We attended the Tarleton Engineering Camp
What we did right and what we did wrong
Success!
- The Tile Trackers worked great. We found the Glitter Bomb because of the tracker.
- The rocket camera was awesome. The Vets rocket camera footage was great.
- The launch pad is not sturdy enough for the larger rockets. The pad moves prior to launch, but also during the launch.
- The 3D printed motor mount melted.
- The JNPR rocket connectors were too flimsy. The rocket flexed on take off.
- The JNPR rocket stage two ignited while still on the launch pad.
The Rocket Team's remote control organizer!
Rocket Team Tests Rocket Tracking System
Hello everyone. My name is Falyn McAnally and I will be talking to you about what we did in rocket team. We played with Tile Trackers. Tile Trackers are small trackers that can go on your keys so when you lose your keys, you can download an app to the phone and locate your lost keys. You press a button on the app and the tracker will start beeping. It will lead you to your keys. So now that you know what they do, let me tell you what we did. We played this fun game called digital hide and go seek. It’s when you take a Tile Tracker and hide it. The rest of the rocket team have to find it with the phone app. We had a lot of fun at rocket team and we would especially like to thank Mr. Gentner for letting us use the Tile Trackers.
We worked on our rockets and did a camera test. How would you spell HICO?
The rocket team paints rocket trophies
The rocket team shows off new proto-type
By Jonathon Sandia
Hello, my name is Jonathon Sandia. I am the president once again. I am honored to be the president of the rocket team. We’ve been doing a lot of activities in our times we meet like 3D printing, programming robots and making headphones. We also mentor the Hico Science Club at the elementary school. Our main project right now is making Mr. Hartgraves a stand to hold and organize his remote controls. We’ve already made a design of it and its 3D design. We are almost finished with the final product. We talked about the measurements and the cool designs. The designs are the Hico Rocket Team logo and Albert Einstein’s face. If you would like to see it, we will present it to him at the next school board meeting on May 20th and then it will be in his office.
Hello, my name is Jonathon Sandia. I am the president once again. I am honored to be the president of the rocket team. We’ve been doing a lot of activities in our times we meet like 3D printing, programming robots and making headphones. We also mentor the Hico Science Club at the elementary school. Our main project right now is making Mr. Hartgraves a stand to hold and organize his remote controls. We’ve already made a design of it and its 3D design. We are almost finished with the final product. We talked about the measurements and the cool designs. The designs are the Hico Rocket Team logo and Albert Einstein’s face. If you would like to see it, we will present it to him at the next school board meeting on May 20th and then it will be in his office.
We finished our headphones!
Vicky Zuniga: Hello homo sapiens of Hico! Vicky Zuniga here to tell you about the rocket team headphones. A few weeks ago, the fellow rocket team members started to draw out what the headphones would look like once they were 3D printed. Later, Mr. Gentner 3D printed the design that each student designed. After we painted our headphones, Mr. Gentner and Mrs. McAnally helped put the speakers inside of the headphone pieces. When each student got to try out the headphones, they were pumped. We each had our own design from unicorn horns, shark teeth, devil horns to crowns. We all enjoyed our amazing Hico Rocket Team headphones.
We Painted our 3D Printed Headphones
The Rocket Designs Are Complete
The Rocket Team Programs Robots
Hico Rocket Team Visits Tarleton State University
By: Madison Dobie
Thursday the 31st of January, Hunter, Zane, Max, Mr. Gentner, and I went to Tarleton to talk to Dr. Lesley Leach (our Champion) We discussed our 3D printed phone holder prototype which is a table like device that connects to the cup holders in a vehicle, and that way you can use both cup holders. The only thing that Dr. Leach didn’t like is that if she had a passenger, they would be a little cramped. We also discussed improving on Weather Tech’s idea, and make a cup shaped device that holds your phone. She liked both ideas, but they both had disadvantages. Dr. Leach said that it would be nice if she could use both of her cup holders. After we talked for a little bit, we agreed that the Weather Tech idea was going to suit her a little better, for it seemed to be a little more sturdy. Our work now is to improve on the idea. How can we make it better?
After that, Dr. Leach gave us a tour of Tarleton. And we got to see the main statue of Mr. Tarleton and his companion, Oscar P the duck. (I had to remind Zane and Max several times not to walk on the grass.) For, legend tells us that Mr. Tarleton and Oscar P were buried somewhere on the school campus, and so now there is a rule that says to not walk on the grass, so that you do not accidentally step on his grave.
In conclusion, we learned a lot of information from our Champion Dr. Leach.
Thursday the 31st of January, Hunter, Zane, Max, Mr. Gentner, and I went to Tarleton to talk to Dr. Lesley Leach (our Champion) We discussed our 3D printed phone holder prototype which is a table like device that connects to the cup holders in a vehicle, and that way you can use both cup holders. The only thing that Dr. Leach didn’t like is that if she had a passenger, they would be a little cramped. We also discussed improving on Weather Tech’s idea, and make a cup shaped device that holds your phone. She liked both ideas, but they both had disadvantages. Dr. Leach said that it would be nice if she could use both of her cup holders. After we talked for a little bit, we agreed that the Weather Tech idea was going to suit her a little better, for it seemed to be a little more sturdy. Our work now is to improve on the idea. How can we make it better?
After that, Dr. Leach gave us a tour of Tarleton. And we got to see the main statue of Mr. Tarleton and his companion, Oscar P the duck. (I had to remind Zane and Max several times not to walk on the grass.) For, legend tells us that Mr. Tarleton and Oscar P were buried somewhere on the school campus, and so now there is a rule that says to not walk on the grass, so that you do not accidentally step on his grave.
In conclusion, we learned a lot of information from our Champion Dr. Leach.
Hico Rocket Team Starts Recycling Program
By Falyn McAnally
Hello Hico Rocket Team fans! Two weeks ago at our rocket team meeting, we had our official Great Rocket Trash Build-off and launch. Mr. Gentner brought us a bin full of all kinds of scraps and trash to use to build our rockets. We split into teams and with the help of our volunteers, each team came up with an awesome design and pieced together different materials in hopes that our rockets would be launchable. We had only one hour to complete our masterpiece. After everyone was done, we headed to the field behind the tennis courts and prepared for blast off! I am happy to report that each team had a functioning rocket and successful launch. First place was awarded to Andrew, Isaac, Breanna and Kason. They had the highest launch. With playing cards for fins and a cup as a cone, Isaac said, “The key to flying high is all in the aerodynamics!” Their rocket flew an estimated 300’! There is a great video celebrating the day on HicoScience.com. The trophy was a 3D printed Albert Einstein with his red tongue sticking out. Thank you to everyone who helps make our Hico Rocket Team possible.
Hello Hico Rocket Team fans! Two weeks ago at our rocket team meeting, we had our official Great Rocket Trash Build-off and launch. Mr. Gentner brought us a bin full of all kinds of scraps and trash to use to build our rockets. We split into teams and with the help of our volunteers, each team came up with an awesome design and pieced together different materials in hopes that our rockets would be launchable. We had only one hour to complete our masterpiece. After everyone was done, we headed to the field behind the tennis courts and prepared for blast off! I am happy to report that each team had a functioning rocket and successful launch. First place was awarded to Andrew, Isaac, Breanna and Kason. They had the highest launch. With playing cards for fins and a cup as a cone, Isaac said, “The key to flying high is all in the aerodynamics!” Their rocket flew an estimated 300’! There is a great video celebrating the day on HicoScience.com. The trophy was a 3D printed Albert Einstein with his red tongue sticking out. Thank you to everyone who helps make our Hico Rocket Team possible.
Can you keep a secret?
The Hico Rocket Team is 3D designing and 3D printing headphones. While Fernando Fonseca was designing his headphones, he said that he did not need new headphones, but he was going to build some for his sister. He customized the cat ears on the headband. Fernando picked the colors pink, pearl white and silver. During the rocket team’s last meeting, Fernando and Noemi Gentner soldered the speakers to the wires and assembled the headphones together. Please don’t tell Fernando’s sister that she is getting headphones for Christmas!
Rocket Team Building Solutions
Fernando Fonseca needs a seat attachment for his walker. Principal Shelli Stegall challenged the Hico Rocket Team. She said, “Design and build Fernando a seat for his walker. He often sits on the walker bars and that is not comfortable.” The team has accepted the challenge and they started building a seat! “We need to build a seat that is safe and comfortable for Fernando,” said Falyn McAnally. Using 3D design software and the school’s 3D printer, they have started printing a prototype. They are about 50% complete with the solution and hope to give Fernando the finished seat in April. Although the prototypes are printed with PLA plastic, the final product will be printed with carbon fiber infused vinyl. “I would like to add a foam padding on the seat for Fernando,” said Julia O’Neal. The seat will be able to fold up when it is not in use. Jeff Gentner said, “The brainstorming process has been great! There are no bad ideas. We list every idea and simply select the best one for Fernando. I am so proud of the rocket team. We are solving problems.”
Shelli Stegal is one of the rocket team champions. She is joined by Superintendent Jon Hartgraves, Dr. Lesley Leach and Dr. Denise Martinez. Dr. Leach is the dean of research for Tarleton and Dr. Martinez is associate dean of Tarleton’s school of engineering. Each one of the champions has delivered a problem for the Hico Rocket Team to solve. The teams will also be designing/building a remote control organizer, cell phone holder and a live cricket catcher. “I love working with the kids. I am learning right along with them.”, said Fernando.
Shelli Stegal is one of the rocket team champions. She is joined by Superintendent Jon Hartgraves, Dr. Lesley Leach and Dr. Denise Martinez. Dr. Leach is the dean of research for Tarleton and Dr. Martinez is associate dean of Tarleton’s school of engineering. Each one of the champions has delivered a problem for the Hico Rocket Team to solve. The teams will also be designing/building a remote control organizer, cell phone holder and a live cricket catcher. “I love working with the kids. I am learning right along with them.”, said Fernando.
Learning how to 3D design and print!
Good News America! Teal won the election!
With the controversy of the Russians interfering with our t-shirt election, we are proud to announce that America won and teal won! Determined not to have democracy ripped away from them, the rocket team committed to vote and their voice was heard. God Bless America.
Hico Rocket Team Web Site
Hacked
As we move closer the November elections, the Hico Rocket Team is holding a vote for their rocket team shirt color. The candidates for shirt color are teal, maroon, blue and just for a good laugh: white. Nobody wants plain white shirts, but to our amazement, the white t-shirts have a substantial lead. “We are able to track where the online votes are coming from and the computer IP addresses originate from Eastern Europe and specifically Moscow, Russia.”, said Jeff Gentner who mentors the rocket team. That is correct. The Hico Rocket Team election has been hacked by the Russians. Gentner said, “It is ironic. The kids are learning about democracy and the voice of the people. Democracy is on the verge of being taken from them.”
It is not too late though. The election ends on November the 15th. There is still time to vote. “Vote for teal! Make the Hico Rocket Team great again!”, said Julie O’Neal. She is an elected officer of the rocket team. Julia nominated teal and wants to see a victorious teal. Please, go to Hicoscience.com and vote for your favorite color t-shirt. Let’s not let the Russians interfere with this election. Go Hico and God bless America.
It is not too late though. The election ends on November the 15th. There is still time to vote. “Vote for teal! Make the Hico Rocket Team great again!”, said Julie O’Neal. She is an elected officer of the rocket team. Julia nominated teal and wants to see a victorious teal. Please, go to Hicoscience.com and vote for your favorite color t-shirt. Let’s not let the Russians interfere with this election. Go Hico and God bless America.
Vote for your favorite shirt color!
Officers
Vicky Zuniga: Hello people of Hico. I’m Vicky Zuniga, daughter to Ivonne and Antonio Zuniga. At the first Rocket Team meeting, we chose our officers for the team. It was a tough decision to vote, but the students voted! Jonathan Sandia became president, Falyn McAnally as vice president, Julia O'Neal as secretary and me, Vicky Zuniga, as the director of communication. We also talked about some of the awesome things we’re going to do later on this year. But, you will read about that later on from the Hico Rocket Team’s other officers!