May/June 2009 - International Technology and Engineering ...

Students may want to
create a scale-model of a ship.
Harry T. Roman recently retired from
his engineering job and is the author of
a variety of new technology education
books. He can be reached via email at
htroman49@aol.com.
It might be worthwhile to mock up a scale-model
representation of the problem by building a model
ship—and in a three-dimensional manner, show how their
invention and creations will address the surface of the
ship’s hull. Computer graphics or animation may also be a
possibility if students have access to these tools. Students or
student teams should freely discuss and interact with each
other as they evaluate, design, and articulate their thinking.
If students contemplate using automated and/or
semiautomated techniques to solve this problem, they
should intelligently speak to how it would be controlled.
How would robots, or large articulating arms, be able
to know where they are in three-dimensional space and
whether they have already cleaned, treated, or painted a
surface?
Encourage student creativity that embraces not only how the
task is done today, and what it might morph into tomorrow,
but to change the paradigm of hull treatment completely.
Many great inventions start when a bold inventor is brave
enough to change the problem, or redefine it into a unique
or out-of-the-box context.
Don’t forget the possibility that a special dry dock might be
designed that can greatly facilitate the cleaning, treating,
and painting of ship hulls. There are floating dry docks
and other specialty dock services, so why not one that is
specially designed for hull treatment and painting? There
are even gigantic ships that can carry other ships inside
them. Is there a germ of an idea here that could address hull
cleaning, maintenance, and painting?
What about a new kind of ship hull that does not require
such maintenance, or perhaps a coating that greatly reduces
the need for this maintenance? Can nanotechnology
produce a special, durable coating that can be applied
and last a long time, making hull maintenance much less
common?
Think broadly and deeply on this challenge. It will not
disappoint you. Your students will come up with some very
fine ideas and inventions to address this problem.
26 • The Technology Teacher • May/June 2009