Design Step 3
Evidence of Work
In this stage of the project, we learned to ask and/or evaluate questions that challenge the premise(s) of an argument, the interpretation of a data set, or the suitability of a design, evaluate merits and limitations of different models of the same proposed tool, process, mechanism or system in order to select or revise a model that best fits the evidence or design criteria plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost, risk, time), and refine the design accordingly, consider limitations of data analysis (e.g., measurement error, sample selection) when analyzing and interpreting data, construct and revise an explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future, and design, evaluate, and/or refine a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and trade-off considerations.
Content
Minimize number of parts.
Minimize number of different Kinds of parts.
When possible buying parts (on the cheap!!!) is preferable to manufacturing them yourselves.
Seek a modular design (i.e a design where the different functions are physically isolated.)
Design for ease of manufacture.
Design for robustness.
Design for adjustability (thing can be tuned up on the fly to improve performance).
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a "cradle-to-grave" approach for assessing products, processes, industrial systems, and the like.
"Cradle-to-grave" begins with the gathering of raw materials from the earth to create the product, and ends at the point when all materials are returned to the earth.
LCA evaluates all stages of a product’s life from the perspective that they are interdependent, meaning that one operation leads to the next.
LCA enables the estimation of the cumulative environmental impacts resulting from all stages in the product life cycle and, as a result, allows selecting the path or process that is more environmentally friendly.
CA helps Design teams select the product, process, or technology that results in the least impact to the environment.
This information can be used with other factors, such as cost and performance data to find optimal solutions.
Reflection
For us, this was yet another successful phase in the engineering design cycle. In the middle of it however, I got COVID, and was not present for a week. We did try to maintain adequate Communication; my teammates called me to check in and fill me in every day. These daily calls also demonstrated the good Character of my teammates.
Daily calls notwithstanding, our ability to Collaborate still suffered, as I was not physically present to partake in discussions and workflow. Additionally, I did not demonstrate the best Conscientious Learner characteristics in my lack of work.