Hot Springs EAST Projects
History of East EAST is a student driven program that helps students find what they are passionate about. Students do this by using the latest technology. Students work together in groups or individually learning independently. The learning that happens in EAST isn't typical learning, students have to think outside of the box and educate themselves when trying to figure out situations. EAST began with one classroom in Greenbrier, Arkansas in 1996. Former lawenforcement officer Tim Stephenson was in his first year of teaching, and having had experience with “disconnected” youth, had been assigned a classroom of “at risk” students. In seeking a point of interest for them, Stephenson proposed an outing to a spot near the school where students often went to skip classes. The wooded area included a creek and a pond. It was pointed out that it would be muddy crossing the creek. The first EAST project turned out to be a bridge across that creek. The students became enthusiastic with the success of their bridge and proposed additional structures. One student offered his father’s CAD expertise and Stephenson suggested the students get appropriate software and learn to use it themselves. Thus, the technology component was born. Realizing that the K-12 education system lacked the needed technology as well instruction in using it, Stephenson sought help from an Arkansas technology firm that introduced him to national and international resources. The academicbusiness partnerships that were formed became the foundation for a new and relevant model of learning, and the results have been astounding.
The Arducopter is a multi rotor, unmanned aerial vehicle. It is based on the Arduino platform. It uses a small board called the ArduPilot (ours is Version 2.6) to take readings and run diagnostic procedures both in flight and while grounded. This component allows for two methods of control: a specialized software called Mission Planner that utilizes GPS navigation to map and upload flight plans/patterns in flight, and a "manual override", of sorts, that allows an operator on the ground to bypass the code from the AMP Software. This ensures that, should signal be lost from the ground station (essentially a laptop with Arduino Mission Planner installed) to the Ardupilot, a stable and controlled flight is maintained, to the protection of both the Arducopter and the operator/bystanders. The Ardupilot component is also the primary go-to from the Receiver Module to the motors, and from the Gyroscope/Accelerometer/Altimeter/GPS Module to the ground station. These components, respectively, allow us to read and react to changes in tilt, acceleration, altitude, and position in relation to the ground station based upon GPS readings. All of that's good, great, and dandy, but if all this thing does is look cool and buzz around freaking people out, our accomplishment is a tad mediocre. So what do all these fancy components with twenty dollar names actually do in relationship to our goal? Well the gyroscope allows us to read subtle tilts of the Arducopter in flight and the Arducopter will automatically correct itself to maintain stability. Stability is a key asset to us because one of the intended purposes for the Arducopter is for taking aerial photographs and video. A camera is lesa than useless if the video is shaking to the point where its unviewable. This brings in another key part of the design of the Arducopter. The Gimble. The Gimble is the rotating camera mount located on the underside of the Arducopter. As the Arducopter is in flight, the Gimble will automatically adjust to achieve the most stable video shot possible. We are using a Futaba programmable remote control as the secondary flight manipulation device. It has many features, including the built in ability to program fail safes for in case the connection to the controller and the ground station is lost. This is known as a GeoFence, whereby the Arducopter will not travel a predefined distance from the last perceived location of the ground station if a connection is lost.
Dead Zone This past summer students from the Hot Springs High School EAST Program tackled the nationwide problem of hypoxia. The students traveled to Louisiana to shoot footage for a documentary they were going to make about "the dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. While they were there they talked to Andrew Blanchard of Pearl Brand Foods and Dr. Nancy Rabalais of LUMCON whom they also shot interviews with. The students also shot interviews with a local charter fisherman who has first hand experience with what is actually happening and how it is affecting his business. Once back in Arkansas, the students talked to Trent and Terry Dabbs at their farm in Stuttgart, Arkansas about fertilizers and water runoff on their farm and Devin Drake from Jimmy Sanders, Inc. about how they prescribe fertilizers for different farms and how they dispense the fertilizer. Now that all interviewing is complete the students are now editing and completing the dead zone documentary.
Freshman Academy Students are working on a design layout for a Freshman Academy requested by the school board. The... Freshman Academy will include a basketball court with the capability to function as a 1000 person storm shelter. Each floor will include between 15 and 20 classrooms and several science labs.
Vet For Pets Veterinarian Dr. Bob Zeppecki found a dog that had an arrow shot through its head. He took the dog in and performed surgery to remove the arrow. After the surgery, Dr. Bob named this dog Lucky Jack because he had survived the surgery. Dr. Bob then started a Lucky Jack Foundation, to help with the dogs rehabilitation process which received around $40,000 in funds. He used what was left of the foundation to start up a new program that is used to help Veterans who have PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. With this program, a Veteran picks out a dog of their choice and spends a couple of weeks to bond before the training process begins. After a week or so, the dog then is taken to training. The dogs are used to distract the Veterans from their own problems and the Veterans care for the dogs and form special bonds with them that they could not do with anyone else. During the month of October, a were a part of this program and Dr. Bob. These interviews were then used to make a documentary for Dr. Bob to help raise awareness of his program and to get more Veterans into this program.
Animal Shelter Video The animal shelter video is a video of different animals at the dog pound or humane society. These animals need a home. They can only stay there for so many days, if someone comes adopt an animal, you will save the animal life. Videoing the animals was a very sad thing to do. The animals looked lost, sad, and heartbroken
ARCPAC ARCPAC is the annual summer Performing Arts Camp hosted by the nonprofit organization Arc Arkansas. From their website arcark.org: The Arc Arkansas provides supports, housing, advocacy, education and leadership to people with disabilities and their families. The Arc assists and encourages individuals with disabilities in acquiring skills and supports, which allow them to make decisions regarding their own lives, helping them to achieve integration into the mainstream of community life. These personalized supports are outcome oriented, dependable, effective and flexible. Providing quality, affordable, accessible, integrated housing and support is a primary mission of The Arc Arkansas. Sixty campers from all over Arkansas as well as from across the country are expected to participate in this unique summer program. Students from UCA’s Theatre Department and the Occupational Therapy Department assist acclaimed camp instructors in teaching acting, dance, music, and music video production classes to the participants. Participants also enjoy a wide variety of other activities, including sing-along's, dances, movies, and outdoor activities. The camp concludes with a grand performance by the campers. Over 200 family, friends, and community members attend the finale, which allows the campers to demonstrate the skills that they learned during the
Uams Stroke Maps Students have created a map for UAMS showing each of the locations of their Telamedicine Programs. The map also shows the people that are within the 30 minute and 60 minute driving windows of each of the hospitals and can give directions.
Written By: Michael Souza & Brian Crowley Directed By: Michael Vincent