Engineering Design Process Developed by: Greg Strimel for the Maryland State Department of Education Office of STEM initiatives Planning Guide

What problem are we solving? DEFINE A PROBLEM Most Problems are ill-defined, so the first step is to create a concise problem statement to guide the process of creating a viable solution What is the problem that you are trying to solve? Why is it a problem?, who does it effect?, when does it occur? When does it happen? A problem statement does not imply a solution Example Problem Statement: While participating in athletic events on turf fields during hot weather, cleats tend to absorb the heat which makes feet burn and uncomfortable. Example Design Brief: Create a product or process to decrease the temperature in feet while playing on turf during hot weather. What problem are we solving?

Brainstorming Hot Turf Now that you have a problem defined, you can start brainstorming ideas to research for solutions Mind-Mapping is a great technique for coming up with as many ideas related to your problem. Work towards quantity Never criticize anyone’s idea Encourage Wild Ideas Hot Turf Shoe Field Heat Diffusion

Research & Generate Ideas Use the items from your Mind-Map to begin your research. What have others done? What do you need to know? science, math concepts Look on-line As you look at what others have done – do you have any more ideas? Cite your sources! Google is not a source! It is a search engine.

IDENTIFY CRITERIA & CONTRAINTS Now that you know the Problem and some information, it is time to look at what the requirements are. Criteria are the the things that your solution must do Constraints are the limitations that are applied to your design This will include what resources are needed: People, Time, Materials, Tools, Capitol, Energy, and Knowledge

Explore Possibilities Review the Problem Statement Review your brainstorming Review your research. Review the criteria & constraints Create at least three sketches of possible solutions to your problem. These sketches should include annotations

Explore Possibilities Review the Problem Statement Review your brainstorming Review your research. Review the criteria & constraints Create at least three sketches of possible solutions to your problem. These sketches should include annotations

Select an Approach Use a Decision Matrix to determine which of your possible solution ideas meet the criteria and constraints the best. This is a Table Criteria along the top Possible solutions along the left side Use your ideas to complete this table. Idea Total 1 2 3

Select an Approach 1 2 3 Idea Total Performance Durability Comfort Competitive Cost Safe Materials Light weight Total 1 2 3 Analyze each idea based on the criteria 1 = it is a stretch 0 = does not meet the criteria 4 = meets it perfectly YES = 1 3 = is close but not perfect NO = 0 2 = just a little bit Total up the results.

Select an Approach 1 2 1 2 3 This is a sample of how it should work Idea Performance Durability Comfort Competitive Cost Safe Materials Light weight Total 1 4 3 Yes =1 Yes= 1 2 Yes = 1 No =0 Idea Performance Durability Comfort Competitive Cost Safe Materials Light weight Total 1 2 3 Analyze each idea based on the criteria 4 = meets it perfectly 3 = is close but not perfect 2 = just a little bit 1 = it is a stretch to say it comes close 0 = does not meet the criteria YES = 1 NO = 0 Total up the results. This is a sample of how it should work In the event of a tie – give weight to the “more important” criteria

Select an Approach 1 16 2 15 13 Explanatory Writing Idea Performance Durability Comfort Competitive Cost Safe Materials Light weight Total 1 4 3 Yes =1 Yes= 1 16 2 Yes = 1 15 No =0 13 Explanatory Writing Create an explanation on why the selected design is the best solution to the problem. This explanatory writing must be based on logic, facts, and data. Your explanation must be well written and make use of the references from your research

Develop a design proposal You will need to create a Multi-view drawing of your best solution. Make sure that you include dimensions and other important information. Some solutions may be complex and need many drawings to build from. What you design here is what you will build and ultimately test.

Make a model or prototype Once you have made your proposal for a solution based off of your research, you can begin to build a model or prototype to test. Model: A visual, mathematical, or three-dimensional representation in detail of an object or design, often smaller than the original. A model is often used to test ideas, make changes to a design, and to learn more about what would happen to a similar, real object. Prototype: A full-scale working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and necessary adjustments. DON’T FORGET TO TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS

Test & Evaluate You will need to create a test for your solution. Some projects may be destroyed after testing, so you might want to come up with non-destructive tests. Create a table to record your test results.

REDESIGN As you test your solution, you will make changes based on the results of the test. Take pictures or videos of these changes.

Create It This is your final solution to the design. Take a picture of the final solution. Video testing the final solution

Communicate Results An engineer must be able to communicate his or her work. You can be the most brilliant engineer but if you can successfully communicate your ideas with others, then your ideas are useless. Create an argument on why your design is the best solution to the problem or why it is not. This argument must be based on logic, facts, and data. A valid argument also provides the facts and data for the opposing argument. Your argument must be well written and make use of the references from your research and testing results.

Evaluate Your process