Happy Valley Communications is looking to design the next generation of telecommunications, “6G.” Your manager has tasked your team to develop a protocol for encoding, transmitting, rebroadcasting, and decoding a 3-byte message with high fidelity. In order to prevent interference of the transmitting and rebroadcasting signals, one transmission signal must encode data within the frequency of the wave (FM) and the other must encode data within the amplitude of the wave (AM). Similarly, one transmission signal must use light (EM waves) and one transmission signal must use sound waves to transmit the digital information. Once the transmission is received at the final destination, the signal must be processed and decoded by a computer program to output the original message.
Happy Valley Communications has set up a simple obstacle course to simulate customer use (see diagram below).
Signal 1 must travel down Leg 1 of the course which is a straight 150 feet long corridor. Then upon receiving this signal, rebroadcast it as Signal 2 down Leg 2, which is 10 feet around a corner (note, this means you will not be able to see your teammate you are transmitting Signal 2 to).
Engineering Problem Statement
Required
1 point
1
Question 1
1.
Type the problem statement here:
The Basic Physics of a Cell Phone Conversation
Required
2 points
2
Question 2
2.
Describe the basic physics of a cell phone conversation. Use your science notebook and system analysis if needed.
Include as many of the technical terms as you can: vocal cords, vibration, sound waves, microphone, signal processor, encode, digital information, electrical signal, AM, antenna, digital transmission, FM, radio waves, cell tower, fiber optic cable, cell tower, radio waves, antenna, signal processor, decode, speaker, sound waves, resonance, ear.
Response must be at least 3 complete sentences and should demonstrate your understanding of the technical terms in your own words (no copy/paste).
Transmission Protocol
Transmission Protocol
There are three constraints (limitations or restrictions) for the digital transmission (the sending of the message).
1. The light and sound sources must be a stationary digital device (for example, a laptop computer or cell phone).
2. The information must be encoded within the wave, not in the movement of the device or your hands.
3. The transmission can only use FM once and AM once, and light once and sound once.
Required
1 point
1
Question 3
3.
A constraint is a restriction or limitation.
A selection of the challenge description is below. Select the constraint for the digital information you will have to send. Hint: the limitation of the information relates to the size of the message you will send.
Your manager has tasked your team to develop a protocol for encoding, transmitting, rebroadcasting, and decoding a 3-byte message with high fidelity.
Required
0.25 points
0.25
Question 4
4.
Frequency modulation of sound is:
Required
0.25 points
0.25
Question 5
5.
Amplitude modulation of light is:
Required
0.25 points
0.25
Question 6
6.
Amplitude modulation of sound is:
Required
0.25 points
0.25
Question 7
7.
Frequency modulation of light is:
Required
1 point
1
Question 8
8.
Describe how you will transmit Signal 1. You should use enough detail that someone can replicate your transmission protocol by reading your description.
Terms you need to include: amplitude, frequency, encode, send, receive.
Make sure to include whether you are using sound or light.
Required
1 point
1
Question 9
9.
Describe how you will transmit Signal 2. You should use enough detail that someone can replicate your transmission protocol by reading your description.
Terms you need to include: amplitude, frequency, encode, send, receive.
Make sure to include whether you are using sound or light.
Communication Encoder
Click this link to open a copy of the Telecommunication Coding App.
Use the video tutorial for support if needed.
Required
0.5 points
0.5
Question 10
10.
After coding your "Encoder" tab, click the menu for "View" then "Show" and select "Formulas."
Attach a screenshot of your Encoder below.
Required
1 point
1
Question 11
11.
Use your encoder app to find the binary code for the word "Pig" and put a screenshot of the code below.
Required
0.5 points
0.5
Question 12
12.
Use your encoder app to find the binary code for the word "Pig" and type the code below. Do not add spaces between the bytes or bits (just a string of 0s and 1s).
Communication Decoder
Click the tab on the bottom of your Google sheet to move onto the Decoder app.
Use the video tutorial for support if needed.
Required
0.5 points
0.5
Question 13
13.
After coding your "Decoder" tab, click the menu for "View" then "Show" and select "Formulas."
Attach a screenshot of your Encoder below.
Required
1 point
1
Question 14
14.
Use your decoder app to decode the following binary code: 010000100111010101100111
Paste a screenshot of your Decoder showing the final letter decoding.
Required
0.5 points
0.5
Question 15
15.
What was the word you decoded from the previous question?
Design Evaluation
Design Evaluation
Required
1 point
1
Question 16
16.
Describe at least one way that your protocol was successful.
Required
1 point
1
Question 17
17.
Identify at least one way your team's protocol could improve.
Required
1 point
1
Question 18
18.
What specific contributions did you make to the design of the transmission protocol?