SYNDICATE
Team Members & Roles:
Project Managers: Parth, Jasmit
Project Documenters: Paramveer, Gurjot
Project Webmaster: Parth
Project Facilitator: Jasmit
Project Timekeepers: Gurjot, Paramveer
Structural Engineering
Task: The Woodz Co. has tasked us to create a freestanding structure with the largest displacement possible. The materials that we have been given are scarce. Furthermore, we also have been certain limitations. The Woodz Co. tells us that we will be competing with other groups in order to impress.
Components: Bamboo skewers, vinyl tape, scissors
Limitations:
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5.0 cm of masking tape may be used to secure the structure to the desk ONLY
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The structure may not touch ANY other structure (desks, chairs, stools, people)
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No more than THREE bamboo skewers may overlap at a time
Winning the competition with a total displacement of 1.54m from the black top table to the edge of the free standing structure.
Analysis:
The concept of bridges were used in the creation if this project. We decided that since bridges are freestanding sturctures that are able to extend great distances, using the same concept, we will be able to create a structure that can extend great distances. In order to extend a our structure as far as possible, it's center of mass needs to be larger than the force of gravity acting on the baseless portion. That way, our structure would not fall victim to gravity and as a result, stand without any support.
 Free Standing StructureShows what the free standing structure looks like. |  The Base |  The BaseThe base is being created for the free standing structure to extend out from. |
|---|---|---|
 The Base CompletedWhen we were making this base, we did't realize that we were violating one rule of this challenge and that is "No more than THREE bamboo skewers may overlap at a time" so we decided to alter the Triangular Base slightly. |  Front view of the modified baseThe triangular base is altered. The base now only has one bamboo skewer coming out from each corner stead of attaching 3 triangles to make the base. |  Final Product |
 The Rule Bender and SupportSince there were already 3 bamboo sticks connecting one another before we decided to tape only two bamboo skewers with some space so that we can poke a hole into it and attach the third bamboo stick to one of the legs to maintain the Triangular shape of the base. |  Holding the free-standing structureAfter poking a whole into the tape we decided to tape the back of the free-standing structure to another bamboo skewer that attaches to the base giving the free-standing structure a little lift up from the front and some support from the back so that it doesn't touch the ground. |  Back View |
Reflection
The Syndicate was assigned to create a freestanding structure by the Woodz Co. The Syndicate would be competing with several other organizations in order to get an opportunity to work with the Woodz Co. in Jasmit’s native city of Bucktown. During the procedure of choosing what roles each individual would have for the project, we picked based on each other’s strengths, experiences, and commitment. It is evident that we picked correctly because our structural engineering project was very successful because we won. Our group won since we were open to each other’s ideas, had excellent communication and also had fun. Overall, in this group, we didn’t divide the work equally; however, we discussed our strengths and weaknesses with each other and decided as a group what part of the project in which each of us will excel the most and with what we are most comfortable. For example, Parth was the project’s webmaster. Even though it was a lot of work, he was chosen to fulfill this objective because he has experience in the field and he also enjoys doing it, but that doesn’t mean that we didn’t help. Gurjot and Parmveer were the project documenters and timekeepers; they both took precise pictures of the structure and took notes of several creative ideas, while simultaneously reminding the group about the project’s time limit and due dates. Jasmit was the one who was doing the main critical thinking of how to build the bridge. He had a bit of an advantage in this situation because he had previous experience working with the Woodz Co. He was a key reason why we won. Finally, Parth and Jasmit played a role in managing and finalizing the bridge, making sure that everybody stayed on task and that fatal errors did not occur. Overall, the individuals had different weights of responsibilities, but this all depended on who was most experienced with each task. However, each member did not work in isolation; we did help one another in each of our respective tasks, such as, the group helped Parth decide the final design for the website and also in the critical thinking aspect with Jasmit. There was also some conflict during the manufacturing stage. The conflict was if the entire table should be used or if just one triangular base was needed. This conflict was resolved when a majority vote was taken. The idea of using the entire table had won because there were three votes for that idea as opposed to one vote for not using the base. However, The Syndicate is a democratic organization and we did incorporate minority rights. We used the triangle base in addition to the entire table which further enforced the strength of our structure. Overall, The Syndicate were declared victors and gained a little bit of respect from Woodz Co. Improvements to further our creation process, Woodz Co. gave us suggestion and they will be expressed in our individual reflections.
Jasmit’s Reflection:
We had done a lot of major cohesive work in the past; but this task was the first opportunity we had to work with something major. Even though I started out with the Woodz Co. I was nervous because all my work had been as a D-level employee. However, I did have previous knowledge about Woodz Co. that is why I was considered alongside Parth to be the project manager and the solo project facilitator. The planning process involved a lot of brainstorming. I brainstormed many ideas about how to create a freestanding structure, including looking at World of Goo, the game on which this task was based. Ultimately, I decided that the advice that our instructor had given was essential. He expressed that there should be a large center of mass and that more than just the top of the table should be used. As the co-leader, my experience went well because I resolved conflicts and delegated tasks in order to fulfill a common goal. In this task, the webmaster, Parth, did the majority of the work as he had to create the website. I was also the project facilitator, I believe I did a good job as the facilitator because I kept discussion and brainstorming going for the right amount of time and then, got construction going. One conflict that occurred was whether to use the entire table instead of just one three-dimensional base. We decided to combine both ideas because we started from the back of the table and made a base on the front of the table. Our structure extended 1.54m from the front thanks to the combination of our ideas. Furthermore, the usage of a beam at the bottom was an aspect that we had considered, but added it near the end because of a vote. Next time, I would suggest that the entire group be to do more research beforehand; if we had done more research, our structure would have been longer. In addition, we could have made our decisions before the building process. That way, we would have more time and as a result, we could have made a longer structure. Finally, I think we should have used our tape more sparingly, that way we would have connected more skewers and made a longer bridge; thus, with all these improvements, we could have gained more than just winning respect from Woodz Co.
Gurjot's Reflection:
Hello my name is Gurjot Saini and the way I contributed my work in the group for the project “world of goo” was by being the project documenter and the timekeeper. I was taking pictures and videos of the bridge so it can be later posted on the website, also I was managing the time for the group while we were building the bridge and I made the group reflection. I may have not done as much as work as some of the group members but I did tried to help them slightly with their tasks, for example I tried to help Jasmit by giving him ideas of how to create the bridge, and I helped Parth with the website designing. Although everybody has been helping, co-operating, communicating and having fun with each other overall, and that is what makes a successful team.
Parmveer's Reflection:
The group was forged by searching for different types of skills and thinking styles. After the group was made, we approached the assignment (The world of goo bridge) with a calm and problem solving mind. We started by brain storming ideas and taking them over with the task managers (Parth and Jasmit). When the plan finalized we split up tasks, but we found it better to work as a team on one task. The layout of our design was innovated from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The triangle shaped base inspired us to include triangles to our design. Also from looking at more examples we noticed that most of the bridges start with a sky scraper, so we decided to add height to the beginning of our bridge. With our great communication we managed to swift through our struggles and show others how well we work together. We communicated and helped each other when help was required. For the website, we broke it into tasks and steps; we decided on the name and then the design/layout of the website. The task to make the website was given to Parth because his experience in designing and dealing with a computer was greater than other members, but the other group members also helped out a little. Parmveer and Gurjot helped with time management and narrating the assignment. Parmveer helped take pictures and videos and Gurjot helped with point of view for pictures. Jasmit was the researcher of the group. He helped with the critical thinking and layout of the bridge. Jasmit helped in many critical moments, for example the final 10 seconds the bridge had been broken down and he along with Parth thought of a way to keep the bridge standing and stay stable. Parth was the leader and manager of the assignment,as well as the creator of the website. Parth was the one who connected the group and helped manage the assignment. Parth's leadership provided the group with hope and reminded the group of the main purpose, the purpose of having fun.The construction of the group included everyone, you can see how great our group is on hands-on work. The group worked wonderfully with each other and everyone showed responsibility, enthusiasm, problem solving skills and creative thinking.
Parth's Reflection:
I am an honorary member of The Syndicate. In this project (World of Goo) I was the project manager and the website designer. While making the 3D Free-Standing structure I was faced with one critical challenge which was to choose a design and execute the design by assigning each member their roles in the project. I assigned Gurjot the role of Timekeeping and Documenting. Jasmit was assigned the role of Facilitator & Co-Manager. Parmveer was the Timekeeper & Documenter. Everything was working smoothly until I checked the base and there was a crucial flaw when we were 15mins in the project. The base had more than 3 bamboo skewers touching each other. I told them to change the design to my like, so that we don’t break the rule and still manage to stay with the same project design with slight modifications. When we finished building the 3D free-Standing Structure, the displacement wasn’t as what we were expecting through this design so I decided to give add a slight modification to the design but we had 2 mins to make the changes. Some members disagreed to the idea of slight modification but I took the liberty and gave it a slight change by breaking some part of the bridge and used the broken part and placed it under the bridge and attached it to the bridge and gave it a little support and making us win the competition with the total displacement of 1.54m.