JVN: The Engineering Design Process & Competition Robotics

[Andrew Schreiber]

Thank you John, the design process is something our students missed out on this year. I am hoping to rectify this mistake over the summer. I am very glad I do not have to start from scratch...

[JesseK]

“At some point in every design process there comes a time when it is necessary to shoot the engineer and just build the thing…”

So who said that?

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by JesseK

So who said that?

The computer science major who didn't want to be up until 6am the night before ship.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by JesseK

So who said that?

A friend who works for a Very Large Aircraft Manufacturer told me this one years ago as, "Eventually you have to shoot the engineers and build the airplane." I imagine that it dates back to the railroad industry in 1830...

[Justin Montois]

Thanks for posting this John, I wish I could have been there.

[AndyB]

This is seriously one of the better PP's i've seen in regards to the engineering process. Well done. Had a decent amount of comic relief as well. =)

Loved the quotes:

• "Steal from the best, invent the rest."
• "Documentation: Make sure you use the new TPS report cover sheet"
• "You don’t need to prototype everything, just the things you want to work."
• "This presentation will DEFINITELY help your performance this weekend… I’ve found that being well rested is important."

[DonRotolo]

OK, but what is the elevator riddle?

Great presentation, I can tell a lot wasn't visible but audible. Next year, I hope...

[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.

[Nawaid Ladak]

Originally Posted by Collin Fultz

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.

That actually very close to what i had written...

i think it was more like

"it's not the complaint that's the problem, it's the people complaining"

[Akash Rastogi]

A couple of us attended and it was pretty funny and useful.

I'd like to hear a few things or see a powerpoint of 234's design process that was mentioned so often.

Thanks for the great information JVN.

[rachakate]

John - what type of "rights reserved" would you like on this?

Use for your teams with credit given?