What makes this fan so smart? If you use this fan on a regular cart, you can turn it on and select one of three speeds by pushing the button on the side. But plugging it into a Smart Cart gives this Smart Fan Accessory added capabilities:
- Hands-off Operation: You can turn the Smart Fan on and off wirelessly from your computing device.
- Adjust the Thrust: Move the slider in the software and watch the fan respond.
- Reverse the Spin of the Fan: Input a negative thrust to make the fan blow in the opposite direction.
- Set Start and Stop Conditions: Choose to start the fan when a measurement (such as Position) reaches a certain value. Make the fan stop after a certain time so the cart coasts during part of the experiment.
- Sense and Control: Program the Smart Fan thrust to respond to a calculation based on sensor measurements, for example: Thrust = -100*[Position]
The fan includes a rotating platform that can be used to demonstrate the vector nature of force. Raised markings on the base indicate the angle of the fan with respect to the path of the cart. The base can rotate in 15 degree intervals, snapping between each position, making it easy to set the angle of the fan.
An included sail attaches to the cart where the fan can blow into the sail, demonstrating Newton’s Third Law by remaining stationary. When the concave side of the sail faces the fan, the air rebounds off the sail and moves the cart.
