The "Architecture Project" - Human Centered Design in Action!

Goals:
Develop a design that meets the following Criteria and Constraints...

Criteria:
-Develop an architectural solution that solves a specific problem for a client. Your end result will be an architectural model of your design.
-Create 3 sketches to support your brainstorming effort.
-Create 2 digital prototypes of your design.
-Physically construct a prototype (model).
-Collect feedback from the client at each stage of your effort.

Constraints:
-Utilize a design process to solve this challenge:
----Define the Problem
----Brainstorm Solutions
----Digital Prototypes
----Physical Prototype
----Portfolio Report/Summary of experience
-All students on a team must meet with the client... this is "human centered" design after all!
-Clearly identify the design need being met.
-Use our "four quadrant feedback" technique with your client between each stage of the design process (Define the Problem, between Brainstorming and Digital Prototyping, between Digital Prototyping and Physical Prototyping, After completing your Physical Prototype). Your meetings can be breif, but please solicit feedback and incorporate it into your efforts. Record and list feedback at each stage and list any changes made based off of it.
-Label at least 3 key features on any sketches you produce.
-Use Inventor (CAD) on at least one of your digital prototypes. You may use Minecraft to quickly simulate the second digitial prototype.


Consider the following as you make progress on your effort:
-Can you utilize any of the "Design Modes" from the Stanford Design School's "Design Thinking" process? Read our post on the "Bootcamp Bootleg" for more info.
-Can you incorporate any of the architectural concepts that were highlighted by our "Top Ten Architects" lesson?


The following process may help you achieve compliance with the above design criteria/constraints...

Process:
Identify a client
Discover a design need (interview the client)
Brainstorm solutions
-Create 3 sketches of solutions.
-Call out 3 key features on each sketch.
Prototype 2 solutions with CAD software
-Consider 'A/B testing' a key design feature.
Recieve feedback from your client
-generate "+", "change", "ideas" and "questions" from both your client and your team.
Rework/Iterate on your design
-incorporate feedback into your design.
-call out features you changed based on specific feedback.
Build an architectural model that incorporates feedback
Present model for review
-generate another round of feedback.
Write up experience on your online portfolio
-Share client feedback at each stage of the effort. Communicate how feedback shaped your next effort in the design process.

"I Love It When A Plan Comes Together"...

... well, we hope this one comes together!

4th Period reminded me there was a Holiday Door Decoration contest and was enthusiastic to participate. So we took today to brainstorm/prototype some engineering based decoration solutions.

Having an impromptu contest pop up is the perfect way to engage our Creative Problem Solving minds and it was neat to see how effective the class was at developing concepts and informally collaborating:





The proof is in the pudding however so we'll see if we're able to get something organized. Judging is after lunch tomorrow so we don't have a lot of time!

Contests/Problems seem to bring the best out of our teams. My goal is to have all of our efforts revolve around team based problems/challenges and I am working to that end.

Machine Control Capstone Project: Build Achievements

We will implement an "Achivement" based system in evaluating the "product" portion of our Machine Control Capstone Project. The following is a breakout of the current achievements that are possible to earn. Team procucts will be ranked off of the number of achievements they earn:


Marble Sorting (some achievments scored multiple times):
Sort one marble (x1)
Sort two marbles (x1)
Sort three marbles (x1)
Sort four marbles (x1)
Sort four marbles (x2)
Sort five marbles (x1)
Sort five marbles (x2)
Sort five marbles (x3)


Marble Delivery (may use non-robo pro materials to create a "hopper" to drop marbles into for "Drop" achievements):
Drop marbles from 6" above machine
Drop marbles from 1' above machine
Drop marbles from 2' above machine


Systems (not including motor or piston used to charge your pressure vessel):
Use one piston
Use two pistons
Use pneumatics but less than three pistons
Use one motor

Machine Control: Project 3.1.7 Machine Control Design - Part I

Jackson implementing his machine control design


Period 2 Due Date: COB Thursday 2/17
Period 4 Due Date: TBA

Post the following to your blog as a deliverable for this class project:

-Title your post: Project 3.1.7 Machine Control Design - Part I

Overview
-Summarize the activity in a sentance (The "What?" and the "Why?").
-List your team members (The "Who?").
-Describe your team's effort:
--Who programmed the RoboPro software?
--Who built the hardware?
--Who prepared your images?
--Who was your MVP (who on your team made the greatest impact) and why?

-Explain which Problem you chose to tackle for this exercise

Product
-Sketches of two initial possible hardware solutions.
-Sketches of corresponding program flowcharts to control possible hardware solutions.
-Explanation of how the team iterated from these initial designs to their final product.
-Screenshot of final program with descriptions.
-Image of the final hardware solution.

Conclusion
Copy and paste the following conclusion questions into your post and answer them:

1. What was the most difficult part of the problem?

2. List and describe two features that were not part of the design problem that could be added to improve your design.