JVN: The Engineering Design Process & Competition Robotics

[Collin Fultz]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

OK, but what is the elevator riddle?

Residents of a high rise apartment complex complained their elevators were too slow. The landlord hired three engineering firms to investigate.

Company 1 offered a solution costing millions to speed up the elevator.

Company 2 offered a solution costing slightly less to also speed up the elevator.

Company 3 offered to install mirrors in the elevator, costing much less.

The problem wasn't the speed of the elevators, it was that the residents were bored on the elevator. Mirrors gave them something to do (fix ties, comb hair...)

Sometimes the real problem isn't readily apparent.

Or...something like that.