Engineering from Afar, or Up High...

Investigating a source of engineering history can have its UPS and downs. As a long time visitor to Cosford Air Museum, I love to hear, and then see, the new objects of aviation that become the latest statements of the museum's growing floor-art.

I was able to browse over the latest developments in the Junkers JU88 rebuild. The latest email received from Karen Crick, a name that has popped up in my inbox for many years now, stated that they had put the core air-frame together. There was also the mention that the control surfaces weren't attached yet, this however meant that a more interesting trip was to be evident due to the job being 'in progress'. With parts strewn around their storage boxes, it offered more questioning for my two accompanying learners.

The JU88 was a 1930s fast-bomber by design, with the intention of it having a multi-role responsibility in the German Luftwaffe's plans. The twin-engine bird saw more than 16,000 built, with many specification variations produced that included land and sea-battle capabilities.

The history that oozes from this war relic is prevalent from the moment you get close to its moderate hulk. This is a key piece of Nazism, the Third Reich's effort to cast hell upon those below. I have stated, in a previous blog post, that it is important for us to learn about the Axis Powers too. Knowing of the lives lost from the whole war, may represent a chance to stop us reliving the horrors in our digital-rich present.

As I approach the aircraft, I can see the parts missing from the rear of the wings and underbelly. Tins and surfaces are seen lying on the floor, waiting for the engineers to attach them once again. The work, that has already been completed, is incredible, the usual attention to detail that the museum prides itself on is clear in its display at all levels of refurbishment.

From a previous visit, it was in bits!

I had already seen the aircraft in its constituent parts, laying in the corner of the 'War in the Air' hangar at the rear of the site, Just like that time, I was answering questions from my 5 year old, only this visit, I had an additional 6 year old learning the Cosford ropes. The questions came thick and fast, asking me about the outline of the aircraft and details that belonged to the artefacts shown in their glass tank.

Explaining the controls surfaces was interesting. Why are they on the floor? What is that pipe for? I would like to say that the pipe was integral to the JU88's questioning, but this came up throughout the visit, I am sure it was even asked in relation to a tank!

Again I am reminded of the gem that sits so close to home. The memories are always important, and form a major part of my 'joy' for this local attraction. The revelation this time, was understanding the knowledge that I have for both the displays, and the general science and engineering of flight. For this, I am grateful for all the experiences that I was given as a young boy, and the knowledge that is offered to me in my adult life.

Visit the Junkers, it is remarkable and a piece of rare history, at least in such a complete form, anyway. Seeing it in the mechanical flesh, it is a sight to behold.

Happy flying...or building if applicable!

Written by G.Rudd.

Find articles and more at www.beingstem.uk.

Building? Building what?

As I 'build' my website, ready for the STEM-Revolution, I am reminded of the word 'build'. Seeing that I have adopted the slogan, 'Think, design, then build!', I can assume that I need to truly understand the definition of this word.

What do we build? Everything? Just houses? What about knowledge? If you read the 'About' pages on my site, you will notice that most of my interests, for there is a lot, have an essence of building about them. The creation of anything is paramount to human progress. Every new lesson that is offered to a young child, or just the refreshing feeling of holding your new mobile phone, are all 'built' feelings or ideas at some stage in their processes.

Google Definition Search - 8th April '2017

build

bɪld/

verb

1. 1. 

   construct (something) by putting parts or material together.

   "the ironworks were built in 1736"

   synonyms:

   construct, erect, put up, assemble, set up, raise More

2. 2. 

   make or become stronger or more intense.

   "we built up confidence in our abilities"

   synonyms:

   boost, strengthen, increase, improve, invigorate, augment, raise, intensify, enhance, escalate, multiply, swell;

So, looking at this, what can be noted? Even the second term describes it as size, strength etc. Moving past the obvious, we are constructing all of the time, and that makes me think!

What if we can use this as a means of STEM encouragement? Imagine that we have 10 people in a room, without gender being a focus, there would be at least 7 of those 10 that saw no interest in the creation of structures or everyday items. This could be out of bricks made from clay or plastic, it wouldn't really matter. So, can we take, from those 7, some creativity? If I am stating that we ALL build in different ways, then surely each of those do too?

It's an odd concept, but I am sure that there is a shred of plausibility in this concept. With that, I am going to produce a basic survey, a simple click of a radio button will suffice. Let's look for the smallest of creativity in all, we may even find a small number that find a niche in a role that is much needed to be filled. 

What are your opinions? Fill out the survey dots for me, you will find it in the research tab in the menu. 

This post has been written by Gavyn Rudd, Operator of @beingSTEM. You can find out more, register to be an Insider, or just say hello at www.beingstem.uk. @beingSTEM - Think, design, then build!

Is it the 'Advent of True Home Automation'?

There's been a buzz for home automation for years, BBC's Tomorrow's World showed us in the early 80s that we could turn the lights on with a request made to a crazy robot voice in the walls. They were even highlighting the advances in touch-screen units in 1981. (As an amateur inventor, Tomorrow's World was the staple BBC show for me at that time. I can honestly say that I miss it! CNET would later take over, though this was only syndicated through cable channels at odd times of the day.) In the past few years, we have accepted the use of personal assistance in the forms of Siri (October '2011), Google Assistant (May '2016), and Cortana (2014). Newer still, is the creation of Alexa, an Amazon fuelled techno-blob that will do minor tasks for us.

What is the point in Alexa? Well, if you read the outlines for both the taller Echo and the stubby Echo Dot, they offer features such as:

• Music on demand
• News and weather updates
• Search facilities
• And other things that have been done for some time now!

This sounds a little degrading, but I am not aiming for that. I am a little taken with the Echo system, I am not sure how much is being done to make this the true future living, but movies have made a good job of showing us that automation will be the norm in the nearest years to come.

The only crux is that we need to make this an all-round technology, that way, we can have the 'tech-talker' working wherever we are. Our mobile phones are grate at this, there is still work, but they are able to lots with just our voices.

Talking to a phone makes me reminisce about the nightmare of IBM's ViaVoice Suite (August '1997). This was an added software bed, that actively allowed you to 'talk' words into your word processor. There was also the Dragon Naturally-Speaking software (June '1997), this had a similar, and yet, still the unsatisfying operation of talking to Microsoft Word too.

The ideas were great, it was there to give those that couldn't, the chance to write on their computer, I don't believe that this was always the case though. you would often read about companies that used to buy it to replace their secretaries (old speak for a personal assistant), I am not sure what the overall success of this was though.

Are we feeling better about this kind of technology? We were once a species that felt awkward at the mere thought of talking into an answer-phone machine, what are we like now? How often do you see people walking around talking to there phone on speaker, rather than the more traditional at-ear approach?

I don't believe there's a big difference! The public can't interact anyway and headsets always made you look like you were talking to yourself. At least asking your phone for the nearest place that will sell you a pack of Rolos looks like you are on the speaker-phone, and you might even look like you have a friend too, which is quite nice for many in the community.

As a rule, we must progress to become a better society (whatever a better society is). We will create ever more impressive tech every ten years. The decade that opened up from the Millennium was one of great advancement. Everything from mobile communications to hair styling products took a rocket ship to new heights. I would like to think that, likely in the next decade, we will be able to create better technology for those with physical and mental disabilities.

Imagine a world that uses technology to make us better, there is a feeling that we are being less communicative in this decade, perhaps we are becoming distant from each other, up to the point that we live our lives in individual pods, sectioned from the rest of the world. Could voice technologies help us to communicate better? What if it is the answer?

'I hypothesise that talking to electronics could bring about a communication revolution. What if the need to be on our devices could be merged with good old fashioned person to person interaction (AKA talking!) If we can't free ourselves from our phones, maybe we could use it to open up connections before it's too late.'  (G.Rudd - 4/17) (This is only suggestive, what do you think?)

What do you think about the way we are talking to machines? Will there be a day that we are able to use machines as a true sound board? I guess we'll have to see. Please visit www.beingstem.uk to see my work with STEM. Become an insider too, you can offer suggestions and ideas.

Stand under the STEMbrella. Think, design, then build!

@beingSTEM 2017

The Big Bang Theory's Sudden Disappointment!

I have watched The Big Bang Theory since the very beginning, and apart from the most recent season, I have enjoyed it.

In the UK, E4 show episodes every day, this means that many of the older episodes are shown, whilst they still give us the chance to watch the latest offerings.

My disappointment came when I was casually watching the episode entitled 'The Fermentation Bifurcation'. (Season 9:Episode 22) There is a scene that involves the gang, minus Sheldon and Bernadette, attending a wine tasting event. It is there that they meet Penny's old boyfriend (and ex-husband), Zack. This is part of the dialogue that is spoken during the scene:

=-=-=

Zack: So how's the science world? What are you guys up to?

Howard: We've actually been working on a prototpye for a navigation system we invented.

Leonard: But we won't bore you with the details.

Zack: Are you kidding? I love science, Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Mike Degrasse-Tyson.

Amy: Mike Degrasse-Tyson?

Howard: Yeah, you know, the boxer who grew a moustache and became a scientist.

Zack: So what's your invention?

=-=-=

Post-viewing source: https://bigbangtrans.wordpress.com/series-9-episode-22-the-fermentation-bifurcation/ (I needed to make sure how it was scripted!)

We should invite everybody's ideas!

My problem is with the attitude of the dialogue that I've made bold. This is a simple matter of snobbery. The character of Howard is often mocked for ONLY being an engineer by Sheldon. So what was this for, especially as Sheldon's comments often hurt his feelings?

If Mike Degrasse-Tyson is, by an implied idea, not a proper scientist, then neither is Professor Brian Cox. Isn't he the 'musician that trimmed his floppy hair and became a scientist'? I disagree with this, I am a big fan of both scientists! They are not pretend! This is a problem for those who don't believe they could be a scientist. Children, when asked, still think of scientists as a balding, white, male, with a glacially toned lab coat that has been bleached to death. This idea is not the best thing when you are trying to give children the chance to believe in themselves.

I know this sounds like a rant, but I feel strongly about this. I was genuinely shocked. I have seen this episode before, but don't remember this scene! We should be pooling ideas, not passing off people as a weekend scientist, or even a hobbyist mathematician.

What do you think, are YOU that bothered? I understand that it is just light entertainment, but I do wonder how Mr. Degrasse-Tyson felt about it.

Make sure you check out my online presence. www.beingstem.uk / @beingstem / YouTube: Meegosh Media

Thanks for reading.

By: Gavyn Rudd.

A Triumphant British Science Week in Staffordshire

With a hectic schedule, and much going on in life, it is easy to give blogging a miss. It's a hard thing to deal with, not having the chance to get those oozing STEM thoughts out of my mind.

This week has been very busy, British Science Week 2017 got under way with a bang. This year was about creating opportunities for the children to, da da dahhhh, BUILD! I created the 'We're All About Wheels' ideas so that all children, in each year group, could be a part of it. For the past couple of years, I have slowly built up the foundations for BSW, bringing in more year-groups each time. This year was the big one, all around the school, you could see the stress of building, designing and debugging their original ideas.

With the younger members of the school looking at the act of pushing and pulling, the Key Stage 1 children built cars, ones that would go a further distance than their opponent's. Key Stage 2 were set up to build their power-pullers, ready to join the arena in a tug-of-war scenario affectionately named 'Chug-O-War'..

What a great week, there have been builders that don't normally build, some builders that are made to construct, and there are those that managed to create a vehicle, with effort, determination, and the will of the competition.

All-in-all, a great event, building is what makes us unique, building is what fires imagination and brings us new technologies. Tech that builds our homes, mobile phones and televisions all come from the foundations that are set in events such as this.

Here's to more STEM based events everywhere. Watch this space for more about STEM in Staffordshire, we need to pull resources to give children a chance to develop their choices and shine through potential clouds of despair.

For more information and a video, check-out my YouTube channel at MeegoshMedia, or visit the @beingSTEM website at www.beingstem.uk

STEM - RAF Museum Cosford

I am currently sitting amongst a multitude of aircraft. The Victor looks over me with its menacing glare. The Vulcan's wing sticks out over the gantry, reminding us of a time when we were close to mutual destruction.

RAF Museum at Cosford, UK

I spend a lot of time at RAF Cosford, looking closer at a different plane each time I visit. There are those that never fail to astound me; I fail to understand how some of them can hang on wires as if made of cardboard and feathers.

The general look of this museum is great. When the Cold War hall was added, it created a lot of additional room to house their impressive collection. I can remember, a few years ago (add cough here), spending time at the museum, Hanger 1 still holds those memories, and, not surprisingly, it still smells the same too. A friend from my street in Shropshire was the son of one of the Museum's managers. I still reminisce about the birthday party that he held here, sitting in the cockpit of that red jet, what a joy.

A recorded memory - so cool.

I love it here, I feel at home with all the machines, the ghosts that still move around them, and the feeling of wonder that all visiting children have in their possession. The historical values that come with the Comet and the design principles that align the rare and concept builds like the TSR2 fill me with inspiration. I always admire those that spend time restoring each aircraft, those that create the stories and those that keep the museum in tip-top condition. A moment of satisfaction must fill their tanks, not unlike the early flights of their rebuilds.

Go down to Hanger 1 and look for James May sitting next to his 1:1 Model Spitfire. Look at how many aircraft, you can spot, that you may have seen fly? The roar of the Vulcan and the popping of the Hercules' propellers leave an eternal ring in my ears, more memories from being here for many of the annual air shows.

James May with his 1:1 Model Spitfire

If I was to ask for anything, I would love to see the Victor a little more clearly. It is such a demonic looking aircraft, the cockpit looks like it wants to hurt you, staring with it's small eyes and protruding spike. A chance to go into the open aircraft a little more often would be great. I would love to sit in the cockpit of one of the big aircraft, I like the thought of sitting in the Comet's seat, absorbing the miles of decision making and runways it will have looked over.

There is so much to see, you will be shocked at the vast array of units here, with other vehicles sitting at their feet. As a place for STEM learning, it has a lot of information, you may as well put the £4 in the parking meters, I'm sure you'll need it.

For school's, there is much to consider. Just the presence of these creations, the leviathans, and the twee beauties, give you a feeling you will rarely find anywhere else. The World War 2 display harbours some German and Japanese birds, taking their spot by our own heroic machines. The museum allows for you to admire the technology of our old enemies, I see this as an important lesson. We can grace our service people with the respect that they deserve, but a lot of technology, used by the other side, saw the end of so many enemy lives too. War is harsh, this place helps you with that in a way that films, TV and the classroom's whiteboard just aren't able to achieve.

A very rare Sopwith Pup

Hats off to all that are a part of this, you do an amazing job, all machinery and buildings are in fine condition. As a place for all to come, it serves as a star on the UK's landscape. Saying that, the Cold War building looks quite interesting when you ride your bike over the hills towards the back of Albrighton, a cross between an enormous satellite dish and a giant's mirror.

If you visit, let me know what you think. Do you have memories of here already? Please share them with us. For now, may you all have a safe flight!

@BeingSTEM

How 3D printing could change STEM in Primary Schools

Engineering is a difficult subject to teach in Primary education. The lack of resources and space will keep any Science to a minimum, often following the plan that has been set down by others.

With a keen eye, you can spot some areas that STEM can be championed. With obvious ideas like a design festival or weekly challenge, there is little room for manoeuvre beyond that. We can find small tears in the school timetable, ways that are so subtle, they don't appear to exist.

Teachers have become akin to the cross-curricular possibilities, moving Literacy into their learning journeys and Mathematics into Design and Technology. This is quite simple. The fact that number work can be used in Design is quite obvious, creating writing opportunities for topics is normal too, what about the Engineering aspects from STEM?

So, what am I aiming for here? With the challenge of finding new engineers to fill the void, the heat is rising to a point where society will suffer. I have always been eager to see children given the chance to try out new ideas that spark those that are drawn to it. Tasks that are new and innovative, work like a radar, locating these individuals for teachers to hone in on.

3D printers are an incredible innovation. It is likely that they could work as one of those radars in Primary. Imagine that children are given the chance to plan, design and watch the layers of their creation grow. They look upon it like a god, waiting for the filament to form a little soldier, car or dinosaur. This concept is possible, the reality is that the draw of such a new technology will lead those to swarm toward it. With the likelihood of 3D printing becoming a 'normal' skill, just like computers in the 90s, there is a ticking clock for those that will inevitably move into an engineering field.

School could operate a share in a printer, grants or funding could purchase one of them. With minor tuition, there is little for teachers to learn about them. The future is definitely bright, 3D printers are now moving over to full-size construction, filament being exchanged for a flow of concrete. Imagine the possibilities, the creation of usable cars or a cheap way to produce shelter for those in need.

TinkerCAD - A free 3D design studio by Local Makers.

What could happen to the future if we were able to offer this or other technologies? With the price of these printers falling, the existing laptops will manage the software. Free downloads are available, so licensing is not a major issue. I hope that we can see this right now, whilst targeting those in the zone, we can be changing everybody's future for the better.

Extreme? What do you think? With funding being tight, we need to find these opportunities as the prices fall. Until next time...