Engineering Design Process Source:

Job Description of a Professional Design Engineer  1. Is open to new ideas and solutions.  2.Follows through on directions.  3.Makes connections and relationships.  4.Works as a team and listens to each other's ideas.  5.Completes work on time to a quality level.  6.Uses equipment appropriately.  7.Reflects and analyzes results.

What Do Engineers Design? Robotic Fish Surgery Robots Cardboard Furniture Self-Righting Buildings Vocal Joystick

Did you know? NASA employs ten engineers for every scientist. Nationwide there are four positions in engineering for every one in science.

What do NASA Engineers Design? Alternative Moon Rockets Solar Sails Dust Repelling Material Antenna Lightning Detectors

NASA Background Info. NASA is looking for safe landing sites on the moon. Once they find one, they need to design and build a spacecraft that can land there without injuring astronauts or damaging the spacecraft. Today you’ll make a lander—a spacecraft that can land safely when you drop it on the floor. As you test, you’ll find ways to make it work better. Improving a design based on testing is called the engineering design process.

Lunar Lander Challenge From the NASA/Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown Landing on the moon is tricky. First, since a spacecraft can go as fast as 18,000 miles per hour (29,000 km/hour) on its way to the moon, it needs to slow way down. Then it needs to land gently. That lander has astronauts inside, not crash-test dummies. Easy does it! We Challenge You To… …design and build a shock-absorbing system that will protect two “astronauts” when they land.

Science Concepts Potential and kinetic energy—When the lander hits the surface, its motion (kinetic) energy is changed into stored (potential) energy, which gets stored in the shock absorbers. Acceleration due to gravity—The lander accelerates (speeds up) as it falls due to the Moon’s gravitational pull. Air resistance—On the Moon, there is no air so there is no air resistance to slow the lander down. You must design a lander that does not rely on air resistance safely land on the moon.

Brainstorm and Design Think about how to build a spacecraft that can absorb the shock of a landing. What kind of shock absorber can you make from these materials that can help soften a landing? How will you make sure the lander doesn’t tip over as it falls through the air? (Materials per lander) 1 piece of cardboard 1 small paper cup 3 index cards 10 miniature marshmallows 3 rubber bands 8 plastic strws scissors tape 1 small paper cup 1 large paper clip $1,000,000 $2,050,000 1 index card 1 sheet of newsprint $7,300,000 $15,250,000 1 cotton ball$4,000,000 1 rubber band string $75,000 $10,000 per 1cm 1 plastic straw$275,000 Scissors$500,000 per hour rental Tape$20,000 per 15cm Material Costs

Build 1. First, design a shock-absorbing system. Think springs and cushions. 2. Then, put your spacecraft together. Attach the shock absorbers to the cardboard platform. 3. Finally, add a cabin for the astronauts. Tape the cup to the platform. Put two astronauts (the large marbles) in it. Test, Evaluate, and Redesign Ready to test? Drop your lander from a height of 30 cm. If the “astronauts” bounce out, figure out ways to improve your design. Study any problems and redesign. For example, if your spacecraft: tips over as it falls through the air—Make sure it’s level when you release it. Check that the weight is evenly distributed. bounces the astronauts out of the cup—Add soft pads or change the number or position of the shock absorbers. Also, make the springs less springy so they don’t bounce the astronauts out.

Sample Design platform (cardboard) cabin (paper cup) spring (folded index card) Astronauts (Large Marbles)

Lunar Lander Design Process  Silently brainstorm in the section on side #1.  Each team member shares his/her design.  Discuss the pros and cons of each person’s suggestions.  Decide on team design. Draw this design in the section on side #2. Label all parts.  List the strengths of your team design. Think about presenting this to a board of directors or production manager.  Create a “shopping list” of supplies needed. One person gets supplies.  Next build the model; test; reflect and evaluate.  If time, redesign and retest.

Lunar Lander Debriefing  What forces affected your lander as it fell?  After testing, what changes did you make to your lander?  Engineers’ early ideas rarely work out perfectly. How does testing help them improve a design?  What did you learn from watching others test their landers?  The moon is covered in a thick layer of fine dust. How might this be an advantage? A disadvantage?

Writing and Engineering Design Engineers work with a team to “pitch” their design to a production manager or board of directors. Write a script to “sell” your design. Include the following.  The key features of the design.  The data results of the design.  The cost benefit of the design.  What previous designs were tested and why they were modified. Have your team decide who is going to share each part of your sales pitch. Present to the rest of the “company?