Reverse Engineering: Calculator
- Evidence of Work
For this project, we were tasked with expanding upon our break it apart challenge by picking one of our objects we have broken apart and reverse engineering it. This means we find the functions and origins of every component such that we could create instructions on how to recreate the object. Our group picked a Staples four function calculator. Our first step was to completely disassemble the calculator and begin research into the functions of the components. One of our first steps in researching was to give a literal description of the component into google and hope that the part would show up. This worked with the ZEBRA strips, the chip on board, and the keyboard membrane. Some components we already knew their names from previous courses such as the LCD screen. Once we knew what was inside our calculator, it was time to figure out why each component was inside it. We researched the functions and figured out how each component worked with one another to make a fully functional system. We broke the functions down into components such as how the LCD screen takes data and displays it, how the buttons correlate to binary code that represents different numbers, and how the functions (+, -, x, /) work. Once we gathered all of this information, we organized it into a report of our findings and a more simplified and condensed version which we put on a google slides presentation.
Gantt Chart:
2. Content
Gantt Chart
A tool used by groups of people to organize work, their due date, and who is doing them. We used this tool to get a easy to comprehend time frame to esure all the work gets done in our group. This way we could tell when a task was in progress and who was doing it.
Reverse Engineering
The process scientists use to take a pre-existing object or product and trace each component to its source to examine how it functions. This can be used by the military to reverse engineer a plane if an enemy plane is recovered which goes to show the importance and power of it. We used this to analyze and understand the functions of a handheld calculator.
Reverse Engineering Process
We used this process throughout the project
Identify the Purpose
What do you want to learn about your product and what are the areas of research you want to focus on?
We had to correctly identify what a calculator's function was first in order to move onto the next step
Develop a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a statement that suggests a possible, unproven answer to a question.
We hypothesized that our calculator used binary code in order to preform its functions.
Disassemble
Tear-down: It's important to thoroughly document all parts, relationships and connections using conceptual sketches, labels and notes.
We disassembled each part carefully in order to make sure the calculator's inner electronics still functioned. We sketched what we saw and recorded how many of each part was in our object.
Analyze the Elements
Functional analysis (What is the function of the different parts, how do they work together, what are the underlying scientific principles behind their functioning?)
Structural analysis (How are the different parts connected together?)
Material analysis (What materials are used, what are their properties?)
Manufacturing analysis (How was the product made?)
We mainly focused on functional and material analysis since we found out what each part's function was with respect to the whole system as well as what the part was made of and its average cost.
Prepare the Report
Address the purpose of the reverse engineering inquiry and to revisit your hypothesis in your preparation for your report.
We made a google doc and a google slides to organize our thoughts and to document our process. This way anyone can see what we did and how we did it if they read our report thoroughly.
Redesign
Modifications and what can you do to make it a better product.
We proposed potential redesigns and provided details such as dimensions and cost as to how those would be carried out if we were to go through with designing them.
3. Reflection
Overall this project went very well since we were very organized. I felt as if the gantt chart was a fantastic tool to learn how to use since I was able to do the tasks I was assigned to and get them in time. It made the project feel like a group project since everyone needed to equally pull their weight in order to succeed. So that being said, time management was certainly one of our strengths this project. Another one of my strengths was being collaborative in my group. We were able to split the work up according to our own strengths which allowed each of us to put our best work forward since we were working in our areas of expertise.
However, there was definitely room for improvement in myself. I was unfocused during class time and I didn't have the greatest faith in my own work since I felt I wasn't putting in my greatest effort. I can certainly improve on being a better and more focused group member in class so that I can make the most out of our limited class time. I also feel like I could improve on my research skills since I felt as if I didn't dig deep enough to find the answers I was looking for. Especially when researching parts since that is an important skill I can see myself applying to my future capstone project.