Prototyping and project management

9.1.1 Why is it important to build a prototype?

Mistakes in construction and assembly

• Mistakes are likely to occur when a product is constructed and assembled. It is critical to discover these during the development process so that the team can avoid these mistakes in the final product.

Design errors

• Errors can also appear in the initial design. This means that even if the product has been constructed and assembled correctly , it still might not meet the required specifications.

9.1.2 What are some tips for developing a prototype?

Plan realistic schedules

• Set aside sufficient time for testing and troubleshooting during the prototype stage.

• A realistic schedule must allocate enough time to every stage.

Delegate Task

• When working in a team , ensure that tasks are spread among the team members. This way , the work can be done more efficiently. It also allows each member to focus on his or her own task before coming together to build the prototype.

Check component and tool availability

• Designing the product , ensure that the components and tools are required to build are available.

Plan for changes

• Always remember that the initial design will change. As such , plan for extra space in the initial prototype, so that additional mechanical parts or electronic components can be mounted if necessary.

Indicate wire colour coding (wirings)

• Red for positive power supply

• Black for negative power supply