CCDS InvenTeam January Blog
The Cincinnati Country Day School InvenTeam is charting new territory from a technical and communications standpoint. A quick recap of what we did in December: The technical team prototyped the invention using breadboards and Arduino kits, then built a proof-of-concept circuit with LEDs and resistors controlled by a microcontroller. They also created a proof-of-concept for the second phase using low-powered components. Additionally, they began researching AI to alert the bikers and purchased a developmental board to collect road data. The communications team finalized the logo and created branding materials like business cards, brochures, and invitations. They also began planning for the mid-grant technical review by meeting with school members to discuss layout and fundraising.
Technical Team
Fueled by the upcoming February Mid-Grant Technical Review, January was a month of great progress for the technical team. On the AI front, they worked with enthusiastic students in the lower school to create a proof-of-concept. This exploration laid the groundwork for future applications within the invention solution. After numerous productive meetings, the team successfully set up and began utilizing the new development board, bringing their artificial intelligence concept closer to reality. Alongside their AI pursuits, the technical team made strides in the design and development of a custom circuit board to function as a turn signal.
The February review will be a pivotal moment, validating their hard work and providing valuable feedback. The proof-of-concept and the circuit board design, both testaments to their innovative spirit, pave the way for the invention solution. The tech team is poised to excel at the Mid-Grant Technical Review and explore the exciting possibilities that a patent application presents. February promises to be an eventful month, and they are more than ready to conquer it!
Communications
The communications team used the designs we created to prepare for our upcoming Mid-Grant Technical Review by sending invitations, establishing a donation system, and preparing materials such as business cards. From new business cards, stickers, and posters the team made leaps towards the MGTR that will showcase our hard work. The communications team also led the move towards patenting our invention, meeting with our former lawyer and current head of school to discuss patents, researching what we needed for a provisional patent, and eventually contacting and meeting with an attorney who graciously gave up his time to help us protect our hard work. By the end of January, the communications team began the process for a provisional patent and worked hard to prepare for the debut of our team’s idea at the mid-grant technical review.
Moving Forward
As January ends and we reach the mid-grant technical review the progress our team has made is clear. In this month we began to see the fruition of our work. A provisional patent became a short-term goal, not a far-off dream, the confusion of learning an AI system became successful tests, and the design for a blinker became a functional circuit. Overall, January has marked incredible progress toward our goals and the realization of what we learned into a functioning prototype.
