Design Challenge: Baton

[Not2B]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Actually you've made the best start. Figure out what characteristics you want the machine to have first, then think about what it looks like or how it accomplishes the task. Because when you start comparing your concept list to the requirements list, a lot of concepts will drop out. They won't meet the requirement for one reason or another. Other concepts you might have to test first to figure out whether or not they will work

This is a hard discipline to learn, particularly for us creative types. We want to go out and build something right away. But it is better to think a little bit first.

No kidding. Getting the students to do this is, I think, one of the hardest things to mentor them on. It's takes some time to realize that your first idea is not always the best, and there ARE good, disiplined ways to select designs. Last year we had to withhold all materials and machine keys from the students until they completed a Pew Analysis of the game and possible robots... But I think they realized it was worth it....