Capstone- Step 2

Design Step 2 

Phase 2 of our Capstone Design Project was primarily focused on generating and analyzing alternative concepts to our design. During this time we made alternative design concept sketches, alternative ideas concept sketches, functional decomposition reports, and classification schemes; all leading up to Design Milestone 2: Generation of 3 Alternative Designs. Below I have attached my groups work done during this phase of the Capstone Project. 

3 Design possibilities- Conceptual sketches and Drawings

Project Exhibition Night Station

3D Printed Funnel- Model Made on Onshape

Content

Desalination: the process by which the dissolved mineral salts in water are removed.

Filter: A water filter removes impurities by lowering contamination of water using a fine physical barrier, a chemical process, or a biological process.

Prototype: A first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied. 

Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

3D printer: A machine allowing the creation of a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of a material in succession. We used a 3D printer to construct our funnel. 

Survey: A general view, examination, or description of someone or something. We surveyed fellow students to get insight on what they would like to see in our device. We plan on making more surveys and gathering more data from a broader group of people. 

Mentor: An experienced and trusted adviser.

Demand: An insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right. We have created and continue to update our demands and wishes list. 

Wish: Feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable. 

Functionality: The quality of being suited to serve a purpose well; practicality.  

Reflection

The Capstone Design Step 2 went well for my group and I. It took us a bit of time to come up with alternative ideas, but once we came up with new ideas we were able to be very productive and explore new possibilities. Two areas we excelled in were Communication and Critical Thinking. We demonstrated great communication by listening to everyone's ideas/ concerns, and using evidence to support all of our claims. We also demonstrated critical thinking by using research and evidence to guide our decision making, and coming up with multiple ways to solve our problems. 

Two areas that we could have done better on were Character and Conscientious Learning. While we improved a lot from Capstone Design Step 1, we still have room to grow in these areas in future phases of the project. We can always improve our character by being more respectful to each other. Sometimes people's judgement on certain ideas would hold us back from following through with the idea, causing us to have to restart. In the future respecting everyone's ideas and giving everyone equal opportunities could help us move along faster. We also improved our conscientious learning from the last phase, but we can always improve in this area. We focused on putting a cap on the amount of time used to brainstorm, and had more time to work on other projects. We really utilized our Gannt Chart this phase, and sticking to the deadlines we set for ourselves greatly improved our productivity. I am excited to continue this project and can't wait to see our project come together.