Define Tests
For the first requirement: Caboose load, we will measure it by the ability of our design to be able to connect to the caboose and travel around the track without letting go of it or not having it fall off the track. For the Time to Dismantle, we will take stop watch and time the amount of time it takes to take apart the dragon and put in the box and make sure it is under a specific time of 3 minutes. For Energy Use, we are going to measure the energy output of the motors to get around the track and then do it again with a more efficient designed model and see if we can get around the track with less power output from the motors. For Mass, we are going to weigh the mass of the object to see if we can keep it within a certain range of 1 pound as that would be ideal for the team. For the size of the vehicle, we want to be able to take a ruler and measure the size of the device and make sure it is under the length of 1 foot and is able to fit in the box with not issues what so ever. For cheap, we want the pricing to be between 300 to 500 dollars for production but would be ideal for 400 dollars. We will measure it by taking the cost to produce the prototype and determine if that is within our range of values. For reliability, We will run the device on the track ideally 6 times in a row and the device on the track will not skip a beat once and perform the track 6 times without any issues such as missing the gate/not stopping within reasonable distance, not falling off the track, not wobbling excessively, and being able to go around bends without concern of falling. For Durability, we want the object to be able to fall and not break from a height of 1 foot. Being broken includes not being able to run on the track and holding shape while doing it. We want it to be able to fall at least 3 times without completely falling apart.
Scaling Values
Explain Scaling
Our scaling is appropriate because we chose scaling based on the requirements. We first made a correlation graph of the vehicle requirements and assigned numbers based on the relatability of them. We considered dismantle with simple set up, cheap with cheap to have a strong correlation, size and storage space, reliability and reliability, longevity and material, and durability and longevity to all have a strong correlation between each other because they are extremely related to each other from having the same wording or having similarities comparably like material and longevity as the material chosen can make something last longer based on it falling and receiving damage. That correlation created the importance of that specification which was then used as a scale by taking the overall total and dividing it by an individual importance to get that percentage. That made all 293 points calculatable into 100 percentage. It allowed us to down scale the size and made the data easier to interpret and decide which are the most important to us based on a cross reference correlation system. Values that obviously don’t fit the very relatable scale are then discussed to have similarities that are there but not nearly as strong of a correlation such as customizable and mass. The object could be light with very little mods/customizability but as more objects are added to it, it can affect its weight and how it looks. A good example of this would be cars. They have many different options, but bigger engine options and other fancy gadgets can add significant weight to the vehicle. An example for poorly relatability would be material and ergonomics. The type of material could affect how it is shaped which could hinder ergonomics but with means we have today made it easier to use different materials and make them ergonomic. The scaling also plays a part based on what we determined as more important so it has some weight to help determine which are more important overall.
Define Meaning of Success
We believe success starts from the ground up. It starts with talking about a gap in the market where something could be produced because there may be little to no current solutions for the problem. Then interviewing and collecting data on what people need for that particular problem and what people would be willing to spend to fix the problem with a possible product. Then a matrix with what people want and what the company itself wants are listed. Then finding a strong correlation between those needs are important for narrowing down what should be focused on. The previous steps must be considered to start the process of a successful idea/product. A successful prototype vehicle would include ideas with respect to the correlation matrix because it gives you ideas that should be narrowed down on for the overall project. It gives you a straight idea of what should be focused on based on previous data gathered.
So, a strong vehicle should follow the scoring matrix, be able to do the tests designed for the vehicle because those are the ideas that are important to it’s success as discussed earlier. The vehicle should be able to perform the tasks but failing the tests will happen, but success comes from being able to adapt the design to work with the needs that you want so it can pass some tests to be able to make it to production and make it to the market. Success is not just measured in money in this case but is measured on the process of getting the vehicle to its final product also. The rules of our constraints need to be followed to ensure success.