David

Once we were clear on the most appropriate tentacle prototype, hinge mechanism, and assembly method for Sahara’s “Star-sucker,” it was time to move into the final build.

I began with the tentacles. Using foam board and wide wooden craft sticks, I built a sturdy base structure for each one. I then used red felt as an overlay to create the outer shell of the tentacles, giving them a softer and more finished appearance. To add detail and craftsmanship, I hand-stitched the edges, which helped elevate the overall look of the model. Once the tentacles were complete, I added sensors and four rubber suckers to each side, staying true to the details in Sahara’s original drawing.

After completing the tentacles, I moved on to the center unit. I attached hinges to two out of the five tentacles, connecting them to the central body. These two movable tentacles allow the Star-sucker to swim around and navigate toward areas with underwater oil spills, just as Sahara had specified in her concept. On the faces of the center piece, I also added a solar panel unit and a garbage collection opening, both of which were important features in Sahara’s design.

Once everything was assembled, we had a complete model of Sahara’s brilliant innovation. The final build brought her idea to life in a tangible way, transforming her imaginative drawing into a physical prototype. All that was left was to present the finished Star-sucker to Sahara, the inventor of it all,  and her classmates!

A key Part of Star-sucker is its tentacle. They are what allow it to swim, detect oil spills and clean up the ocean. Getting this right was imperative. I began by prototyping several variations of what this could look like and getting Feedback on each one. I used materials such as Foamboard, clay, sculpting foam, wood, and felt to make these different variants of the "Tentacle". I also explored a hinge mechanism to meet Sahara's expectations for two mobile tentacles that allow star-sucker to swim and navigate the ocean.

Part of my Prototyping process a few weeks back was making C.A.D (Computer Aided Design) models of individual parts of star-sucker. This helped me visualize how each individual piece could look in 3D and how I could potentially piece everything together. The CAD model of parts made it easier to receive feedback on whether what I visualized was accurate to Sahara's drawing and the specific details of her invention from the get-go.