Search found 16 matches

by jpswensen
Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:29 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Cheap-ish timer (getting more polished)
Replies: 2
Views: 8456

Re: Cheap-ish timer (getting more polished)

Finally getting back around to working on this more. Here are some of the high level updates. Updated from the ESP8266 to the ESP32. The ESP32 has two CPU cores, so one core is dedicated completely to capturing super accurate timing and the other handles all the communications with the timers softwa...
by jpswensen
Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:27 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Cheap-ish timer (getting more polished)
Replies: 2
Views: 8456

Cheap-ish timer (getting more polished)

I see there are plenty of people who have made DIY timers, so maybe this is redundant. Our pack recently got a nice new extruded aluminum track, but didn't want to spend the money on a timer that year. So, being a roboticist and tinkerer I decided to build them one. I am still working on polishing t...
by jpswensen
Wed Jan 03, 2018 3:59 pm
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: 10 year anniversary of Physics and the Pinewood Derby - Download for $9.99
Replies: 0
Views: 17722

10 year anniversary of Physics and the Pinewood Derby - Download for $9.99

It is kindof crazy to think that 10 years ago I was just starting my PhD and just finishing Physics and the Pinewood Derby with Dr. Scott Acton (I guess I am a Dr. now too, but not that kind of doctor). Scott's son from the video is all grown up, James Webb Space Telescope is almost ready to launch ...
by jpswensen
Fri Mar 06, 2015 3:19 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins
Replies: 5
Views: 7202

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

We were thinking of having the same weight, size, wheel base requirements as the stock (in-the-box) rules, but allow anything beyond that. I am going to research the various "turtle" rule sets.
by jpswensen
Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:06 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins
Replies: 5
Views: 7202

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Nice! Thanks for telling me the name of it.
by jpswensen
Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:45 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins
Replies: 5
Views: 7202

Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

We were discussing in lab the other day that it might be really fun to have a pinewood derby race for Engineering Week here at the university where the rules are changed drastically. In fact, the winning car would be the car that takes the longest to cross the finish line. However, if you don't cros...
by jpswensen
Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:20 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Carbon fiber car
Replies: 2
Views: 6065

Carbon fiber car

I had been looking for an excuse to have a labmate teach me carbon fiber layups. What better reason than the coolest pinewood derby car ever? This also probably isn't technically legal because they can't inspect the axle slots or the wheels without taking the shell off. The shells come off fairly ea...
by jpswensen
Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:14 am
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)
Replies: 10
Views: 20717

Re: Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)

Just my opinion, but there should be a way to be eligible for stuff like this without being forced to join FarceBook... I can add you to to the list of people entered into the contest. Since I don't have your email, is it OK to contact you via PM on this website if you are randomly chosen as a winn...
by jpswensen
Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:23 am
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)
Replies: 10
Views: 20717

Re: Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)

I bought your DVD 2+ years ago when my son was a Tiger. We watched that DVD at least 25 times - my son can explain the physics to other scouts and we won 1st place in the Pack 2 years running, and 1st place in Districts in 2010. I cannot say enough about this education DVD. I even used your info to...
by jpswensen
Tue Jan 08, 2013 7:19 pm
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)
Replies: 10
Views: 20717

Re: Physics and the Pinewood Derby Video

Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Sweepstakes This season (2013) we decided to run a social media contest to give away ten (10) copies of the DVD. All that is required is that you go and "Like" our page on Facebook and then submit an email address. Your email will only be used if you are...
by jpswensen
Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:54 am
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)
Replies: 10
Views: 20717

Physics and the Pinewood Derby DVD Giveaway (2013)

Just thought I would stop in an mention our educational video about building a Pinewood Derby car. I posted a couple of years ago, but thought it was worth mentioning again as our website is updated to better reflect the video content and we now offer the video as a download and on DVD. Physics and ...
by jpswensen
Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:59 pm
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Physics and the Pinewood Derby - www.pinewoodphysics.com
Replies: 5
Views: 16466

Re: Physics and the Pinewood Derby - www.pinewoodphysics.com

An update may occur when I finish the PhD (hopefully about 1.5 years from now). Until then, I am a bit short on time for the amount of work required to do a thorough update.
by jpswensen
Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:02 pm
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Video, review physics and the pinewood derby
Replies: 5
Views: 8909

Re: Video, review physics and the pinewood derby

I discussed your suggestion, as well as several others, with some of my mechanical engineering colleagues who are better at structures and mechanism design. They made the following comments and suggestions: 1) They didn't think that the multiple set screw technique was too difficult, considering the...
by jpswensen
Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:10 pm
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Physics and the Pinewood Derby - www.pinewoodphysics.com
Replies: 5
Views: 16466

Re: Physics and the Pinewood Derby - www.pinewoodphysics.com

We also started offering the video as a download for those who wait until the last minute. I'm not sure how fast the download will be come pinewood derby season and a lot of people are downloading simultaneously (we hope), but when we were testing we got anywhere from 500 KBps to 2 MBps.
by jpswensen
Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:45 am
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Video, review physics and the pinewood derby
Replies: 5
Views: 8909

Re: Video, review physics and the pinewood derby

That is a cool video. It's a shame it's 2 hours long...this could be a great video to play at the pack meeting when we hand out the cars....although I'm sure if you have the software to edit video......you could make a condensed version The length was one of the things we struggled with while we we...