Prior to starting the Reverse Engineering project, we did the Break Apart challenge. For that challenge we picked objects that we were to thoroughly analyze. In the reverse engineering project, we were supposed to pick one object of our groups' and reverse engineer it. The steps we did to reverse engineer were:

We ended up reverse engineering an old AC adapter for a printer. We created a write up and a presentation for our findings and innovation.

Reverse Engineering - A strategy used to find answers to questions about an existing product that are used in the design of another product.

Invention - Design work that results in something unique or novel

Innovation - Process of improving or modifying an existing product

Engineering Ethics -

1. Do what you say you will do.

2. Never divulge information given to you in confidence

3. Accept responsibility for your mistakes

4. Never become involved in a lie

5. Never accept gifts that compromise your ability to perform in the best interests of your organization.

Design Process - An iterative or repeating decision-making process that results in a plan to produce a new product. A problem-solving strategy with criteria and constraint used to develop many possible solutions, to solve a problem or satisfy human needs and wants and to narrow down possible solutions. The goal of the design process is also to minimize undesired effects and control risk.

Problem Solving - The process of understanding a problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the effectiveness of the plan to solve a problem or meet a need or want.

Constraints - Engineers design under constraints.This means that there have limits on the time, money and resources allowed to do their work.

Technology -

The process of design, that is, solving problems with criteria and constraints.

The product, system or environment that results from the design.

The new understanding or knowledge gained through the design and production of a product.

Team - A group with a common purpose that achieve a specific goal using each individual's skills and mutual cooperation to produce the end product.

Synergy - Results when the unit or team becomes stronger than the sum of the individual members.

Norms - Principles of right action. They are binding upon the members of a group and serve to guide, control, or regulate proper and acceptable behavior.

Values - Guiding principles or ideals.

Consensus - Agreement in opinion; collective opinion.

Overall, this process was extremely successful in furthering our understanding of the simple power adapter. Through our research of the individual components, we were able to redesign the product to be universal and maximize its functionality.

However, as with every task, there were also some challenges to overcome. Due to the complexity of our object, it had a lot of smaller components that were hidden and difficult to break apart. We wanted to be able to get the full picture of our object to completely understand structural and functional interactions within the power adapter. To achieve this, we had to use a soldering iron to carefully separate the various wires and coils. Another challenge was our time constraint. Since it took longer than anticipated to complete the teardown process, we had less than our ideal amount of time to complete the rest of the steps. It was alright because it required our team to work together and divide the tasks up so that everyone was held accountable for their contribution.

If required to do this project again, it would be imperative that we allow more time for the disassembly and research process to get a clear understanding of our object before writing up the report. This would also allow us to dedicate more time to the design process and make progress beyond just the initial idea. All in all, our group managed to accomplish everything we set out to do and we now have a deeper understanding of all the parts that make a power adapter work.