Check out the student work submitted for real-world industry feedback! Learn more about submitting student work to receive real-world feedback here!

Grade: High School

PLTW Course: POE

Submission type: Activity: Robotic Symphony (2.4.1)

Project overview: As the conclusion to their robotics unit, Principles of Engineering students created a robotic rendition of familiar song.

Select student submission materials:

Link to full project: click here

Select Judge Feedback: “Hi, I’m a PhD student and researcher at Boston University studying biomechanics with a background in biomedical engineering. In my current research, I investigate how the structure of the hip joint and everyday movements affect joint loading using computational modeling. This helps us understand how to prevent joint damage and keep hips healthy.

I had the pleasure of reviewing your Arduino musical instrument project, and I’m really impressed with your application of the engineering design process to create a functional electronic and mechanical system. The level of thought and effort that went into your design is evident, and I appreciate the creativity behind using a vintage radio aesthetic to house a digital music player.

You demonstrated a strong understanding of electrical engineering, programming, and 3D modeling. It was great to see how you used Arduino components and coding logic to develop your ideas. The way you iterated on your design, refining both function and aesthetics was particularly impressive. Furthermore, your usage of 3D modeling and printing was very well-executed. Your attention to detail in ensuring that the final product looked and felt polished really stood out. These are skills that engineers use every day to bring ideas from concept to reality!

I’d like to challenge you to further explore ways to optimize your sound generation for improved tone clarity. I was also curious about how you tested and refined your song playback to ensure accuracy. Did your team consider using frequency analysis or waveform visualization tools to compare your output to the original songs? These data points could provide valuable insights into how to improve musical fidelity in future iterations.

Your project reminds me a lot of how engineers use CAD software and rapid prototyping to develop and refine real-world products before manufacturing. In my work, 3D modeling and statistical analysis are essential for refining designs. Whether it’s designing parts for machines, buildings, or medical devices, engineers often rely on these same tools, software, and processes to bring their ideas to life.

To answer your questions:
1. Do any of our processes seem inefficient to you? How can we fix them?
Overall, the project was well-organized, but one potential inefficiency lies in the iteration process. The need for last-minute structural adjustments suggests that early-stage prototyping could be expanded. Implementing rapid low-fidelity prototyping (e.g., cardboard mockups for size estimation) before committing to laser-cutting and 3D printing could reduce redesign efforts.

2. Are there specific skills where you feel like we could have been stronger?
Another important skill that can be practiced is documentation and technical communication. While the project report includes detailed descriptions and visuals, it could benefit from a more structured breakdown of key engineering decisions, troubleshooting challenges, and testing results. For example, a troubleshooting log documenting issues encountered (such as sound clarity problems or space constraints) and the steps taken to resolve them would provide insight into the problem-solving process. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of the instrument’s accuracy (e.g., measuring frequency deviations of generated tones compared to intended notes) could strengthen the technical rigor of the report.

I was thoroughly impressed by this project. Minor refinements could make future iterations even smoother. Your creativity and problem-solving are impressive, and I encourage you to keep exploring STEM fields. Best of luck with your future designs!”

-PhD Student, Boston University

Industry Award: Rookie Award

School: Attleboro High School

Teacher: Amy Gubanov