We used the tools discussed in Part 1 – Game Theory and Part 2 – Robot Requirements to find our overall strategy and list of REQs for this season’s game (and game manual). Now we are ready to start Designing and Prototyping our Design Elements.
Design Elements and Prototypes
Next, we take the research we did and the requirements we set in Part 2, and define Design Elements (DE). DEs answer the question “how will we accomplish this requirement?” At this stage of the design phase, we begin prototyping.
Check out our Ri3D Design Decisions discussion video below:
Drawing upon your research, personal experience, mentor expertise, and student ingenuity; come up with multiple mechanisms to achieve your REQs. Build prototypes quickly, but deliberately; make sure prototypes are fair representations of the final product. Be cautious of “under-building” the prototype of a design you are not fond of and using that as justification for a different design. This can cause you to pass on ideas that might have been just a few man hours away from giving your robot the edge. Here are a few more tips when choosing mechanisms:
- Where possible, try to accomplish the most REQs with the fewest mechanisms possible.
- Choose the most repeatable, durable, robust solution whenever possible.
- Pick the best solution, not your solution…
This last point gets to the essence of what being a Scientist is all about; As Socrates once said “We must follow the argument wherever it leads.” Set up fair tests, build equivalent prototypes, collect the data, then do what is best for the team.
Check out our Ri3D Prototype Testing videos below:
Summary
By researching existing technologies, building prototypes, and fairly testing those prototypes; the team can be confident in its decision and path forward which increases morale, expedites fabrication, and allows for creativity and inspiration to drive the creation of the team’s mechanisms and subsystems, not stress and pressure.
Check out our Ri3D Design Iteration video below:
Hopefully these articles and the rest of our resources can help you and your team start a new season off right. Feel free to adapt these exercises and methods to fit your team’s style. Most importantly, remember why you do this:
- “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.” Plato
- “Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” Aristotle
- “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Now go check out The Reveal of our Ri3D for the finale!
stay denk friends
If you want to learn more about this process, check out our presentation from the 2018 Purdue FIRST Forums on Robot Requirements!
Please feel free to join the conversation on our Facebook or Bluesky with your questions, thoughts, and feedback on these articles!
Before you go, be sure to check in on your mentors and ensure they are doing OK – they are people too!