Research Plan Template

Name(s): Chase Visage

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.
The mailing company USPS owns over 100,000 mail trucks alone, and USPS trucks use approximately 150 million
gallons of gas per year. This causes the trucks to leave a major carbon footprint which needs to be researched so that
an invention can be made to decrease the carbon footprint mail trucks produce.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How can the USPS reduce its carbon footprint?
Hypothesis(es): If a magnetic delivery system is used, then it will reduce the USPS carbon footprint.
Engineering Goal(s): To engineer a magnetic transportation system for mail so that mail men can put the targeted
person’s mail in a mailbox at the end of the street. The magnetic transportation system will then take the mail from
the end of the street, underground, into the targeted person’s home.
Expected Outcomes: The magnetic delivery system will function properly, allowing mail trucks to not have to drive
down streets, therefor causing them to use less gas.
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.
• D4 battery (2) (34.2mm in diameter)
• Copper Wire Coil (25 ft)
• Mini Light Bulb
• 1 square foot of cardboard
• Shoe Box (2)
• 1 square foot of construction paper
• Duct Tape
• Mini Magnets
• AA Battery (1)
1. Take out table
2. Place two shoe boxes on table roughly 5 feet away from each other
3. Cut out a circle hole on both sides of the shoe box close to the front of the box 36mm in diameter using
exacta knife
4. On the front side of both boxes, cut a hole in the center that is 35mm tall and 60mm wide using exacta
knife
5. Form the copper wire into a spiraling tube 35mm in diameter
6. Run the copper wire through the holes made in step 3 in both boxes to create a circuit
7. Cut the copper wire so that it has the same measurements and positioning as the holes in step 4 in both
boxes with exacta knife
8. Use duct tape to suspend the copper wire so that it’s on the same level as the hole on step 4
9. Cut out the construction paper into a 55mm by 110 mm rectangle
10. Duct tape the mini magnets to the battery so that the negative end of the battery has the positive end of
the magnet running into it, and the positive end of the battery has the positive side of the magnet
running into it
11. Connect two D4 batteries with the construction paper in step 9 by wrapping the construction paper
around the batteries, leaving a large enough gap in the middle that is empty. (Attach with duct tape)
12. Cut a hole in the construction paper from step 11 that is 10mm tall and 40mm long
 Research Plan Template

Name(s): Chase Visage

13. In ONE mailbox, cut a 5mm by 5mm hole on the front side of the box on the very bottom right
14. Cut a 5mm by 15mm piece of cardboard
15. Wrap copper wire all around the end of one side of the cardboard in step 14
16. Place the cardboard in step 14 in the hole in step 12
17. Push the cardboard in so there’s only a small of that that cardboard piece still visible
18. Place copper wire so that the edge touches the copper wire wrapped side from step 15 and run it into the
negative side of and AA battery
19. Run copper wire from the same AA battery as step 18 to the opposite shoe box
20. Attach a mini light bulb to the copper wire from step 19
21. Run copper wire from the mini light bulb back to the piece of cardboard in step 15, creating a light switch

Risk and Safety

Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
There is an electric switch that could shock someone
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
The prototype will be tested for if it will work and/or if it is practical for the real world.
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
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

Name(s): Chase Visage

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.

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.

Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:

• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.