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Session 26: Field Test Day

Racquet Ball Launcher Project — Milestone 5 of 6

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Session 26

Field Test Day

Today Is the Real Test

Not a lab day. Not a practice run.

Your calibration model gets tested for real, under pressure, with no do-overs.

How It Works

  1. You receive 1 target distance at a time — 3 total
  2. Using only your model, choose your settings
  3. Attempt the launch
  4. Repeat for targets 2 and 3

Margin of Error

± 3 yards — the same number you calibrated against back at the Session 15–16 kickoff.

This has not changed.

What's Being Measured

Not your farthest throw.

What's Being Measured

Predictive accuracy — can you hit an unknown target using only data you already collected?

If You Miss

A miss is not the end of your grade.

How you explain it, next session, is worth just as much as hitting the target.

Before Your Attempt

  • Know your usable range from Sessions 21–25
  • Bring your calibration curve/model with you
  • Agree as a team on your settings before you commit

Safety Reminder

Bungee-cord protocols from Sessions 15–16 still apply on the field, not just in the makerspace.

After Your 3 Attempts

Record your results — target, settings chosen, actual landing distance, hit or miss.

You'll need this for Session 27.

Next Up

Session 27: Reflect & Defend

Explain your variable, your model, and your results — misses included.

'F' → Fullscreen

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Build

There's no build task today — today's "build" is the field test itself.

Your Recording Sheet

Target #Target DistanceSettings ChosenActual Landing DistanceHit / Miss
1
2
3

Fill this in immediately after each attempt, not from memory later — you'll need accurate numbers, not impressions, for Session 27.

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Checkpoint

Before you leave the field, confirm:

  • All 3 attempts are recorded, including any misses
  • The settings you actually used are written down, not just the target and result
  • Bungee safety protocols were followed on every attempt, not just the first
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Reflection

Answer the following questions before submitting your work.

  1. How many of your 3 targets did you hit within margin? Were you surprised by any single result, in either direction?
  2. For any miss, what's your first guess at the cause: a model limitation, wind or field conditions, inconsistent execution, or something else?
  3. Session 27 asks you to defend your results either way. Which of today's 3 attempts do you think you'll have the most to say about?
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Submit

Submit your recording sheet and your reflection.

Milestone Complete