1. Planning



Team Name: Group B  (Natalie Chew, Koh Jun Kai, Thurga Kalaichelvan Class: 3-06

1.1 ENGINEERING DESIGN    
DEEP DIVE VIDEOS

View the entire  “Deep Dive” episode by using the following links.
Please answer the following questions based on the videos and your understanding of the Engineering Design Process (EDP).

What was the problem the engineers at IDEO were asked to solve?

They were asked to completely redesign a shopping cart in just 5 days.


Name two constraints that they had to deal with.

5 days time limit
Cost of cart ( needs to be around the same as a normal one)


What were two of the major concerns/issues the teams discovered from their research?

Safety of children in the cart
Ease of use


IDEO uses several methods, processes and ideas to generate alternative solutions.  What two principles or approaches appealed to you the most? Why?

IDEO members went to ask and interview the users of the product for problems of the product and their views. This is much more efficient than experiencing the product yourself and finding out the problems on your own as you might be biased and others can see things that you don't know.

IDEO members were split into groups to focus on enhancing a particular feature of the cart. Then after all the groups have came up with their design, they took the best features of each design and made it into one shopping cart. This is one way to ensure that you can have all the necessary features without leaving out anything and having the best of everything.


How were the possible solutions prototyped and tested?

They were presented to a local supermarket and their staff to allow them to comment and judge.

Was there a redesign step in the IDEO project? What was the final outcome?

Yes, they redesigned the prototypes that were created from groups of the IDEO team. The final outcome was a cart that was much more different than other carts in every aspect. It was much better than normal carts as it has features that solved many of the problems normal carts faced.

1.2 Assignment of roles 

Project Manager - Natalie Chew

Drivetrain Engineer - Thurga Kalaichelvan

Wheel Engineer - Koh Jun Kai

Chassis Engineer - Koh Jun Kai

1.3 Brainstorming

Engineering Goals
Develop a MouseTrap Car with the following specifications: 
Uses only the MouseTrap provided as the only energy source 
Has a maximum length of 30 cm, width of 10 cm, and a height of 10 cm
Can travel a minimum distance of 5 meters carrying an egg (the egg will be provided by the teacher)
All time-lines have to be adhered  

LIST ANY KEY TERMS OR ISSUES THAT CAME UP DURING BRAINSTORMING.  This does not have to be neat or even organised. It gives you a way to keep track of any idea you may have had. Include separate notes, google sketches, etc. if you have them. (Attach separate sheets if needed)


1st Idea 

Car made of lego

2nd Idea 


Wooden
Car because
wood is sturdy





3rd Idea 





Styrofoam car with CD wheels. Styrofoam because it is light.





5.7 Bibliography

http://glench.com/make/car1.jpg
http://silver-fox.ca/mousetrapcar
http://www.scienceguy.org/Portals/0/UltraVideoGallery/BillKuhl/mousetrap/packingfoamCar.jpg

1.4 Decision Making Matrix 


Criteria 
W
e
i
g
h
t
S
i
z
e
Appearance 
Time to produce
Cost to produce 
Ease of use 
Availability of materials 
Environmental Impact 
S
a
f
e
t
y
Row 
Total 
Normalised 
Value 
Weight  

3
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
19
0.176
Size 
0

1
0
1
0
0
2
0
4
0.037
Appearance 
1
2

0
0
0
0
2
0
5
0.046
Time to produce 
1
3
3

3
3
2
3
1
19
0.176
Cost to produce
1
2
3
0

3
0
3
1
13
0.120
Ease of use 
1
3
3
0
0

2
3
1
13
0.120
Availability of materials 
0
3
3
1
3
1

3
1
15
0.139
Environmental Impact 
1
1
1
0
0
0
0

0
3
0.028
Safety 
0
3
3
2
2
2
2
3

17
0.157
Column Total
108
0.999


1.5 Design rationale and notes 

Wheels

Enough traction
Light weight
Easily attachable to the axle
The right diameter
Are made from styrofoam wheels as they have traction and is easy to attach to the axle. Styrofoam is very light as well.

Lever arm

Must not be too stiff nor too easy to bend
Right length and material
Must be sturdy, not easy to break
A long wooden rod that is able to bend a bit so it will not snap and it should not be too long or too short.

Chassis Material

Must be able to withstand the force of the mousetrap without breaking
Must be light as well
Size should be able to fit mousetrap and egg
Styrofoam as u can easily poke the axles through. It is cheap and is able to be easily cut. Or another alternative is cardboard as it is easily accessible and sturdier than styrofoam. 

Chassis Shape

Facilitates other parts easily
Easy to cut out
Rectangular. Easier to fit the mousetrap on.

Location of Mousetrap

Easily used
Easy to attach
Above the chassis as it easier to put it there and it is easier to use when needed. It should be at the left or right depending on where the lever arm is placed.

Axles

Must be able to hold the wheels to the chassis well
Wooden sticks. Accessible, cheap and sturdy.

String type and attachment

The right size and friction
easy to find
Fishing Line as it is has the right friction and width.


1.6 Materials used 

Material 
Where is it used?
Reason?
Cardboard 


As the body of the car.
It is cheap, easily accessible, light and firm enough to withstand the force of the mousetrap.
Styrofoam


Used as the wheels
The right amount of friction, light weight as it is easy to attach to the axle.
Wood


Used as the axle and lever arm
It is very sturdy and will not easily break.
Fishing Line


Used as the string to tie the mousetrap to the axle to make the mousetrap car move
The width is not too big and it has the right amount of friction.
Metal


Mousetrap
-
Duct tape 


The tape things together
Very strong tape that will not come off easily
Rubber band


On the axles besides the wheels.
It has a lot of friction and it can prevent the wheels from moving around on the axle.





1.7 Preliminary Sketch (Using Google Sketchup) 




We used pencil and paper to sketch our rough design






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