M M E

3.0 V

L E G O

By Mindstorm Maniacs 3.0

Our Community
Country: United States State: Alabama County: Jefferson County Population: 660,009 people in 2012 Reason: We looked at a map that told us how many tornadoes there have been, and Alabama has had tornadoes, but wont be prepared.

Our Community

Our Community
We chose this community since there is a good chance for tornadoes but it doesnt happen often. Because of this people may not be prepared.

Tornado History for Our Community

Two top locations in Jefferson County for tornado magnitudes of F5 and EF4.

Web Source: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents

Our Natural Disaster

Natural disasters we could choose from:
Avalanche or Landslide Flood Storm Tornado or Cyclone Earthquake Hurricane Tsunami Wildfire

We chose Tornado for our natural disaster Tornadoes were chosen since these can harm or kill people Tornadoes can occur without much warning and people are not always prepared We first chose a hailstorm, but it didnt really harm anyone

Warning Signs of Tornadoes

A dark often greenish sky. Wall clouds or an approaching cloud of debris. Large hail often with the absence of rain. Before a tornado strikes the wind may die down and the air may become very still. An approaching cloud of debris even funnel is not visible. A loud roar similar to a freight train may be heard. A change in barometric pressure.

These were the signs that we decided to research

Barometric Pressure
What is Barometric Pressure ? Barometric pressure is the force exerted by the atmosphere at a given point. It is known as the "weight of the air".
A barometer measures barometric pressure. Measurement of barometric pressure can be expressed in millibars or in inches or millimeters of mercury. Normal pressure at sea level is 1013.3 millibars or 29.92 inches of mercury. Changes in barometric pressure are usually a sign of bad weather conditions. A rise in pressure usually means improving weather while falling pressure may lead to bad weather.

Barometric pressures will also vary with altitude and moisture.

Household pets like dogs can sense the change in barometric pressure which makes them nervous and they bark.

Frequencies Of Different Sources

INFRASOUND Web Source: http://physics.info/sound/

Infrasound
Infrasound is the range of acoustic frequencies below human hearing. For a typical person this is below about 20 Hz, where a person starts to feel the noise instead of hear it. 1 to 20 Hz is called near infrasound and about 0.05 to 1 Hz is called

infrasound.
Below about 0.05 Hz is where gravity affects the travel of the sound. A frequency of 1 Hz is eight octaves below middle C. Infrasound can be quite valuable and provide information on a range of geophysical processes like tornadoes.
Book reference: Infrasound Monitoring for Atmospheric Studies, Alexis Le Pichon, Elisabeth Blanc, Alain Hauchecorne, ISBN: 978-1-4020-9507-8 (Print) 978-1-4020-9508-5 (Online) Web source: http://www.belljar.net/microbar.htm

Where Does Infrasound Come From?

From: googleimages.com

Different Sources of Infrasound

Web Source: http://physics.info/sound/

Infrasound Calculation
Sound is a longitudinal, mechanical wave. Sound is a variation in pressure.

Calculating Frequency:
frequency= 1/time Units of frequency is Hertz (Hz) which is cycles/second Infrasound frequency range is 0.05 to 20Hz

Calculating Wavelength:
Speed of sound= 343 m/s at 20 degrees Celsius Wavelength= speed of sound/frequency Infrasound wavelength range is approximately 17 to 6860 meters long!!! That is about 4 miles!

Tornado Infrasound:
Typical Frequency range is 1 to 5Hz Wavelength range is 68.6 to 343 meters

Interesting Facts About Infrasound

Our Infrasound Detector!

Oscilloscope
Audio Amplifier We used a speaker as our sensor by wiring an audio transformer to the speaker wires and then connect it to an amplifier and then hook it up to the oscilloscope. The low frequency sound waves can be seen on the screen, where we could use the cursors on the oscilloscope to calculate the frequency. We took measurements of different noises, and also used a frequency generator to calibrate it. Frequency Generator

Speaker with audio transformer/capacitor circuit

Web source: http://users.firstva.com/hale/Infrasound.html

First Measurements Of Infrasound Detector With The Oscilloscope

Sound from a floor tom drum. Measured frequency was 27.78Hz.

Sound from local train passing by. Measured frequency was 15.63Hz.

Calibration of Our Detector

We recorded sound generated by a frequency generator through a sound system to see if our detector was working correctly. We used equipment given to us by our coach that let us record the sound with a laptop and save it. Then we could see the frequency.

Time

16Hz Tone
Frequency

Time

Frequency

20Hz Tone

Some Experiments We Did Using Our Detector

Beat Boxing

Stomping Upstairs

Other Infrasound Devices

KNMI Microbarometer The Stormwise Antenna for $125
How it works: The antenna is sensitive down to 0.01 Hz (one cycle per 100 seconds), and up to 2.8 KHz, (2800 cycles per second). A pressure sensor is made from a balloon cut and stretched over a small glass jar. This makes an air-filled diaphragm. It expands and contracts with changes in local air pressure, exactly like the air pressure sensor found inside a barometer. Infrasound waves affect the local air pressure as they pass by. The balloon diaphragm expands and contracts very slightly along with the infrasonic pressure waves. The antenna detects the tiny motion of the magnet glued to the diaphragm.

Web Source: http://www.knmi.nl/~evers/infrasound/web-article/how.html Web Source: http://www.stormwise.com/page31.htm

The Infiltec Model INFRA-20 Infrasound Monitor for sale for $295, plus shipping

A Portable 8Hz-20Hz Infrasound Generator

Web Source: http://www.infiltec.com/Infrasound@home/

Our Innovative Solution Is the

THE IDEA
This amazing invention is a dog that senses low frequency infrasound to track and warn you about tornadoes. Real dogs usually bark because of the noise, so does TD, (tornado dog). And there is no other robot tornado dog.

Dogs VS. Humans Sound & Pressure

Dogs can hear and sense sound much better than humans. How much better? Dogs: 67- 45,000HZ Humans: 20- 20,000HZ.

Dogs find loud noises such as vacuum cleaners uncomfortable or even hurtful. Humans just find it annoying. Canines are more sensitive to drops in barometric pressure than humans. A drop in pressure means that conditions may be ripe for a storm to develop. Dogs CAN tell if a storm is coming, though they cannot be positive what type of storm it may be.

Web source: http://www.cochlea.org/en/hear/frequency-hearing-range-in-man-and-some-common-animal-species

Tall Tales Or True?

Not only do dogs flip out during a storm, other animals do too! Animals such as worms , sharks , and birds. Animals are more attuned to their environment than we give them credit for. But can your kitty or puppy give you a cue that a big quake is coming? Researchers are skeptical.

The Product
The product is a robot dog called Tornado Dog. The dog comes in female or male. Also, you can get one that just tracks tornadoes , or one that does
tricks too.

Prices$$
WITHOUT $ 80.00

WITH TRICKS $ 170.99

How To Use
The Tornado Dog does require some assemble.
1. 2. Take out of box. Assemble the tornado detector and put in a suitable place that can detect outside sounds. A location that is not too windy is best. Turn on the T-Dog, and watch the magic happen. Since it is wireless, you can place anywhere in a 300 feet distance from the detector. T-Dog will start to bark when it senses 1-5Hz Infrasound to alert the chance for a tornado and will get louder and louder as the level goes up, meaning a tornado is getting closer! Take shelter when the T-Dog warns you in a safe place according to the NOAA (see http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html) Enjoy a safe life knowing you are more prepared!
Batteries not included!!!

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New Features ComiNg sooN to torNado dog.

Barometric pressure change detector....

Link to the Emergency Alert System through Radio or Satellite broadcasting to check for local weather advisories when infrasound levels are detected..
Guard Dog add-on that barks and growls when hears someone knocking on the door or breaking windows!
Coming Soon! A robotic fish that senses tsunamies , and a robotic cat that senses hailstorms!!!

Conclusion
Long Story Short,

BUY IT!
SORRY ITS OVER NOW!!!!

How We Shared
Website We made our own website that includes our innovative solution.
http://MindstormManiacs.weebly.com

School Newspaper articles Family and friends

Resources
We used 1. Google Images 2. Google 3. http:// Tornadofacts.com 4. http:// esrl.noaa.gov/psd/programs/infrasound/isnet 5. http:// noaa.gov/features/protecting/tornadoes101.html 6. http:// vortex2.org/home/ 7. http:// users.firstva.com/hale/infrasound.html 8. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents 9. http://physics.info/sound/ 10. Infrasound Monitoring for Atmospheric Studies, Alexis Le Pichon, Elisabeth Blanc, Alain Hauchecorne, ISBN: 978-1-4020-9507-8 (Print) 978-1-4020-9508-5 (Online) 11. http://www.belljar.net/microbar.htm 12. http://physics.info/sound/ 13. http:// oto.wustl.edu/cochlea/wind.html 14. http://www.knmi.nl/~evers/infrasound/web-article/how.html 15. http://www.infiltec.com/Infrasound@home/
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17.

http://www.stormwise.com/page31.htm http://www.cochlea.org/en/hear/frequency-hearing-range-in-man-and-some-common-animalspecies