Capstone Design Step 2

The premise of the entire second semester is to demonstrate our advanced understanding of the engineering and design process through our Capstone Project. We are being tasked with producing, and promoting, a product or service and to develop this idea through the eight steps of the design process. We have just complete the second step of the design process, generation of alternative concepts.

Content

We has already determined the problem we wanted to resolve, homelessness in our town. However in order to properly determine how to best assist them we needed to create classification schemes and blueprints.

Classification Scheme

In order to determine what products would be best for our structure, we created a classification scheme detailing many possible substitutes that perform similar functions.

MiZauni Reese - Classification Scheme - first take

Copy of MiZauni Reese - Classification Scheme

Further Research

After researching costs and efficiency of all the products we decided on a house with a wooden build and a slanted flat roof. The home will have a single twin bed with storage underneath, as well as a window.

Design Possibilities

Lastly, to solidify our design, we created three similar, but unique, blueprints in order to provide our mentors with visuals when helping us decide which design would be the most accomodating. Each design features a 100sq ft design with a bed(s) and some floor space.

MiZauni Reese - 3 Design possibilities- Conceptual sketches and Drawings

Reflection

As we finally enter our Capstone project, I am truly beginning to feel like an engineer. All of our assignments have relevance to our project and my group and I are becoming more productive. We are now better able to work on our assignments productively and complete them timely because it feels essential to our understanding of engineering. The work is also now more enjoyable because it feels as though we are working to complete something rather than to just do work. We as a group are now motivated, rather than just one member, so now everyone contributes somewhat to the assignments.

As for the content itself, it gives me a feeling of gratitude to know that not only am I helping homeless people, but I am taking their thoughts and feelings into consideration. It is all too important to be empathetic to the homeless and although a home in general is better than no home, it is still essential to take into account their needs in order to promote self betterment. These people must not only feel welcome, but safe in our community in order for our potential rehabilitation and therapy services to provide any real benefit. The more research we do regarding how best to help homeless people, the more tangible our idea becomes and it is a feeling of great satisfaction to help those who do not necessarily have the means to help themselves. Our only concern now is funding because in reality this will most likely be about a $10,000 project to build one home.