Reverse Engineering and Invention

THE REVERSE ENGINEERING AND INVENTION CATEGORY INVOLVES THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THINGS WORK TOGETHER IN EITHER A CREATIVE OR EVALUATIVE MANNER. REVERSE ENGINEERING IS TO TAKE SOMETHING APART AND ANALYZE ITS WORKINGS, WHILE INVENTION INVOLVES CREATING SOMETHING NEW. BOTH ASPECTS FOCUS ON A PRODUCT OR DEVICE THAT SOLVES A SPECIFIC PROBLEM OR NEED.

This category focuses on the exploration of problem solving in the physical world. Invention and Reverse Engineering are two faces of the same subject. In both cases the project creator must learn or define how something works. The category is specifically focused on physical devices and products.

PROJECT SCOPE

The projects in this category must describe what problem is being solved. They must also show how the project’s device solves the problem, and try to identify ways to improve the solution.

A Reverse Engineering project will have enough complexity to allow the student to gain an understanding of how something works, in detail, without being overwhelming.

An Invention project may be simpler than an equivalent Reverse Engineering project because the invention itself may be something simple that no one else has yet created.

PROJECT DISPLAY AND DESCRIPTION

A successful project display will include the following:

• A description of the use of the device, and the benefits associated.

• A complete ‘mock-up’, prototype, or construction of all or part of the device. If this is an invention this is the key physical portion of the project

• A disassembly of the completed device showing the components and/or subcomponents with a description of their purpose and how they work. If this is a reverse engineering project, this is the key physical portion, and these pieces are expected to be the centerpiece of the display. If an invention, this portion may consist of photographs, drawings, or textual descriptions of the components (and sub-components, if any) of the device.

• A description of the tools, methods, and sequences required in the construction or deconstruction.

• A definition of how to solve (or improve existing solutions to) the problem.

• Marketing material is often key in describing a product or device and its inclusion is appreciated and recognized.