EXERCISE 4 & 5: BRAINSTORMING AND DESIGN SCORING & CONCEPT SCREENING AND SCORING

After reviewing each individual AEV design, the team created one AEV with a combination of the best features from each design. The concept scoring and screening guidelines were based on the following:

  1. Energy Usage
    • Weight: The weight of the AEV should be kept as low as possible. The lighter the AEV is, the less energy it will need to travel across the track.
    • Aerodynamics: The AEV should have an overall shape that minimizes air drag when travelling forwards and backwards. With less drag, the AEV can travel more efficiently from one end of the track to another.
  2. Safety
    • Flexible Structure: The AEV should not have a rigid structure. A rigid structure can cause more damage to passengers when hitting bumps along the track. A fluid structure allows the AEV to handle bumps with minimal damage.
  3. Cost
    • Amount of Materials: The fewer materials used, the lower the cost of the AEV will be. Minimizing the cost is extremely important when working on a budget.
    • Speed: The AEV should be able to travel at the maximum, safest speed in order to reduce power and travel costs.

Deciding the score for each category will be based on the following variables:

  1. Energy Usage
    • Weight: The estimated weight of each AEV design will be compared.
    • Aerodynamics: The AEV’s overall shape will be compared to other aerodynamic bodies (airplanes, wind turbine blades, etc.).
  2. Safety
    • Flexible Structure: To determine if an AEV design is flexible, the space between each part and the connection between each part will be considered.
  3. Cost
    • Amount of Materials: Every part in each AEV design will be counted to determine which design uses the fewest components.
    • Speed: The AEV speed will be estimated based on a comparison to the sample AEV design. If a design has fewer components and a smaller overall size than the sample AEV, it will be estimated to travel faster than the sample.

The final team AEV design should minimize travel time, cost, and energy usage, while also maximizing safety. Minimizing travel time, cost, and energy usage will keep passengers happy, stay on budget, and make the travel process more efficient. Maximizing safety will also help protect passengers from potential dangers and allow the AEV to continue being used.

Concept Scoring Matrix

Concept Screening Matrix