Xtreme Robot Olympiad The Design Process Dr. Peter Laz Associate Professor Department of Engineering University of Denver

Outline Design Process What makes a good design? Engineering Specification Objective Constraints Goals Example Exercises

Design Process Given a Request for Proposal (RFP) Formulate Engineering Specifications (ES) Brainstorm conceptual designs Evaluate conceptual designs Preliminary analysis and qualitative evaluations (plus/minus, feasibility) Select design concept Develop a final design Subsystem Design and Analysis Structural analysis, power consumption, programming memory Synthesize a prototype Component selection, fabrication, integration Test and evaluate

Who is interested in your product? Design Team Users/ Customers Management

What is a good design? A good design is one that satisfies its design requirements

Engineering Specifications Quantifiable description of a feature or measure Used to guide decisions in the design process Also referred to as Design Requirements Forms the basis of a contract Payment occurs when the product meets the requirements

Engineering Specifications Objective – statement of the purpose of the design Constraint – a target specification that is fixed or rigid Goal – a target specification that is desirable Softer than a constraint What are the consequences of failing to meet the goal?

Engineering Specifications Specifications must be quantitative whenever possible The design should look cool. Constraint The design must successfully perform the task. Goal The design should have a suspension.

Example 1.How is the ladder to be used? 2.How high should someone on the ladder be able to reach? 3.How much weight should a safe ladder support? 4.Should the ladder be portable? 5.How does one define safe? 6.How much should it cost? 7.Will the ladder be made of wood, aluminum or fiberglass? 8.How many steps are there on the ladder? 9.How are the steps attached to the frame? You are tasked with designing a safe ladder. What questions come to mind? What questions come to mind?

Common Specifications Performance/Function Ergonomics Size Weight Cost Manufacturing Usability

Ladder - Engineering Specification Objective: To design a ladder that … Contraints: The ladder must … Goals: The ladder should …

Qualitative +/- Studies Category Weight Design Alternative 1 Design Alternative 2 Design Alternative 3 Stability Weight Cost Manufacturing Total

Exercise Work within your groups to complete the exercise Gain design approval from a TA or Teacher Get your kit and begin construction

Exercise Develop an engineering specification for your soccer-bot Objective Constraints Goals Brainstorming for your soccer-bot Each team member should develop at least 3 conceptual designs Receive +3 points if you perform a +/- analysis

Design Modifications Has your team considered… the different driving modes? tank versus arcade lowering your center of gravity? Using truss members to create a strong structures? both offensive and defensive strategies?

Soccer Match 5 minute matches (double whistle) 90 sec Driver 1 15 secDriver switch 90 secDriver 2 15 secDriver switch 90 secDriver 3 Single whistle – foul (10 second penalty) Unsafe behavior Driving early or late