Structuring Search for Solution

Structuring the search for Solution:

1. Design each task in a problem-solving effort so that it is most fruitful and provides the most information or guidance

2. Use various attributes of the final solution state to guide earlier decisions made along the solution path

3. Define design goals and design specifications

4. Eliminate paths that do not satisfy the desired design goals and/or specifications

CONTEXT:

Subdividing the problem in design goals

• General design goals

  • Safety

  • Environmental protection

  • Public acceptance

  • Reliability

  • Performance

  • Ease of operation or operating conditions

  • Durability

  • Use of standard parts

  • Minimum cost

  • Minimum maintenance and ease of maintenance

• Specific design goals

• Continuously re-evaluating the goal list

Working Within Quantitative Constraints: Design Specifications

• Identify the constraints or specifications (specs) associated with each design goal

• Specs may be of several different types

• Physical

• Functional or operational

• Environmental

• Economic

• Legal

• Human factors/ergonomics

Ergonomic constraint in Design

• Human factors engineering or ergonomics focuses on the variations that exist among different human populations and the effect of these variations on product design decisions

• User characteristics that may be important to the success of an engineering design

• Visual acuity

• Hearing discrimination

• Hand-eye coordination

• Reaction time

• Sensitivity to temperature, dust, and humidity

• Reading skills

Developing human-machine interface

Identify the expected interactions between the user and the product during its operation

• Identify the operations that will require monitoring or control by the user

  • Recognize the limitations of the expected users in performing such tasks

• Evaluate the expected environment in which the product will be used

  • Consider factors such as intensity of light, availability of space, background noise, temperature range, dust levels, humidity values, and vibration levels

• Identify those operations that can be automated or made easier to perform manually

  • Consider the amount of training and experience required by the user to perform the task properly

Point 1

1. Safety

   1. The most advanced knowledge to know at the minimum is running one’s own pool system in their own property. This product’s job is to monitor the water condition of the pool, report it to a database for the user to search and then distribute chemicals if needed. That would mean our system would be mostly non-invasive on the water pumping and filtration of the pool but instead be added in between some of the pipes or in the pool itself.

   2. In order to do this, much of this product will have its electronics in a durable plastic housing to prevent any malfunctions from occurring during its operation.

   3. The system to add chemicals would also be made of rust resistant metals to reduce any contamination of the water as certain chemicals may degrade certain plastics over time as well as the local area’s own weather degrading the exterior.

2. Environmental protection

   1. The product’s only threat to the environment is during its construction where certain plastics may be used for housing and during its use, the pool chemicals that will be released into the water. Under ideal conditions, these chemicals should not contaminate the environment any more than adding pool chemicals manually.

   2. The holding area for all the chemicals will be made weather resistant materials(rust resistant metals or tough plastic/silicone containers) and will be tightly sealed to prevent any water from entering to prevent any toxic conditions.

3. Public acceptance

   1. There are many homeowners that have private pools in their properties. The hassle of operating our Pool monitor and chemical distribution will not be more complicated than using the filtration system and pumping system required to run the pool itself. Not only will homeowners be able to check their pools conveniently but they are able add needed chemicals remotely.

   2. It will be marketed as a convenient easy to use system that will make pool management a breeze for homeowners. The product can save time and money as it can report the levels of each chemical in the pool or alert users if there is a problem.

4. Reliability

   1. Due to the resilient build the exterior of the monitoring system has to be to weather the outdoors for long periods of time, the product should consistently operate at its intended abilities for the lifetime. However it is understood that due to the conditions of the pool and the weather that problems may arise.

   2. In solution to this problem, the product will be able to have many of its parts replaceable in the event of it malfunctioning outside its main operating system.

5. Ease of operation or operating conditions

   1. Besides adding the system into the pool and connecting it to an electrical line, the majority of operating the system is by an application connected to the device. Apart from adding chemicals every so often, the monitoring and distribution system can operate until the end of its life time or an unexpected problem arises.

6. Durability

   1. The exterior housing and parts connected to the pool’s water supply should be durable enough to withstand a few years or the lifetime of the pump system at least.

7. Use of standard parts

   1. The mount of the system will use the same standard pipe parts of the pool’s pump.

8. Minimum cost

   1. The minimum cost for this product will require some money and investment due to the weather resistant parts used to ensure the product’s longevity. Combine that with the convenience of our product and it gives some premium leeway in terms of pricing.

9. Minimum maintenance and ease of maintenance

   1. Cost would be low as are ease of maintenance due to the standard pool pipes used in conjunction with the rest of the electronic housing.

   2. Part will be sold separately to ensure that even if the product does break down, it would not need a specialized part or have to be entirely replaced.

Point 2

1. Physical

   1. Small, light and easily adaptable to the existing pool system. Will be have weather resistant outer housing(Plastic or PVC) for the electronics while also the sensor made of rust resistant metal.

2. Functional or operational

   1. This product is functional to the overall system of the pool as it is not depended on by any other functions and can be manually overridden if needed.

   2. In terms of the project itself, the sensors are all operational to each other and each one is required in order for the entire product to function.

3. Environmental

   1. Material of the pool sensor will be weather resistant preventing any of it from corroding easily and ending up in the water supply. Its placement outside will not affect the environment to a significant extent.

   2. For construction, its use of standard pool piping(typically PVC) will be a source of environmental contamination due to the construction process of plastics and its subsequent degrading resistance past its useful lifespan.

4. Economic

   1. Small, easy to produce and made of standardized parts should help to move products to the general consumer alongside an aggressive marketing campaign.