T9 Truck Modification
Reverse engineering is a process by which an engineer analyzes an object from the inside out to find out how it was made and how it operates. There are three stages of reverse engineering - visual analysis, functional analysis and structural analysis. Visual analysis is when you look at an object and find the visual design principles and elements that are included in the object's appearance. You can use this analysis to find exactly what makes the product appealing. Functional analysis is when an engineer studies an object's function through observation of the product functioning. Structural analysis is when an engineer begins to pull the object apart and find out what the object is made of and why the material serves a purpose. In a structural analysis an engineer will completely disassemble an object and identify each part with the part name, quantity, dimensions of the part, function, material, density, mass / weight, texture and interactions with other parts.
We were able to come up with possible modifications for the T9 Truck by using both reverse engineering and by using the design process. We reverse engineered the Automoblox car in a series of three worksheets that we completed in class. After we did that, Wyatt and I began to brainstorm possible ideas and put them into a decision matrix. We used the decision matrix to decide what modifications we are doing on the Automoblox car.
We were able to come up with possible modifications for the T9 Truck by using both reverse engineering and by using the design process. We reverse engineered the Automoblox car in a series of three worksheets that we completed in class. After we did that, Wyatt and I began to brainstorm possible ideas and put them into a decision matrix. We used the decision matrix to decide what modifications we are doing on the Automoblox car.
Define a Problem
Group Norms: Communicate efficiently, work together as a group to accomplish the task, both of us work of different parts of the project to complete our project.
Generate Concepts
Brainstorming Ideas:
1. Extruded pattern on body of Automoblox vehicle
2. Hubcap
3. Make the door so that it can open
4. License Plate
5. Make exhaust pipes
6. Make a trunk rather than bed
7. Change the tire treads
8. Trailer hitch
9. Helicopter propeller
10. Make the tires bigger
1. Extruded pattern on body of Automoblox vehicle
2. Hubcap
3. Make the door so that it can open
4. License Plate
5. Make exhaust pipes
6. Make a trunk rather than bed
7. Change the tire treads
8. Trailer hitch
9. Helicopter propeller
10. Make the tires bigger
Develop a Solution
Construct and Test Prototype
Evaluate Solution
Gus - He said that we should add bigger wheels to out car to make it more of a red neck truck. He also said that we should've kept the bed of the truck the way that it was rather than changing it to become a trunk. He did like the hitch as an addition to the truck.
Brendan - He said, like Gus, that we should have kept the bed of the truck a bed but we could have made a tailgate that moves in the trunk's place. Brendan did think that we picked good colors for a little boy though
Brendan - He said, like Gus, that we should have kept the bed of the truck a bed but we could have made a tailgate that moves in the trunk's place. Brendan did think that we picked good colors for a little boy though
Present Solution / Conclusion
My experience for this project was that it was a relatively easy project. Wyatt was a good partner and was easy to work with. We were able to accomplish our assignment in a good amount of time and we were able to split up the work so that neither one of us ended up doing all the work on the project. Each of us had different skills for Inventor, so we were able to combine our skills and successfully modify our car. The final design of our car ended up looking very different from the original that we began the project with. We added a trunk and took out the bed, but we used the bed to make the trunk. We also made a trailer hitch, which was a bit of a challenge at first but we got it in the end. Wyatt had an idea of how to make the trailer hitch and when we tried that it didn't work at first, but we were able to make a new one easily. We also struggled with the size of the trailer hitch when it was being attached to the car and how we would attach it. We also had to modify the passenger section of the car to be able to attach the trailer hitch to a flat surface. While enhancing/modifying a design you have to consider why you are modifying it and what you can modify to make it appropriate to the target audience. You have to document the brainstorming process so that you can go back and be able to see what ideas you had so that if need be you can use one of them. When designing either a new product or modifying an older one you usually sketch you ideas so that you know what you are designing and you can see how it will look. If you can already see how the object will look, you can determine if it will be appealing to the target audience.