Using and Understanding Models

Architects use plans and sketches to discuss the design brief with the client.  Sometimes these drawings are turned into a scale model.  An architect is the professional person who interprets the client's desire with the constraints of the size of the building site and the available budget.  The toy house is a way of visualizing the technology and engineering required to build and actual structure.

In Australia houses must be warm in winter and cool in summer.  These characteristics may be passive ( requiring little energy ) or active ( using mostly gas or electrical energy ).  Housing structures will increasinlgy use "smart" methods to monitor and control their safety and comfort.

We can use programmable devices ( Raspberry pi, Micro:bit or Arduino ) to monitor and test architectural features of a new structure. 

Please read this week's Tasks and Activities.

  • The model house has a second storey.  What technology is required to safely move a client from the front door to the bedroom on the second floor?
  • Lifts have an incredibly safe history as a method of moving a person from one level to another.  They contain numerous fail-safe systems.
  • Sensor can be simple: Temperature, light, sound for example
  • or Complex like an image processing system.

 
  • Sensors are used to monitor the environment.  The electrical signals are usually turned into digital signals that are interpreted by a computer program.
  • An LDR ( a resistor which changes strength when light is shining on it ) is used to detect a darkened room or space
  • a radar sensor is used to detect movement in a room.  It will even detect movement through a wall in the next room.
  • A smoke detector is a sensor that must be installed and working in all houses in Australia.
  • Electronic sensors are everywhere.  They are in your house ceiling.
  • The modern car in Australia contains many electrical sensors and control devices like windows, heating/cooling and navigation systems.
  • Houses, at this time however, contain fewer sensors and rarely have an integrated control system.
  • Increasingly Wifi is used to monitor the electrically controlled parts of the house

Tasks and Activities

  1. Look at the model toy house.  Think about what sensors and control devices could be added to this model to simulate a real house.
  2. How can we use a model to discuss the features of the characteristics of a new building structure?
  3. Name two sensors that would be required in a lift?
  4. What is an LDR? ( Hint -- read the text above )
  5. How can we use image processing software?  ( Hint -- Look at this website and think about the next time you drive into a carpark with number plate recognition )

 

  

Don't forget to email your choices/answers to Mr. Widmer by the end of this week.  Keep a copy of that email in your Google Docs folder.