Design & Technology

Design & Technology Update – Year 9 All Systems Go (ASG)

This semester in Design and Technology, many of our Year 9 students have been taking part in All Systems Go: Future Engineers, a practical course that explores the science and technology behind movement, mechanics, and energy.

All Systems Go introduces students to STEM through themes like Bling!, Hover, Hoist, and Vroom! Each topic encourages students to explore engineering principles and use them in practical, creative projects. The course emphasises real-world problem-solving, with students designing and building solutions using a range of materials, tools, and technologies. Throughout, they gain useful skills in electronics, mechanics, structures, automotive, and solar systems.

Vroom! – Elastic Band Powered Car Project

This term, students have taken on a hands-on engineering challenge by designing and building an elastic band-powered car.

The project follows the Western Australian Design & Technology curriculum and has been structured around the key stages of the design process:

• Investigating: Students have so far explored energy systems, focusing on potential and kinetic energy, and on how elastic energy can be stored and transferred. They examined mechanical principles such as axle alignment, wheel diameter, friction and torque.
• Designing: Students have developed annotated design sketches, with a specific focus on isometric and oblique drawing techniques to accurately communicate their ideas.
• Producing: Students are following safe workshop practices when using hand tools and machines to build their vehicles carefully and accurately.
• Evaluating: Through structured testing sessions, students will measure performance in terms of distance, speed, and stability, analyse how design decisions influenced outcomes, and identify areas for refinement.

A key focus throughout the unit has been problem-solving, critical thinking and iterative design. Students are encouraged to prototype, test, and modify their vehicles to improve efficiency and performance, a practice reflective of real-world engineering.

Still to come is the exciting class testing session where cars will be put to the test, and students will compare results. So far, it has been great to see the diversity of design solutions and the pride students take in refining their work.

Looking Ahead

The Vroom! context will continue to build students’ understanding of automotive engineering and the science of motion. Students will further explore energy sources, including stored and electrical energy, and will further apply their knowledge to design and fabricate small, functional models.

All Systems Go provides students with practical experience in mechanical systems, energy transfer and applied engineering design. More importantly, it fosters resilience, creativity and analytical thinking, skills that extend far beyond the workshop.

Simon Entwistle, Head of Technologies