Name(s): Harrison Williams

Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)

A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is
important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
Bald tires pose a significant threat to both the driver of the vehicle and other drivers on the road. Wet or slick roads
pose a major issue with bald tires because the likelihood of hydroplaning becomes greater. Tires with a lack of tread
also have a higher chance of having a blow out, or a rapid loss of tire pressure within the tire. Without sufficient tread
on tires, they cannot perform like they are supposed to under these conditions.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How can a BlueTooth sensor be developed so that the driver is alerted when tire tread is no
longer sufficient
Hypothesis(es): If a receiving light is activated when a circuit is broken then the driver will be alerted of a bald tire via a
display light
Engineering Goal(s): Create a tire that alerts the driver when it has lost tread
Expected Outcomes: The product will be effective and relay the information of the condition of the tire
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do
not include work done by mentor or others.
Acquire the following materials:
● Bluetooth transmitter capable of connection to a smartphone
● 3 meters of insulated copper wire (28 AWG)
● Smartphone capable of app development
● 16x10 cm rubber pad
● Toilet paper core
● Electrical Tape
● Soldering Iron
● Solder
● Hot Glue Gun
● Hot Glue Stick
● Wire cutters
● 400 grit sandpaper
● Stopwatch
1. Take the Bluetooth transmitter and access the positive and negative terminals, cut ½ meters of copper wire
cut from the 3 meters using the wire cutters and solder the ends to the positive and negative terminals of the
transmitter while wearing safety goggles and gloves and create a loop
2. Connect the bluetooth transmitter to the smartphone
3. Using the smartphone, create a software for the transmitter that will activate when it detects a lack of current
from the transmitter (connection to a smartphone will allow for easy access when using Apple car play and
android auto)
4. Take the rubber pad and hot glue around the circumference of the toilet paper core creating a mock tire
5. Wrap wire loop on transmitter tightly around the mock tire created in the previous step. This action represents
the detection wire that runs through the tire being exposed due to the erosion of tread
6. Using 400 Grit sandpaper, erode the wire like asphalt from a road will do, recording the time it takes to notify
the software that a break in the circuit has occurred after beginning the abrasion
Name(s): Harrison Williams
7. Record if the software detects a break in the circuit
8. Remove the broken wire from the positive and negative terminals of the transmitter after testing has been
concluded
9. Repeat steps 1-8, 5 more times for a total of 6 tests to ensure the best results in testing
Risk and Safety
Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
Creating circuits with a bluetooth transmitter requires the use of a soldering iron and solder. Soldering Irons and hot
glue guns reach very high temperatures and can cause serious burns. Solder is a metal composition containing lead, a
harmful chemical if ingested. In order to mitigate these issues safety gloves and goggles will be used at all times when
dealing with these tools and all work will be done on a durable safe surface. An experienced adult will also be present
at all times when dealing with these materials and tools.
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
Using Excel, create a chart showing the test number, if the test was successful or not, and the time that it took for the
software to be notified. Using this chart, it can be determined if the device is effective at notifying a break in the
circuit. An average of the time it takes to notify the software in the tests that were successful can determine the time
between the wire being exposed and the driver being notified. This time will show the amount of time between an
unsafe tire and the driver being alerted.
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations
(minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What is the
frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal,
etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email addresses)
be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not
anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have
access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they will
be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.
N/a
Vertebrate animal research:
a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.
b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury
to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.
N/a
Name(s): Harrison Williams
Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:
• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.
Hot glue and solder will be used in this experiment. Both reach high temperatures and can cause burns. Solder metal
is used with a soldering iron to connect electrical components in this experiment. One element in solder is lead, which
when ingested can cause serious sickness. To mitigate these risks, all surfaces used when dealing with this hazardous
metal will be cleaned prior to and after experimentation. Gloves and goggles will be used at all times when dealing
with soldering irons, solder, and hot glue guns. A mask will be worn to prevent inhaling of burned solder. The best way
to dispose of solder or the lead in solder is to use it completely for experimentation. Any solder left over can be
recycled for lead contents after being brought to a recycling plant.