Inventions & Innovations Unit #7

Mrs. Mattson Carl Ben Eielson Middle School

ETP 2006—Tanya Mattson This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Unit #7 Prototyping

Information for this presentation was taken from the CATTS curriculum Unit #7 and Valley City State University Unit #7 readings, unless otherwise noted.

Technological Design

 Is a distinctive process with a number of defining characteristics:  It is purposeful  It is based on certain requirements  It is systematic  It is iterative  It is creative  There are many possible solutions

Software

 Software complexity adds unreliability, since the new features cannot always be tested adequately before release.

In the last 15 years alone, software defects have:  Wrecked a European satellite launch ($500 million)  Delayed the opening of the hugely expensive Denver airport for a year  Destroyed a NASA Mars mission  Killed 4 marines in a helicopter crash  Induced a U.S. Navy ship to destroy a civilian airliner  Shut down ambulance systems in London, leading to as many as 30 deaths.

(Charles Mann, 2002, p. 34)

The software industry provides an unusually clear example of why we may wish to reexamine our concept of a finished product because of the incredible disregard for the time and convenience of the customer.

Another reason is that product cycles have become so short that even customers who must stay up-to-date may miss several generations of a single product.

Design is a never ending process, interrupted by a decision to package or “shrink wrap” for a time, or “go to press,” or “fire up the line.” During production, a design is “frozen” in time, but even then, minor improvements are possible and often essential.

What is a Prototype?

 It refers to an unfinished design, an unrefined design, or a pre-production model.

 It is a first physical form or service description of a new product, still in rough or tentative mode.

 With regard to services, a prototype is simply the first full description of how the service will work, and comes from the systems design or development function.

A prototype is: “A working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and necessary adjustment.” As defined by the Standards for Technological Literacy document (2000) (p. 105)

Prototype and the Design Process

 The first step in the design of anything is defining the problem and identifying the requirements  The most often repeated error is failing to pursue more than one design alternative

Prototypes of Complex Systems

 With complex products, there may be component prototypes as well as one complete system prototype.

 Individual subsystem prototypes are constructed separately.

 This way, if one part needs serious modification, it can be changed without redesigning the overall system.

Categories of Prototypes

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Mechanical Prototypes Graphic Design Prototypes Architectural Prototypes Electronic Prototypes Combination Prototypes Rapid Prototyping

Mechanical Prototypes

 After a sketch is created, the sketches can then be refined using a 3D modeling program and then shared with others by printing it.

 Once this is done, the rest of the tools and materials used will vary.

 Mechanical prototypes are sometimes of limited value unless combined with other systems.

Graphic Design Prototypes

 Includes posters, brochures, booklets & displays  First, at least 3 design concepts must be explored or sketched crudely with pencil or colored pencils.  Next a full-size or rough layout is produced, usually only in 1 color.

 A finished layout is finally produced in color as accurately as possible for evaluation.

Architectural Prototypes

 The real object is so large that the prototype must be a fraction of the finished size.

 The term model or scale model may be appropriate  Homes, office buildings, apartments, etc.

Electronic Prototypes

 Electronics are part of everything that we touch  A first generation prototype is usually constructed with a solderless breadboard.

 Second generation prototypes are the printed circuit boards.

Combination Prototypes

 Often you must combine several kinds of prototypes.

 Example: Using Graphic, Electric and Mechanical together for 1 product.

Rapid Prototyping

 Sometimes called 3D printing  Using a machine, you can produce a physical 3 dimensional part from a computer file called a .stl file.

 .stl = Stereo Lithography  It has been around several years, but has been limited mainly by cost considerations  Can be completed in only a few hours.

Standards Covered

   2: Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of technology  2.P: New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do things that could not be done without the help of technology.

 2.Q: The development of technology is a human activity and is the result of individual or collective needs and the ability to be creative.

8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of design.

 8.E: Design is a creative planning process that leads to useful products and systems.

9: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design  9.H: Modeling, testing, evaluating and modifying are used to transform ideas into practical solutions.