1. Beyond Brainstorming “What to do when your ideas fizzle?” For FLL and FIRST

2. Introductions K.K. Quah – Owner, Technology Learning Classes for Kids – involved in education of science and math in after school programs, summer camps, etc. – Mentor 1 year, FLL coach 3 years Mark Egbert – Owner, Excellerated Leaning – involved in education of computer technology, science and math

3. What We Will Talk About Discussion of some practical techniques for generating ideas/solutions besides brainstorming, anecdotes from FLL only Discussion for manipulators NOT robot Talk through problem solving process For LEGO® pieces, will use LDraw names Will have a demo area in front after session

4. Components of Each Mission Like the movie “From the Earth to the Moon” when NASA Flight Director said the basic things were Orbit, EVA, Rendezvous, Docking and Long Duration Flight In FLL missions, the basic components are – get the robot to the target area, – deploy the manipulator, – return robot to base (optional)

5. Make following assumptions about the Robot A C Robot has one motor Each side, A and C. Red areas can hold attachments Large Bicycle Wheels in back. Skid Wheels in front. Light sensor in front. (blue)

6. Typical Problem Solving Process 1. Get Mission/Objective 2. Generate Ideas & Plan Prototype 3. Build Initial Solution (Prototype) 4. Evaluate or Think of Improvements 5. Rebuild Better Solution 6. Repeat step 4 as necessary

7. Planning Prototypes (3 Ps) Path – must determine path to target Program – path will help determine the complexity of the programs used. Pieces – the type of approach, angle of approach will determine the kind of manipulator that must be designed.

8. Expectations to Keep in Mind The initial answer is usually NOT the best. There is always room for improvement. “The plan may be useless but planning is essential.” – Eisenhower “Art is a series of recoveries from the first drawn line.” “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice(3x). “How do you evaluate a model?” Observe(3x)…KK

9. Look at FLL Missions Starting solution does not have to be complicated. I encourage the simplest – a simple stick (extended axle) Use problem solving iteration to get to better solution. See details on Sample Species Mission.

10. Sample Species Mission - 1 Initial Solution Issue: Need larger contact with target Mission Tag gray fish without touching other fishes Contact Area

11. Sample Species Mission - 2 Second Solution Issue: Need softer contact with target. Hard contact makes it touch other fishes. Contact Area

12. Sample Species Mission - 3 Final Solution Flexible Tip makes softer contact. Contact Area

13. Another Point of View Compare the fishes from the side and you see the tail of the gray fish is 3 plates higher than the highest point in the green fish.

14. How do you Get the Next Idea Analysis of Past Solutions Brainstorming (Alex Osborn) Brainwriting (variation of brainstorming) Attribute Listing (Robert Platt Crawford) Morphological Analysis (Fritz Zwicky) Orthogonal Thinking

15. Path of Robot to Sling & Pipeline (more complex 2 mission combo) Pipeline Sling Backwards Forwards

16. Attribute Listing Listing all attributes or qualities of a problem or object. In this case, the robot and the manipulator will have different listings. Then systematically analyze each attribute or groups of attributes and attempt to change them in as many ways as possible. Here attributes are mostly physical BUT in real world problems, they might be social, psychological, etc.

17. Manipulator Attribute Listing (Prof. Robert Platt Crawford, U. of Nebraska) Dimensions – length, width, height (up/down) Weight – payload (up/down) Attachment point to Robot (right/left, front/back, top/bottom, at an angle) Sensor triggered (yes/no). Light/Touch. Impact with Target (hard/soft) Contact Place on Target (R/L, F/B, T/B, at what angle) Contact Region with Target (point, line, area)

18. Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 1 Initial Solution Issue: Front contact area too small.

19. Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 2 Second Solution Issue: Dolphin gets in the way of other missions

20. Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 3 Third Solution Issue: Sometimes does not come back at correct angle after hitting dolphin sling and wall. Dolphin Deflector (not required as Dolphin can be removed)

21. Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 4 Final Solution The axles help “square up” manipulator to wall.

22. Morphological Analysis (Fritz Zwicky) Uses matrix where items on horizontal axes are again physical attributes. Vertical axes are characteristics, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, etc. Force one set of characteristics against the other to create new ideas that can be used Not all will work BUT some will yield good results

23. Example Morphological Analysis adaptmodifysubstituteadd To yes /no reverseswitch side Length, width, height, weight Attachment pt to robot Sensor Triggers Attachment Impact with Target Path to Target

24. Orthogonal Thinking (mentioned in van Oech’s book) An approach borrowed from MBA business strategy class. Idea is to look at the opposite elements to a particular business to try to discover what the new business can become. E.g. vertical integration v. horizontal stratification Pull v. Push, Back v. Front, Inside v. Outside

25. Container and Cargo Mission - 1 Option 1 Pull from back

26. Container and Cargo Mission - 2 Option 2 Pull from inside front

27. Container and Cargo Mission - 3 Option 3 Pull from outside front (prevent grabber slipping off)

28. Close-up of Pawl and Ratchet Ratchet Gear Pawl (Bushing)

29. Generate Ideas using Analysis of Past Solutions (group) Brainstorming (group) Brainwriting (group) Attribute Listing Morphological Analysis Orthogonal Thinking

30. Sources and Links “A Whack on the side of the head” by Roger von Oech “101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques” by James M. Higgins