Research Plan Template

Lara Roberts
Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)
A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is
important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
Physical therapists do not have efficient physical therapy devices, to help patients make a full recovery from an elbow
fracture or a bicep tendon rupture. It is important that we
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How do I ensure the motion sensor, beeper, circuit board, battery, and the on/off switch are
working together to operate the beeping collar for blind dogs correctly?
Hypothesis(es): If I engineer a product that beeps when a dog comes within one foot of any solid object then I will be
able to provide a better and more comfortable life for blind canines.
Engineering Goal(s): I will make a collar that will beep when a dog comes within one foot of any solid object.
Expected Outcomes: The expected outcome is a collar that will beep when it comes within one foot of any solid
object. It will have a ½ inch hole in the front for the motion sensor to peak out. There will also be an on/off switch for
sleeping, cuddling with owners, eating, and storing the collar if it is not in use.
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do
not include work done by mentor or others.
1.) Obtain materials from the materials list and lay them out in your workspace.
2.) Clean the copper clad with a scotch brite pad and lacquer thinner.
3.) Print PDF of the PCB on to glossy paper with an laser printer.
4.) Cut document to size.
5.) Iron document on to the plain copper clad for 5 minutes.
6.) Peel off the paper and the ink should have transferred onto it.
7.) Pour ½ a cup of muriatic acid into a PLASTIC container.
8.) Pour 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide into the same container and gently swirl.
9.) Place PCB into the container for 15-20 minutes, or until all the copper has been etched off. You can speed this
process up by brushing the board with a foam paint brush.
10.) Pull out the PCB and clean the ink off of the board with lacquer thinner. Left should be copper where the ink
was.
11.) Now drill holes in the indicated places on the PCB
12.) Push the ends of the buzzer, BC 547, and the three-pin female berg strip through the holes.
13.) Solder the aforementioned parts on to the board, ensuring that they touch the copper.
14.) Plug the three-pin female berg strip onto the motion sensor’s circuit board.
15.) Strip down a USB cable
16.) Solder the two wires inside to the three-pin female berg strip, where it meets the PCB and circuit board.
17.) Plug the USB into a portable phone charger, make sure it is fully charged.
18.) Give the sensor 15 seconds to warm up, you should hear it beep.
19.) Paint a plastic container.
20.) Cut two rectangular holes in the back of it with a craft knife.
21.) Feed it onto the collar.
22.) Place the electronics into the container.
23.) Snap the lid shut.

Materials:
 Research Plan Template

Lara Roberts
- Single sided copper clad
- BC547
- Three pin single row female berg strip
- PIR Human Infrared Motion Sensor
- 5-volt buzzer
- Red and Black wires
- USB charger
- Portable phone charger
- Muriatic acid
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Plastic dish
- Sponge brush
- Paint
- Plastic Tupperware
- Dog Collar
- Soldering Gun
- Solder
- Rubber gloves
- Eye protection
- 2 thousandths inch drill bit
- Drill
- Laser Printer
- Glossy Paper
- Iron
Risk and Safety
Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
Burns from electrical equipment and hot glue, broken equipment and/or plastic (cuts from sharp items), and gluing
fingers together (reason for gloves).
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
Hold collar in front of a variety of solid objects to ensure it beeps correctly. Then put it on a dog model (made of
cardboard) and move it around to ensure it still works. Then record it in your science fair notebook.
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research: N/A
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations
(minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What is the
frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal,
etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email addresses)
be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not
anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have
access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
 Research Plan Template

Lara Roberts
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they
will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.
N/A
Vertebrate animal research:
a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.
b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury
to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.
N/A
Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:
• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.
N/A