Aiden B.

Statement of interest, Spring 2024: (from institute application): I would like to choose Wildwood's institute for STEM Research and Development (WISRD). I believe this course will allow me to have a better idea of what the world of science has to offer. This institute will prepare me for future classes and programs featuring science, math and technology. I would further like to develop my skills in working withe 3D printers, lazer cutting, electronics, and hand tools. I believe these skills will support my passions and career opportunities for designing and creation of products, or provide me with knowledge for project management. I seek opportunities to research valuable questions and work with peers to find solutions. I know I am a hard worker that enjoys collaboration, and deep diving into concepts in maths, sciences and engineering. In reading the research groups projects in the WISRD institue, I was excited by the wide variety of topics. I am especially curious to learn more about such areas as engineering, robots, and superconductors.

I am trying to make a wake machine that can help train surfers to have access to great waves all the time. I also want it to be more efficient and be able to have some way of helping the place that it is put in. At first I wanted to make a model of a wave pool that generates large waves with the use of paddles such as a wave garden https://wavegarden.com/wavegarden-cove/. After looking at how the wave garden forms waves, it was super hard because they are using new tech that they do not want to disclose. After a lot of research about how much land it would need and how it would work it seemed like a very expensive way of making waves to surf. 

Next, I started looking at standing waves which is when water is pushed over a ramp to create a place to surf. This is sometimes used to make river waves. One of the leading companies that is big in this area is Unit surf pool https://52f.a91.myftpupload.com/tech/. This company has found a way of making their wave pools be able to be placed in a lake and just start working. They are using big pumps that suck up water to form the waves. Another company that makes standing waves that can be applied to home pools is Flow Rider https://www.flowrider.com/product/flowrider-single/. To make this standing wave pool I want to find a way of making it cheaper but also could be applied to home pools. I am trying to find a way of circulating the water through the standing wave mache to get back to the pumps. One idea is that there are pipes under the standing wave that connect across the bottom to the pool to form the waves. This idea would allow for use of the pool but would also be harder to bring up the water and would not be as powerful because pools usually do not usually have as much water. Another option is to cover the pool or body of water entirely to have the pumps directly touch the water and have a shorter distance the water has to travel.

The next steps are materials and how to make a smaller model.

Pool

Large container

Video on how the standing wave starts up and works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv_N6vi59DU