2. What is the EDP? Engineering Design Process: o A specific and iterative set of steps that engineers use to evaluate & refine potential solutions to problems or challenges Iterative (It-er-a-tive): o Characterized by or involving repetition o EDP is iterative; during the process you may go back and forth among the steps and may not always follow them in order o For example, you may skip ahead to do research and then go back to define the problem

3. Step 1 – Define the Problem Problem Statement: o A paragraph that defines the need or problem you intend to solve Format for Writing a Problem Statement: o Written in paragraph form with (4) complete sentences o Answer the following questions in order to form the problem statement: 1)Name of solution you are designing/engineering? 2)Who has the problem or need? 3)What is the problem or need? 4)Why is it important to solve?

4. Step 1 – Define the Problem 1) Name of the Solution you are Designing/Engineering: o I am or we are designing/engineering a ______. 2) Who has the Problem or Need: o The ______ is for ______. o Target Population: o An identified population, clients or subjects intended to be served by the solution to the problem. o Can be Described by: o Age, gender, race, occupation, amateur/professional & many more. o Identifying a target population helps engineers more accurately define the problem and recognize requirements and constraints.

5. Step 1 – Define the Problem 3) What is the Problem or Need: o A ______ is needed to ______. 4) Why is it important to Solve: o It is important to solve because ______.

6. Requirements: o What a solution must do or meet in order to be accepted o Effective Requirements: o Must be needed; if not needed leave them out o Must be feasible; resources must be available to make it happen Step 1 – Define the Problem Constraints: o Restrictions on a solution o Examples: o Time o Money

7. Step 2 – Research the Problem o This step helps engineers determine if similar solutions or ideas currently exist Where do you start? o Sometimes it is hard to know what information we need to find before we have a solution o You do not want to just surf the internet ! How about an Outline! o Create a research outline to focus your research to and stay on task o Outline can be as simple as a bulleted list of topics you need to research

8. Step 2 – Research the Problem Need Help Thinking of what to Research? Similar Products or Existing Solutions: o What solutions fill a similar need? o What are the pro’s & con’s of solutions that fill a similar need? o What are the key must-have features of solutions that fill a similar need? o How can I measure my solutions improvement over existing designs? How it Works & How to Make it Work: o How does a __________ work? o What are the different parts of a __________? o What are the important characteristics of a __________? o How is performance measured for a _________? o Where does _________ get used? o What is __________ made of? o What are the best materials & components for building ________?

9. Step 3 – Develop Possible Solutions Brainstorming: o An activity with the purpose of generating a large number of potential solutions How to Brainstorm: o Time Limit: o Set a time limit to brainstorm ideas to your solution o Apple Pie: o Think of the ingredients or parts that make the pie; not the finished pie o 50% Sketching: o Quickly sketch ideas that come to mind o 50% Words: o Quickly write notes/description that go with your sketches

10. Step 3 – Develop Possible Solutions

11. Refinement of Brainstorming Ideas: o Put the ingredients or parts together to make the pie Go from this…To this…

12. Step 4 – Choose the Optimal Solution Decision Matrix: o A chart with your requirements and constraints on one axis and the different solutions on the other; it helps compare solutions Ratings: o 0 = Does not meet requirement or constraint o 1 = 50% meets the requirement or constraint o 2 = 100% meets the requirement or constraint

13. Step 5 – Construct a Model/Prototype Model: o Used to demonstrate different aspects such as size, shape or color of a solution before it is finalized Prototype: o Used to test or evaluate how a solution will work or function

14. Step 6 – Test & Evaluate o Explain expected results & make educated predictions o Apply scientific & mathematical principles to test & evaluate a prototype o Conduct target population test trials & interviews to receive feedback for improvements on the final solution

15. Step 7 – Refine the Solution o Step where process can become Iterative (It-er-a-tive) o Rethink and redesign to compensate for your engineering and design flaws. After you have figured out the strengths and weakness of your optimal solution, you can then go back to the beginning of the engineering design process to refine your solution.

16. Step 8 – Communicate the Final Solution o Communicating through language, both written and oral, is an important part. Your audience may be the general public, government officials, business leaders, or other engineers. Successful engineers must possess more than just technical skills; they need the ability to communicate and sell a solution to others o Engineers Communicate their Designs in Many Different Forms: o Technical Drawings o Graphs o Charts o PowerPoint Presentations o Models o Prototypes o Computer Generated Animations o Technical Reports o Patents