Lego Mindstorms Project

In class, we assembled a small, wheeled robot that we then attached to our computers via it's USB port. On the computer, we used the robot's respective data-entry application to program the robots specifications. By measuring and inputting the circumference of the robot's two wheels - we were able to accurately program the robot to travel for a certain time (measured in seconds) with each wheel set to a certain power level. Through multiple sets of trials and comparisons, we were able to accurately decipher the distance the robot traveled, at what velocity it traveled and the percentage of error between the computer's measured distance versus our manually measured distances. For example, when travelling for 3 seconds with each wheel set to a power level of "30," the computer measured a distance of .6 meters (a meter per second). However, when manually measuring the physical distance from point A to point B, we found the distance to be only slightly longer by .0445 meters. This produced a discrepancy of only .75%. Trying other settings produced similar results - with only small percentages of error between .2% and .75%. It was an interesting experiment and showed me how possible it is for scientists to program a motorized device to travel specific distances and at certain speeds - and how to accurately measure and compare the subsequent data of the device's movement.

Maximizing Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency has long been a significant issue for the automotive industry. Since the levels of efficiency vary per vehicle and their respective technologies, consumers are faced with a vast multitude of buying options. Many factors come into play when determining a given vehicles fuel economy. For instance, the weight, engine size and overall framework of a vehicle significantly affect how efficiently it utilizes fuel.

Engines that use diesel fuel usually attain better gas mileage than engines that use common gasoline. On average, diesel engines gain approximately 10% better fuel efficiency than engines utilizing common gasoline. Simply put, this is achieved because diesel engines ignite from heat compression rather than from a spark. The diesel engine's high compression ratio is more efficient than a gasoline engine's because it only compresses air whereas a gas engine mixes air with the gasoline.

Hybrid electric vehicles are another way in which fuel efficiency is being improved by contemporary technology. These automobiles utilize utilize both a combustion engine and one or more electric motors. Not only do hybrids achieve better mileage than traditional vehicles, they also release significantly fewer harmful emissions such as CO2 into the air.

Currently, automotive designers have even implemented ways for vehicles to run off of hydrogen-fueled rockets. However, hydrogen fuel isn't a naturally-occurring agent on Earth. So scientists and engineers must find efficient ways in which it can be produced locally within the vehicle - either through wind or by solar-power.

Sources:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/di_diesels.shtml

http://what-is-what.com/what_is/hybrid_vehicle.html

http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_wind_hydrogen.html

"Smart Grid" Technology in The U.S.

Although the U.S. has had a dynamic electrical grid since the Industrial Age, energy efficiency is nevertheless improving because "Smart Grid" technologies are being utilized across the country. This innovative system of delivering electricity relies upon two-way digitized communication between power plants and their respective consumers. Now, network operations can be monitored and controlled by devices that accurately measure and gather data pertaining to voltage, distribution and networking errors and faults.


 On the consumer end of "Smart Grids," benefits include the prioritization of energy distribution. For example, local meters and devices minimize energy consumption from home equipment of low-precedence (i.e. water heaters, washer/dryer units etc.) and reserve that power for more critical usage. Subsequently, this energy prioritization proves to be economically-friendly. The U.S. Department of Energy even estimates that these "Smart Grid" technologies will potentially save the country upwards of 100 billion dollars over a 20-year period.

However advantageous, automizing the electric industry inevitably receives public criticism. Ensuing job cuts are taking place in markets where these new technologies are implemented because electric workers are constantly being replaced by self-efficient meters and devices. Despite this, advocates for these "Smart Grid" technologies argue that the end results ultimately justify the means.



The 21st century is full of technological advances in virtually every sector of society. To deny similar advances for the country's century-old electrical grid seems, to me, to be counterproductive regardless of job losses.

Sources:
GridWiseTM: The Benefits of a Transformed Energy System - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

http://energy.gov/oe/technology-development/smart-grid

http://www.energyfuturecoalition.org/files/webfmuploads/EFC_Report/EFCReport.pdf

Germany's Green Energy Policy

Germany's green energy policy is widely considered to be one of the most innovative renewable energy plans in the world. Despite this reputation, there still remains much criticism concerning the country's obsessive focus with becoming a trailblazer for green energy. The country aims to produce nearly 35% of all its energy from renewable sources by the year 2020. Subsequently, government officials have been shutting down a vast majority of the country's nuclear plants in favor of utilizing more renewable sources.

Most notably, Germany has employed the use of wind turbines along it's Northern coasts to transport energy throughout the country through a strategic national grid. Because these turbines are placed along the country's shores, they tend to be more cost-effective and dependable than turbines located elsewhere in the country. However, because these turbines aren't centrally-located, Germans are burdened with costlier taxes to support the country's extensive national grid.

The country has also undertaken many other opportunities to utilize renewable energy. For example, solar energy will largely be obtained by way of Italy from their solar panels in the deserts of North Africa. However, like the wind turbines in the North,
transporting and dispersing this energy from the South will entail additional high costs.

Because renewable energy sources aren't always consistent (i.e. it isn't always windy and/or sunny), there still needs to be a focus on maintaining "old-fashioned" and reliable ways of producing energy. Bringing green energy to large, centrally-located cities such as Frankfurt proves to be too costly on taxpayers. In my own opinion, German officials should focus more on finding equilibrium between cost-effectiveness and energy sustainability. There simply seems to be too much hype surrounding the concept of utilizing renewable energy without regard to fiscal practicality.

Sources:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/03/new-record-for-german-renewable-energy-in-2010??cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-March30-2011

http://www.spiegel.de/international/crossing-the-20-percent-mark-green-energy-use-jumps-in-germany-a-783314.html

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/germany-the-worlds-first-major-renewable-energy-economy?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-April8-2009

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2007/12/germany-to-require-renewables-for-new-homes-in-2009-50746