An Engineered and Mobile Ecology
A baby chick in a mobile coop with the periodic table of elements behind it
Last week at Mezzacello Urban Farm students taking part in the City of Columbus Columbus Parks and Rec Biomechanics summer camp built an Engineered and Mobile Ecology. They were given mandates and raw materials as well as a problem and a need. They worked tirelessly to get this project completed in one week. And they did a great job!
Understanding The Six Simple Machines
What better way to understand the six simple machines than to have kids break them down and repurpose them with intention? Here is what I had on Hand:
An old ferret cage with two cages nested atop each other secured with bolts
Old wire shelving
Four pieces of 24” steel conduit
PVC lattice
A few waste catching trays
Spare metal pieces
Lots of bolts and nuts
Locking washers
Large steel washers
A few hose washers
Heavy duty 10” wheels, two fixed, two that swivel
They used it all and then some.
First they took the cages apart to make spacers under the floor (the top of the bottom cage) and raise them up. Then they started building a suspension. They had to draw and redraw the suspension several times, and they took it all apart twice! But they were motivated.
Their innovation was a suspension built with two conduit anchored below the cage spaced the size of the wheel head. Above that and with the cage floor and steel frame between them they mounted four steel bars (two to a side) and created a spring by tying those two steel bars with a cross brace steel bar using washers, rubber washers, and heavy duty bolts. In effect they created a modern spring suspension for the entire cage modeled after a modern car on their own, using only trial and error and the internet.
Using what they had just learned about simple machines they managed to use five of them organically in the design for this system. The spring, the lever, the wheel and axle, the screw, and the inclined plane. But there was another problem.
The spring
The lever
The wheel and axle
The screw
The inclined plane
But there was another problem.
The Next Big Innovation
While Team BioEngineer was busy building the mobile cage system, Team BioTech had their hearts broken when they realized that the metal and PVC floor of the cage inside the biodome that houses the baby rabbits was too close to the waste. Sadly the runt of the litter and the one who never got enough food with a weakened immune system, perished from wet tail. The kids were devastated (so was I). But they took that lesson back to Team BioEngineer who integrated it into the design of the mobile coop.
First they built a new floor with steel panels and metal strapping we found that was AT Least three inches below the floors. Then they integrated the droppings tray well away from the floor. The rabbits and chicks, ducks and quail would always be safe in this clean and easy to sterilize mobile system.
Making it Completely Off Grid and Sustainable
Their final innovation was to mount a 200Watt solar panel to the stop of the cage. This would provide shade and power for the entire system. Then they placed an on-board 500Ah 12V battery with integrated AC inverter generator under the panel. This will power a built in fan and automatic feeder (also on-board) as well as a computer station and monitor, or a security camera,
It really was genius work and teamwork, and I am so proud of these kids! PS it was their idea to add the DNA molecule and the Periodic Table of Elements to the top and back of the mobile coop. I was quite delighted that I had had that much influence on them — as i am ALWAYS referencing both.
What else would you add to this mobile cage system? You can bet I will be using this suspension system everywhere moving forward, as it turn on a dime! Not bad work for a group of 9-12 year old kids.
Many thanks to Mayor Andrew Ginther and the Columbus Department of Parks and Recs for making this camp and all future camps this summer FREE for Columbus Kids. Learn more about Mezzacello Urban Farm Camps Here!
