Security System Design
Security cameras line streets, keeping us safe.Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
Students apply everything they have learned about light properties and laser technologies to designing, constructing, defining design limitations and presenting laser-based security systems that protect the school's mummified troll. In the associated activity, students "test their mettle" by constructing their security system using a PVC pipe frame, lasers and mirrors. In the lesson, students "go public" by creating informational presentations that explain their systems, and serve as embedded assessment, testing each student's understanding of light properties. It is important to convey to the students that part of the design challenge is to use as few lasers to patrol the largest area. By doing so this limits the overall cost of the design.
Engineers use their understanding of the properties of light to create systems in which a beam of light can control other devices. For example, they create photo-electric beam systems that transmit infrared light (which cannot be seen by the naked eye) across areas where the light beams may be obstructed. If/when a laser beam is obstructed, a sensor triggers an alarm. Through their presentations, students demonstrate an understanding of this technology, realizing that an infrared system is the best candidate for a security system, as specified by the challenge question.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain how a laser security system works.
- Create an informational presentation of their system design including a cost estimate.
This lesson also meets the following Tennessee Foundations of Technology educational technology content standards: 2.0, 3.0, 6.0 and 7.0; see https://www.teta.org/
This lesson also meets the following National Science Education Standards (NSES) teaching standards: A, B, C, D, E, F; see https://www.nap.edu/topic/