Engineering Design Loop

A specific and iterative set of steps that engineers use to evaluate and refine potential solutions, select the most promising solution, construct a prototype, test and evaluate the prototype, communicate the design, and redesign.

Engineering Design Loop Iterative- characterized by or involving repetition. The steps of the design loop are iterative (not rigid or linear). During the process, you may go back and forth among the steps and may not always follow them in order. For example, you may skip ahead to test a proof or concept or go backwards to learn more about the essential problem.

STEP 1: Identifying A Need Design process begins with an engineer recognizing a need for a solution rather than just coming up with an idea or gathering information on an existing product.

Identifying A Need Instead of asking, – “What do we want to design?” Engineers ask, – “Why do we want to design that?” – “What problem and/or need will our design ultimately be solving?” During this part of the design loop, engineers have to identify the target population.

Target Population An identified population, clients, or subjects intended to be served by a particular program. A group that will benefit from our project

Target Population Ask the following questions: – Is the target population one individual? A group of individuals? A specific community? Or a larger population? – Is the target population from a specific location? – Demographic (age/gender) – Other identifying characteristics (health condition or employment) – How is target population connected?

Requirements & Constraints Constraint is a restriction on the degree of freedom one has in providing a solution to a problem /challenge/need. Requirement is a need or a necessity – What a particular product or service should do While understanding the project need and the target population, you will identify the requirements and constraints of the project.

Example of Requirements & Constraints You are asked to design shoes for children in an impoverished area at a cost of less than $20. After going through the design process, you determine that the only way to fulfill the need is to use recycled materials. The requirement is shoes for children. The low cost is the constraint and the use of recycled materials is the solution.

Step 1: Identify the Need Developing a project definition relates the project’s problem/need to our personal lives. You want to design something that would help you if you were experiencing the same problem/need of your target population. While we are building the mousetrap car, our need is not necessarily a problem in our personal lives. We are developing a better understanding of physics.