Activity Breif
Introduction
What would you do if you had a teacher that expected you to complete an assignment, but refused to tell you what the assignment was? Imagine, too, that the result of this assignment was expected to be submitted in a specific format, which was also not explained to you. Oh yes, and there was a due date. But you were not told what that was either. How could a person be expected to accomplish anything under such conditions?
Engineers need to know what problems they are addressing. They must have an idea about the degree to which the solution should be carried out, along with what the solution should do to solve the problem. The engineer must also work within constraints, such as time and budget. A design brief is a tool that is used to concisely identify the problem, solution expectations, and project constraints. The engineer will often return to the design brief throughout a design process to assess the progress and validity of his or her creative work.
Design briefs will be used throughout the Introduction to Engineering DesignTM course. Long term projects will be initiated with design briefs, and as you become a more proficient designer, you will be required to write your own. This activity is designed to guide you through the development of a design brief by observing a design project from start to finish. The information gained in this lesson will not only help you understand how to create a design brief, it will also allow you to observe the design process in action.
What would you do if you had a teacher that expected you to complete an assignment, but refused to tell you what the assignment was? Imagine, too, that the result of this assignment was expected to be submitted in a specific format, which was also not explained to you. Oh yes, and there was a due date. But you were not told what that was either. How could a person be expected to accomplish anything under such conditions?
Engineers need to know what problems they are addressing. They must have an idea about the degree to which the solution should be carried out, along with what the solution should do to solve the problem. The engineer must also work within constraints, such as time and budget. A design brief is a tool that is used to concisely identify the problem, solution expectations, and project constraints. The engineer will often return to the design brief throughout a design process to assess the progress and validity of his or her creative work.
Design briefs will be used throughout the Introduction to Engineering DesignTM course. Long term projects will be initiated with design briefs, and as you become a more proficient designer, you will be required to write your own. This activity is designed to guide you through the development of a design brief by observing a design project from start to finish. The information gained in this lesson will not only help you understand how to create a design brief, it will also allow you to observe the design process in action.
Conclusion
1. Aside from being the first to solve the problem, what was the major motivating factor for the designer of the Gossamer Condor?
The motivating factor was how planes could fly.
2. Where did the idea for the Gossamer Condor come from, and what did it have to do with the power output of a bicyclist?
The gossamer condor came from wanting to fly and it had to do with the output of a bicyclist because they needed more info on how to stir the gossamer condor
3. What was the major natural element that caused the most problems to the Gossamer Condor?
The natural element that caused the most problems was the wind
1. Aside from being the first to solve the problem, what was the major motivating factor for the designer of the Gossamer Condor?
The motivating factor was how planes could fly.
2. Where did the idea for the Gossamer Condor come from, and what did it have to do with the power output of a bicyclist?
The gossamer condor came from wanting to fly and it had to do with the output of a bicyclist because they needed more info on how to stir the gossamer condor
3. What was the major natural element that caused the most problems to the Gossamer Condor?
The natural element that caused the most problems was the wind