Week 4 Flashcards
Engineering Design Process
- Define the problem
- Formulate Solution
- Develop and test models and prototypes
- Implement and present the design
Problem —- Diverge:
Formulate Alternate Soltutions
Converge —- Solution:
Assess alternate solutions
How do we assess solutions?
Decision matrix
Decision Tree
What is a decision matrix?
- Method to systematically compare alternate solutions
- Relies on criteria defined in the problem definition stage
- Allows you to assign higher weight to criteria that are more important
Step 1 of decision matrix
Identify alternatives (divergent thinking)
Step 2 of decision matrix
Define selection criteria
Step 3 of decision matrix
Assign weighs to criteria
Step 4 of decision matrix
Design scoring system (ensure member understand of what low, medium, or high score represents)
Step 5 of decision matrix
Score the alternatives (assign a score for each criterion, multiply each score by the weight factor)
Step 6 of decision matrix
Total the scores
Steps of the decision matrix:
- Identify Alternatives
- Define Selection Criteria
- Assign weights to criteria
- Design Scoring System
- Score the alternatives
- Total the Scores
Systematic, Efficient, Unifying are benefits of a
Decision matrix
Subjective, non-comprehensive are limitations of a
decision matrix
Decision Tree is a
- Flow chart showing consequences of decision
- Includes decisions and chance events
- Easily compare outcomes
- Analyze alternative options
Visual, Efficient and Flexible are benefits of a
Decision Tree
Complex (can add to many decisions), risk (neglect possible outcomes) are limitations of a
decision tree
Phases of Developing Models
- Sketches
- Virtual model
- Early Prototype
- Final Design
Phases of Testing
- Trail and Error
- Experiment
- Verification (meets objectives)
- Validation (fulfils intended purpose, test under realistic conditions)
Developing and testing models is NOT linear
True, you are iterating through models and tests to refine design
Reflection after design
- What did I learn?
- What worked?
- What didn’t work?
- What was hard?
