Reverse Engineering

About: Coming out of the take it apart project, we took one of the objects that our group member had, and deconstructed it even more. We learned how to best manage our time for a big project like this. We did this by dividing out work, and creating a gantt chart. We had many different steps required when completing the project. The main sections though, included deconstruction, research, and redesign. Based on our research, which was evenly divided amongst each team member, we used our new knowledge to determine the best ways to redesign the object. We then had to put all this knowledge into one spot through our project report, followed by a presentation, hoping to sell our redesign.

Steps Given For the Project

STEP 1: Identify the purpose:

Why was your product invented?

STEP 2: Develop a Hypothesis

Create an unproven answer to a question. What do you predict will come from this redesign?

STEP 3: Disassembly

Thoroughly deconstruct your object, sketch in depth blueprints of different parts of it.

STEP 4: Analyze the Elements

Research all 4 aspects
- - - Functional analysis: How does this object work?
    - Structural analysis: How does each part of the object work to form the whole it. What is the importance of each part?
    - Material analysis: What is each material type used-- where and why?
    - Manufacturing analysis: How was the product made, include separate pieces of the object.

STEP 5: Prepare the report

In the report stage of the reverse engineering process, you will present your findings.

This is a way of putting all your research, and every part of the other steps in one spot. It should include hypothesis, blueprints, assigned research, as well as further research, and plans for the redesign.

STEP 6: Product redesign

Plan a redesign that could further improve your object based on research.

Gantt Chart:

Online Gantt 20250910.pdf

Copy of Take it Apart! Redesign Report

Copy of Senior Engineering Redesign

Redesign:

We decided the three key points of our redesign would be instant blootooth connection, a vertical shape, and additional hotkeys. Our main goal was increase comfortability and ease. If we know that th emain reason for the creation of a computer mouse is to further ease the control of a computer, and to limit the use of a computer control pad, then it only makes sense if we worked to improve that even more.

My Research & Notes:

Scanned Sep 23, 2025 at 3:20:15 PM.pdf

Reflection: I think I had good time management, assuring everything got done and our steps played out how we planned them. This was very important, given we had many different parts of the project to get done in a given amount of time. The gantt chart and planning prior to getting to far into the project definitely helped with this. I also think I had good leadership throughout the project. I managed the project well, and made sure all the aspects got done. I did this by ensuring everyone did their part in the project and tried to communicate what needed to get done.

An improvement I could make, given my experience with the project could be creativity. I had trouble figuring out ways to improve the product, and relied heavily on my partner's ideas for that. In the end I think we did accomplish the improvement on ease from our particular mouse, that being said they are things that likely do exist in other forms. With better creativity and thoguht, we could've invented something completely new.

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