Next generation vinegar and baking soda rocket. Easily launched by a 10-year old. Watch video to see the problem with existing products.
Submitted by:
Heini Zachariassen
The Description
We’ve illustrated the major problem in this video:
http://youtu.be/EKIUzNXCfbE
Having to co-ordinate 2 pieces of rocket, fluid and being in a hurry makes it almost impossible for a kid to launch this rocket. Reviews online of this product confirm the claim that it is extremely hard to launch the rocket. However, when it launches, it is amazing and it proves that rocket that is propelled with vinegar and baking soda can launch far into the sky and is a lot of fun. So we have to fix this problem.
The Customer
The goal was to re-design the rocket, to make it easy to launch, but still keep it simple with not too many moving parts.
The new design has the baking soda and vinegar separated and these are mixed by the click of a button. See the full design under visuals.
The second image under visuals shows the simple 3 step refill and launch procedure. It should only take a minute to re-launch the rocket.
Dimensions: Rocket height around 8 inches (20 cm)
Material: Light weight materials to keep the weight as low as possible. The main body of the rocket should be transparent so that the launcher can see the vinegar and baking soda boil.
Vote for this product and you are officially a Rocket Scientist :)
Key Features
- Easy to launch
- Simple design
- Can really fly without any
Comments
Nice video!
Wow .. I spent hours as a kid trying to figure out jet propulsion in my 2 & 3-stage water rockets -- they would go up 8-10 stories (I lived in a high-rise building and had to ask my 8th floor neighbors to get my rocket). Then I was in Cub Scouts, learned about vinegar & baking soda when fire extinguishers were explained.
Now, your invention ... very cool.
I see a very simple 'tweak' in the amount of resistance/pressure available prior to 'launch' at the base of the rocket given the current design.
The base has to have some kind of 'locking' or 'resistance' mechanism that remains intact long enough so m-o-r-e pressure builds up to a stronger release/launch. Maybe a rubber washer or 2 on the launch base along with a narrower opening on the rocket itself??? Otherwise, you'll end up trying to compensate with more 'fuel' .. and Mom won't have any baking soda left for those weekend bake sales.
Nicely done.
Man I was watching the video and the suspense was killing me! I didn't know whether to expect flying body parts or a lunar landing :P
It looks like great fun for a 10yr old, and if you can perfect it to at least 90% efficiency you should have a hit.
It's a variation on an old theme and I think a lot of people will identify with it.
@Romanesco Thank you very much for the questions, really good questions.
This is a screw cap, just like a bottle of Coke. So if it is stuck, it is really stuck and no air comes out. If it isn't really stuck the air just goes out like when you shake coke bottle and open it. It won't jump up, it will just fizzle a lot and maybe some fluid comes out.
About the baking soda getting stuck, I think that could potentially be a problem and we have to address that. Firstly, we have to make sure that the angle is correct so that the baking soda can easily slide down to the lower section. Also, make sure that no water comes up to the top section on launch. This will keep it dry and will minimize the the likelyness of the baking soda getting stuck.
Could there be a problem with the baking soda getting stuck in the top (especially after the first launch when fluid may leak into the top section)?
How do we make the canister cap on top kid-proof enough that it must be properly & fully secured (such that it will not pop off & take out the kid's eye) before it operates?
Personally, I've only played with this http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Water-Rocket-Launcher-Fabricated/dp/B003JO8NX0 so it seems to me that something using consumables such as vinegar and baking soda is less appealing. The DIY aspect of my linked product is a drawback, but is good hands-on experience for a kid.
Thanks @Kristi and @Jake, yes it is all about having a great looking product at the right price. This could really sell at around $20-30. The relative simplicity of the design will also be very inexpensive to produce. We actually have a comment that says around $0.05 per part. There are proably around 10 parts, so around $0.50 in production cost.
Fun idea for kids.
great idea! remember,colors and price matters! good luck
@stazy, yes I was quite suprised when I saw it in action for the first time. It really works, but the problem it is just too hard to fire. We can solve this :)
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