Tree house

• Build safely up in the trees in a harness

Logistics and project/group management

• How do you organize a semester experience for 12 people?
• Project planning and group communication
• Food budgeting for a large group
• Reaching out to sponsors, fundraising, leveraging our communal power
• Sliding-scale monetary contribution, ethical group economics