03x03 - Water Rescue Part 1

[bunniefuu]

♪ We've got two days to get this

straight

♪ We've got a challenge, just

won't wait

♪ Our eyes are on the prize

♪ An engineer just set the date

♪ Got this client, can't be late

♪ Oh on,

It's go time!

♪ Build it, test, fix it

♪ Debug, now kick it

♪ Gotta get it off the ground

♪ Stick around and you'll see

♪ What teamwork'a supposed to be

♪ It's so key Design Squads

♪ Design Squad ♪

Ana, go, go, go!

Oh, Green's stuck in the

obstacle!

All the way... all the way back

to touch it.

Green Team wins!

Nice job, Green Team.

Excellent driving.

Thank you!

And look who's coming up

right now.

Excellent timing.

[ laughter ]

You look like women!

You guys look amazing!

[ laughter ]

I like your dress, Juan.

It's only funny because

they're so mad!

[ laughter ]

Did you pick those out

yourselves?

[ whistles ]

[ laughter ]

All right, guys, enough of

these shenanigans.

Let's head inside and hear about

today's client.

Have a seat, guys.

All right, are you ready to see

today's client?

Yeah!

All right, roll the tape.

New Orleans!

No way!

[ laughter ]

Hi, y'all.

My name is Ryan Mast.

I'm a firefighter for the New

Orleans Fire Department.

Not only am I a firefighter, I'm

also a member of Sealer Task

Force One-- a regional urban

search and rescue team.

We have a boat squad that we

perform rescues in, such as

this.

The first 24 hours or so after

Katrina, my crew and I

personally rescued thousands and

thousands of people off of

rooftops and brought them to

safety.

We're currently standing in

front of the first home that I

rescued people off of.

There were 14 people on this

balcony behind me.

Where the first rescue

mission took place was right off

the edge of this roof.

Within less than ten minutes,

this was the actual scene from

my second story balcony.

To actually witness something

like that, it almost would make

you think that this may well be

the last day on Earth.

Well, I definitely wanted to

thank you for allowing me and my

family to stay alive.

Thank you, man.

Thank you, man.

All right.

One of the challenges we

faced during rescues were the

people refused to leave their

pets behind, meaning that we had

to leave them behind.

On top of that, we had no safe

way to transport the pets by

themselves.

That's where you come in, Design

Squads.

I want you to build me a

remote-controlled aquatic rescue

vehicle that will help safely

transport pets.

It must be maneuverable and

stable.

With their pets safe, I can

successfully rescue their

owners.

I want you to bring both of your

designs down here to New

Orleans, where I'll judge the

winner.

[ excited laughs, applause ]

Good luck, Design Squads.

Don't blow it.

[ cheers and applause ]

New Orleans!

That's what I like to see.

Wow!

May I reiterate?

You're going to New Orleans to

try this out with the New

Orleans Fire Department.

Are you guys excited?

Yeah!

Get brainstorming, guys.

Let's go!

Our cage is pretty big.

Here's the battery.

Let's start brainstorming.

Let's go to the board!

Well, maybe you should put

down design requirements first.

Okay, so what do I write?

Well, it has to carry 15- to


It has to be removable.

Yeah, you have to be able to

take the cage off, but we want

it to be stable.

That's really important, so it

doesn't flip.

All right, okay.

And it has to be able to

float.

So, buoyant.

Buoyant.

Okay, good.

So, what I was thinking is, you

know how in the Amazon they have

those boats with the big, like,

fan in the back?

Yeah.

You know what I'm trying to

say?

Yeah.

Just like this.

How would we consider

fanboats?

Fanboat.

What I'm afraid of is, the

propellers that we have won't be

able to push the weight of the

boat.

Because, I mean, they're...

they're this big.

And what if we had two?

No?

Two?

Like, one on each side here,

or...

Mm-hmm.

I think we need to draw it

out.

Drawing time, yes?

Zach, you want to do the

honors?

No.

So what are you guys

thinking?

Well, what about if we just

make it sort of catamaran, like

that, that makes it more stable

because then you don't have as

much weight down the middle.

And that's kind of cool.

Yeah.

What kind of materials do we

have?

Why haven't we looked at that

yet?

Let's look at the materials.

Look at this!

Round tubes.

They're definitely something we

should think about using.

We have one idea, which is a

catamaran, right?

Yes.

We also have these tubes.

What would be the best way to

merge them?

So we could either put them...

either, like, on either side.

So these two round tubes will be

on top, and then our catamaran

would go underneath it.

That sounds like a plan.

Are we going to make a sketch

model out of it?

Yeah, let's make a sketch

model!

Usually when I go into a group

project, I know what has to get

done.

Usually, I'm pretty forward

about telling people that.

And the first challenge, I felt

that all three of us were used

to doing that, and so it was

kind of an adjustment thing

kind of an adjustment thing

where I had to learn to, all

right, take the backseat a

little bit.

And it's definitely about

finding a medium where you can

work well with people, because

that's the most important thing,

but you can still have control

over the project.

If Annelise would have gotten

a little bossy, then I would've

probably said something, but

I... I haven't felt that.

I mean, if she would've just

gone out the way I have heard

she did the first two

challenges, I would've just... I

would've let her have it.

Just... I know how to make

people really, really mad.

It's one of my... it's one of my

good, good talents.

Yeah, I think the fans are

going to work.

I'm pretty sure, but, you

know...

How does it steer?

How does it steer?

So, we have, like, two fans

right here.

Both forward, it'll be going

forward; both back, it'll...

Stop.

...reversing.

Purple Team's boat will steer

using Newton's third law of

motion: For every action,

there's an equal and opposite

reaction.

That means when both props run

forward, they push air backward,

and that moves the boat forward.

To turn left, the right prop

pushes air backward while the

left prop pushes air forward,

creating a torque, or turning

force, to the left.

Reversing the direction of both

props turns the boat to the

right.

And to brake, both props run

backward, pushing air forward

and pulling the boat to a stop.

All right.

Look at this sketch model.

We are so on top of things.

I want to break it!

So, let's make the cage

either go this way or this way.

I think we're going to be better

off this way.

You think so?

I think... I feel like this

way would be better.

That way makes it easier to

row, because you're putting

everything on the axis of

rotation.

Yeah.

Juan's right.

When the dog moves from one end

of the cage to the other, it

creates a torque, or a turning

action, just like two kids

playing on a teeter-totter.

[ dog barks ]

The axis of rotation is the

pivot at the center of the

teeter-totter.

If the cage is mounted in the

shorter or less stable

direction, this torque can cause

the boat to tip.

So, if the Green Team wants to

prevent their boat from tipping,

they need to place their cage in

the longer, more stable

direction.

[ dog barks ]

Yeah.

No, no, you're completely...

you're correct.

I agree.

Okay, I have an idea.

What if we place two air

propellers in each side, like

one here and one here?

I think that's a pretty cool

idea, because then you're

pulling from both sides, and it

would have two rudders back here

for steering.

Cool!

Great.

Yeah, all right.

Okay, I'm going to cut some

wood.

Cut some!

Let's assemble it.

Oh, it's amazing!

Yup.

So maybe if we go to

So maybe if we go to

structure, that will also, like,

fix our plan more?

Mm-hmm.

What are you guys thinking?

Like, wood?

I don't know.

PVC?

Does PVC float?

Yeah, I think so.

They did the PVC kayak last

season.

Can we take... can we take a

look at it?

Yeah.

So, we have, like, a PVC frame.

We're going to need a lot of

these if we're just using thin

ones.

That felt shrink-wrapped.

I don't know if it's durable

enough.

I was thinking, like, two

layers.

I mean, these... how fast are

these things going?

You just made a hole.

What do you think?

Probably not fast enough to,

like, cause an impact that high,

right?

No.

No, because I... nothing

would hit it that hard.

Yeah.

So shrink-wrap, it is?

Yeah.

Should we consider making a

sketch model?

Okay.

Okay, that's it.

Ready to test?

We're ready to go.

Okay, I'll... I'll bring the

weight and the cage.

Ah, it floats!

I'm going to put the weight

on it.

Great.

That's the equivalent weight of

a dog.

The thing is that it's going

to be kind of distributed a

little bit more.

And then we need the

distributed weight of the cage,

too.

So, we got a dog plus cage.

How are we looking,

stability-wise?

This can really just move around

without, like, a floatation

being attached.

So, you want to have a bridge

connecting these two pieces?

Yeah, we can do that.

I think the important thing is

to make this longer, so it holds

that down.

I think we should take this

board off and make a new one.

Okay, ready?

Let's go!

Okay, so we have a raft, a

modified riverboat where it's

flat in the back, and then a

really round one.

So what do we do next?

Like... um...

All right, I will make a

longer board and attach that.

Oh!

I have to undo everything I did!

All right, I have an idea.

How about we combine the two

How about we combine the two

ideas?

A raft in this shape...

Mm-hmm.

We can have... just have PVC

along the bottom, the base,

make, like, a triangular shape,

and we can bend it up this way.

And then shrink-wrap it.

Okay.

All right, so why don't we

make a little model of our frame

using straws?

We'll try different shapes.

You build one, I build one--

see who can build it faster and

better.

Do you need help?

Yeah.

I mean, do you want to build

one?

And then, you can get a good

idea...

You want all three of us to

build the exact same model?

Why not?

There's... if I tell you "Jump

off a bridge," there's 20

million ways you could do it.

I'm just kidding.

I don't know!

[ laughter ]

That's interesting.

Zach's motivation levels are

a little different right now,

and it's kind of impairing us,

because Wes and I are very

motivated to work.

Lindsey's really... she can

be, like, a bit, like, outspoken

sometimes.

I'm the kind of guy that just

needs to veg out, give me my

space, let me recharge.

Then I come back, I'm fine.

Like, "I know, just shut up and

go away!"

You want to do something

else, then?

Yeah... I mean, yeah.

Put your tools down, Design

Squads!

That's it for day one!

All right, guys.

All right, that's done.

That looks good.

You go, guys.

You did great!

Yeah, definitely!

All right.

We... we weren't

really getting anywhere.

We started excited, and as

the day went on, we got even

more excited.

We were all, like, kind of

frustrated.

We weren't really getting many

things done.

So it was definitely a great

day for the Green Team.

Yeah!

All right, all right, all

right!

Whoo!

All right, so we should

probably finish these sketch

models, right?

Yeah.

Shrink-wrapping?

We should probably just duct

tape it just to save time.

Okay.

How feasible is the

shrink-wrap?

We did poke a hole in it

yesterday.

Yeah.

All right, maybe we should just

scratch the whole idea of the

shrink-wrap.

Well, we can still use, like,

a PVC frame, right?

Yeah.

Why don't we bundle a bunch

of PVCs together?

Really long ones in the middle,

and then shorter ones.

Good one.

That's a good idea.

And then we can put a piece

of wood on top to hold the cage.

Mm-hmm, yeah.

Can we do that?

Yeah, that's a good idea.

What do you think, Zach?

It's good.

Okay?

Okay.

Anything besides that?

Um... no.

Because this is day two, and

we need it built, like, now.

Yeah, I know.

Okay?

Okay?

Yeah!

Great.

So let's... let's get the

exact measurements; see how many

we need.

Do we know what diameter we

use?

Looks like a four-inch

diameter one, so we'll use these

as the basis for our raft.

Yep.

So we want the battery case

towards the back of the boat.

I think it would work.

All right, I'll get on that.

Can you work on rudders and

figuring out how to attach them?

What shape do you think the

rudders have to be?

Um... rudder-shaped?

I don't want to make it out of

wood, because it has to be

really light.

I don't know, I was thinking

kind of aluminum because

aluminum is really strong, and

it's pretty light.

I'm going to go look and see.

Okay.

Something like this?

Yeah.

I think this is probably the

way to go.

I agree.

All right, I'm going to

cement these tubes together, and

I'm going to get the raft going.

Do you want help?

Yeah, sure.

Cage is here, battery is

here, rudders attach here.

And the motor's here.

Yup.

Okay, I think I'm going to

start working on how to get

these propellers mounted.

We also have to keep into

account that we need something

to go around it.

So I was thinking, like,

Plexiglas, which is easy to

bend.

We can make, like, a

circumference around it.

Okay, that sounds great.

Look, Annelise.

That looks so good!

This is awesome!

This is a great idea.

We have to figure out some

way to cover and mount the

propellers.

Yeah.

We need to design, like, a cage

to protect anyone from getting,

like, sliced from it.

So do you want to do that, or...

Okay.

It's big enough.


It's big enough.

Yeah!

That looks good, Zach.

Thanks.

I'd say that today Zach has,

like, chilled out a bit more,

and when we're at... whenever

we're around, he will ask us for

help.

And we, in exchange, like, ask

him to come in to help us.

So he's on his way to working

better with everybody.

The battery is attached.

The cage is attached.

All we have left are the motors

and the rudders.

These are going to be the

greatest rudders ever made.

Yeah, that's what the Titanic

thought.

[ laughter ]

That's great spirit right

there, Juan.

So, the only question I still

have is, how will they steer?

On this top arm here, I'm

going to drill two holes in it,

put a wire from this side of the

motor in this side, and from

this side of the motor to here,

like it is right now...

Yeah?

...and then wrap it around so

it's tight on here, so that when

the motor spins that way, this

thing will spin the other way

underneath.

The spin will turn the other

way.

That sounds like a great

idea.

Ana, get that remote control

that's under the thing, turn it

on, and go left.

Whoa!

That was worth the entire

day-and-a-half.

That's pretty good, guys.

Whoo, look at this!

Hey!

What's up, Nate?

This is cool.

Are you guys almost ready to

test?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Very nice!

Let's see what we have here.

I like how these are mounted.

Thanks!

And which way are your props

turning?

That way.

This way?

Yeah.

Okay, so, the leading edge of

your prop-- I mean, as I'm

facing this-- is going to turn

counterclockwise to produce the

most thrust, and that thrust is

going to go-- whoosh-- that way.

Meaning...

Super reverse.

...your boat's going to go

backwards really fast.

Before you test, you'll probably

want to flip them, because then

you'll get the best feel for

what it's really going to be

like to drive.

Okay.

Otherwise, you guys almost

all set?

Yeah!

I'll tell you what, it looks

awesome.

Thanks.

I'm really stoked.

Are you guys pumped about this?

Oh, yeah!

This is the best thing I've

seen you guys build yet.

I'm really impressed.

Thanks!

Thanks, Nate.

Nice work.

Thanks, Nate.

All right, Ana?

The problem I see with this is

when you have them going this

way, this can still rotate.

Put it straight.

Well, what are you thinking?

Just, like, to screw the nut

tighter.

The... the thing isn't the

The... the thing isn't the

nut, Ana.

Yeah.

It's because this is a pivot

point.

I mean, it's always going to be

able to pivot around this,

because it's just a round hole

inside of it.

Yeah, but...

No matter how tight you make

it, it's still going to be able

to pivot.

Why don't you put, like, a

two-by-four block right here and

fasten on real strong, and then

just bolt it to the block.

That'll really help.

I'll fix it down if you want to

keep on building the next one,

okay?

Let's get cracking, though,

because we're running out of

time.

That looks good.

Kind of like a bumper.

Yeah, nice.

How are you, Zach?

I just finished wiring the...

the battery.

All right, let's go connect the

motors, and then we're good to

go.

Cool.

Cool, we're wired up.

Oh, great.

Ah!

Cool!

I hate propellers.

Now, is that supposed to

happen?

Check that out!

Yeah!

Okay.

Yeah, Dude!

I don't think we can have

that.

Wish you'd stop making that

annoying noise.

Hey, Juan, do you... can you

just fix those and be done with

them, so you can help us here?

Yeah.

Just get the rudders done.

Yeah!

♪ You can do it all by yourself.

All right, we could just

brace everything against this,

and that'll give it the support

it needs and stop it from

wiggling and bending like that.

I guess I should do that.

If you can make it work, then

go ahead.

Okay.

Are they both on?

Can you secure them and then be

done?

Yeah.

Because we're really tight on

time now.

All right, you guys ready to

test it?

Yeah, let's do it!

Cool.

Do it!

Whoo!

I'm going to give it full

throttle, all right?

Full throttle!

Guys, want to test in the

pool?

Yeah, let's go.

All right, cool!

Whoo!

I'm going to get the wiring

done.

Hold on.

All right, ready?

The propeller came off.

I think... I think it's an

easy fix.

Can we bring it back over?

Oh, you know what it was?

It was the screws that went

to the prop.

to the prop.

It was the screws to the

motor, yeah.

Yeah, the screws that went to

the prop were not tight, and it

came off.

So we just got to fix this and

paint it up a bit.

So, I think we can do that right

when we get to New Orleans,

right?

Yeah.

I think we're almost out of

time today, you guys.

I think we are out of time.

So it looks like we've got

our wiring done, which is great.

So all we really need to do is

put some protection over these

propellers, so that if things

are flying because of winds or

something, and then it'll be

ready to go.

Yeah.

Wrap it up, Design Squads!

That's it for day two-- and last

one to the pool is a rotten egg!

All right, New Orleans!

New Orleans, here we come!

[ laughter ]

Let's go, Green Team!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have

an announcement to make:

Cannonball!

[ laughter ]

Yeah!

All right, you guys think

we'll be ready for New Orleans

now?

Yeah!

That's where they'll make a

splash and break the tie between

Ana and Wes for the lead.

Hey, Lindsey, there's so much

more action on our web site.

Yeah, behind-the-scenes

stuff, like our blogs.

Not to mention you can watch

full episodes.

Play games and build cool

projects.

Awesome!

Let's go to www.pbskidsgo.org.

Coming up...

All right, New Orleans!

I don't think the right prop is

moving.

I don't want to scare the

dog.

He looks so confused.