DIY casting analyser (for computer students)

[darylallan]

Hi all

I teach high school computing and wanted some of my advanced students to program a sensor to detect acceleration over time using a cheap microprocessor.

See: “Advanced Functions”  https://microbit-challenges.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/accelerometer.html

If it is possible to track acceleration over time then it should be possible create a basic casting analyser attached to the end of a fly rod. I’d like to create a wireless version.

A student could compare a “good” caster against a “poor caster”.

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience using analysers? Aim isn’t for the students to create a resolved product but to evaluate some real world data and draw conclusions.

This is what I’d like the students to produce, this may be little advance for Year 9, but hey aim high 🙂

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_Casting_Analyzer

Attached is a really rough alpha test just holding the sensor in my hand and pretending to cast taking a sample every 50 milliseconds. A lot of dither.

Cheers
Daryl

 

 

 

 

[chf]

Hi darylallan ,

I have no experience with mechanical casting analysers such as your accelerometer microprocessor ( but have limited familiarity with some accelerometers in other settings ) .

Just a couple of thoughts , the accelerometer pictured looks awkward to put on the end of the rod , and its weight may influence casting action and acceleration . Consider that most tip tops weigh less than a gram , and can substantially influence a rods feel .Perhaps a mid rod mounting may give you significant data also ?

Perhaps worth looking at is an App recommended by FFI for casting practice called OnForm which has a specific analyser for Fly Casting ? It may also give you some information that your students can analyse and an easier setup .

You may also want to standardise Rod , Line , and Line length .

Hopefully some more expert casters and rod builders will chime in also !

All the best for what sounds like an interesting project .

[darylallan]

chf wrote:

Hi darylallan ,

I have no experience with mechanical casting analysers such as your accelerometer microprocessor ( but have limited familiarity with some accelerometers in other settings ) .

Just a couple of thoughts , the accelerometer pictured looks awkward to put on the end of the rod , and its weight may influence casting action and acceleration . Consider that most tip tops weigh less than a gram , and can substantially influence a rods feel .Perhaps a mid rod mounting may give you significant data also ?

Perhaps worth looking at is an App recommended by FFI for casting practice called OnForm which has a specific analyser for Fly Casting ? It may also give you some information that your students can analyse and an easier setup .

You may also want to standardise Rod , Line , and Line length .

Hopefully some more expert casters and rod builders will chime in also !

All the best for what sounds like an interesting project .

Thanks for your insights. Onform looks interesting I could see it being used in PE/Health classes. Good points about the experiment affecting performance. The aim isn’t for the students to create a resolved product but to evaluate some real world data and draw conclusions.

The BBC:MicroBit is very light and could be attached to a hand/glove instead of the rod. Also it’s what I currently have in my equipment cupboard. As for standardised high end casting performance it’s beyond the scope of the project, maybe at VCE (Physics / Systems Engineering).  At year 9 I want the students to recognise trends and patterns in data. For example recognise where a forward and back strokes occur. Compare one student to another. Draw some conclusions and make some recommendations. I’ll also be getting students to create walking step counters and wind sensors.

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