Reverse Engineering

Reverse Engineering!

For this project we built upon our last assignment by using the technique of reverse engineering to design a better object than the original one we took apart and analyzed. My group and I researched an original Roku remote as our starting object. We disassembled it, researched and analyzed every part, drew sketches, and wrote a ton about it and how it works. However, after doing all of that we then had to reverse engineer it to create an even better version of that object. We looked at the dynamic and function of the original Roku remote, and then we made revisions and researched our new ideas in order to make the new remote better than the Roku one.

To improve the original remote we decided to make it RF instead of Infrared. The Roku remote used an LED to send infrared signals to the TV, which meant it had to be pointed directly at the TV in order for it to work. We wanted to make our new one more accessible with a much larger range, that way you wouldn't have to be in the same room as the TV was to make the remote work. The only way to do that was by incorporating bluetooth/RF waves into the remote so that no LED or infrared light was needed. We researched a ton about how RF remotes work and decided to use the Amazon Fire Stick remote as inspiration behind our new design. We named our innovative and improved remote the Rambo Remote because we wanted to keep Roku in the name somehow since it would still be the exact remote, but we're also replacing the plastic casing with bamboo so that it's more environmentally friendly, so Rambo fits that perfectly. Keep reading to find out more about our Rambo Remote!

Content:

• reverse engineering- a strategy used to find answers to questions about an existing product that is used in the design of another product. 1. identify the purpose 2. develop a hypothesis 3. disassemble 4. analyze the elements 5. prepared the report 6. redesign

• gantt chart- a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. we used a gantt chart for this project that gave us a timeline of what we should do everyday to get our project done on time.

• invention- design work that results in something unique or novel. we came up with a new invention after reverse engineering our original Roku remote.

• innovation- process of improving or modifying an existing product. we innovated the old Roku remote to create a better remote.

• material analysis- what materials are used and what their properties are.

• structural analysis- how the different parts are connected together.

• functional analysis- what the function of the different parts are, how they work together, and what the underlying scientific principles are behind their functioning.

• manufacturing analysis- how the product was made from raw materials into finished goods.

• conceptual sketch- this sketch must have the elements and relationships involved in a problem and it has to show functional connections among the various parts. It is intended to help the engineer identify elements in a problem, see how groups of elements are connected together, and understand how those subsystems work together to create a working system.

• flow chart- like a conceptual sketch but in the form of a step by step diagram that shows the functions, steps, and movement of something.

• engineer drawing- a 3 dimensional object that is drawn on paper or a computer screen. The 5 common types of engineering drawings are isometric, axonometric, oblique, perspective, and orthographic.

• isometric drawing- a sketch where the 3 axes of the drawing form 120 degree angles with each other. Circles appear as ellipses in isometric drawings.

• perspective drawing- where objects appear the way the human eye would see them. Parallel lines converge to a single point at the horizon.

• orthographic drawing- where the object appears to be inside a "glass box" with each face projected onto a side of the box.

Reflection:

For this project, our main objective was to break apart an object, research/analyze all of its parts and systems, and then use the basis of the original object to create a new revised one. We used a Roku remote as the starting object and then after diving deeper into the makeup of it, we used the parts and idea of it to design a better remote that doesn't need to be pointed directly at the TV for it to work. I learned a ton about circuits, buttons, and LEDs while researching how a TV remote works, and then I learned even more about RF waves and bluetooth transmitters while researching how RF TV remotes work in order to create our new one. Throughout the few weeks we were given to work on this assignment, I excelled in a few categories, but can definitely improve my work in a few other categories.

My work ethic was very good during the weeks of breaking apart our object. I felt motivated, confident, and smart while completing all of the separate parts of the assignment. This might have been because it was only our second project we've had to do for Senior Engineering, so I tried my best to make a good name for myself. For instance, every day during school I worked adamantly on my sketches, research, report, and slideshow, and then when I got home I worked even more on the work. Another category I did well in was collaboration. My group and I collaborated on every part of this project and helped each other do different things. We communicated our ideas and thoughts and did everything well as a team. We also helped one another improve our sketches, research, report, and presentation.

However, one area where I could have been a bit better was time management. Although we completed everything on time, I wish we had managed our time better so that we didn't have to rush towards the end. I ended up having to do a ton of work at home because we were a bit behind. We made a gantt chart to track our project timeline and be organized, but we didn't follow it completely. Another area that could have gone better for me was my problem solving. We didn't have too many problems to solve, but when we had questions about our work or we messed up on something, we always asked other groups or the teacher what to do instead of critically thinking by ourselves and coming up with our own solution. Next project my group and I will be better about these two things and work to improve them. Overall this was a very fun and educational assignment!