Sorting Ship Signals

Electrical engineers make technology that utilize electromagnetic waves to gain more information about our surroundings. For example, boats and ships use marine radar to help detect other boats and land to avoid collisions. In defense applications, these radar signals transmitted by the ships can be received and analyzed to help understand where and how many ships are in a certain location. These signals can help indicate to a soldier if there are opposition boats near the area. Electrical engineers must create technology that can sort the signals once they are received, which can be particularly challenging if the signals are arriving at the same time. Therefore, electrical engineers use the different characteristics of each signal to develop a system that can sort them.

The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.

This Facilitator Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.

Telling the Story Video

The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.

Design Challenge Video

The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.