Note: I am creating this device with Alex Jun

 

What is the purpose of your device, how does it function and who is your client?

Our device is a disc launcher, which lunches discs when pulled with a rubber band. Elasticity(potential energy) and kinetic energy of the disc would be used. The purpose of this toy is for joy. Young pupils age below 10 would use it to shoot targets.

 

What is the environmental impact of your product and is it durable and safe?

First of all, we do not want to make devices that are exactly the same or very similar to the original ones. That way, we brainstormed to have three launchers in one rubber band, which will shoot three discs simultaneously. Since it would be made out of boxes and popsicle sticks, it would be convenient to be durable.  However, since it is a gun-like toy, it could be dangerous when it is used by young range of people. Furthermore, it could hurt people when it is shot at them, so we decided to change hard, plastic discs to a soft, light foam. That way, the device would be safer even if it is shot at people.

What Precedents inspired you?  What did you take away from them &how did it inform your choices?

I saw a youtube video while I was searching for a disc launcher. It was slightly different than an original launcher since it used a rubber band and looked like a slingshot. Although we are still planning and did not even make a blueprint yet, I would make the disc launcher larger in size and let it have more launchers. That way, it could shoot to  diverse ways and can have high kinetic energy. As stated above, we modified the “bullets” of the launcher to a softer foam.

Bellow is the youtube video link where I got inspiration:

 

How are you making your product original and/or using creativity?

Obviously, I would not the exact same model like the prototype above, nor only increase the quantity and focus on safety. I would try to make the launcher more convenient. The shooter in the video have a serious problem when it shoots the disc; occasionally the person have to gram tightly on the plastic cylinder. Since our launcher would be larger than that, we would insert a handle for its durability. Furthermore, one creative idea we would use is to maximize the potential energy that the rubber band holds; I would try to search for materials to make the shooter powerful and can convert that energy into a lot of kinetic energy.