The Mother of Invention: Involving upper elementary students in the invention process
Why have an invention design process? The invention design process The day’s exercise.
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Transcript of Why have an invention design process? The invention design process The day’s exercise.
• Why have an invention design process?
• The invention design process
• The day’s exercise
A bit about the invention design process
• In product design is referred to as PREP (Peer-Review Evaluation Process)
• It seems complicated, but it is simple
• It has both individual and team components
Process by which 4 individuals develop ideas and thenshare them as a team…so that the team can select thebest idea.
The Invention Design Process helps obtain everyone’sinput/buy-in and brings the team’s diversity of
knowledge/experience to bear on the issue.
The process takes a team from many ideas to one idea to pursue.
Invention Design Process
Invention Design Process
Invention project idea generation
Information gathering
Invention Statement
Dissection of Invention Statement
Concepting
Concept Evaluation
Research
Test & Refine
Build Prototypes
Individual Thought
Invention project idea generation
Information gathering
Invention Statement
Dissection of Invention Statement
Concepting
Concept Evaluation
Research
Test & Refine
Build Prototypes
Peer-Review
Peer-Review(Team of 4 people)
Do “the work” (idea generation, research, drafting, experimentation, etc.) associated with that step in the invention design process
1. Pass your work to the team member on your left for him/her to review (continue until your work has gone full-circle)
2. Review others’ comments on your work3. Discuss the ideas and comments to identify the most
important factors that will help the team select the best idea4. Determine the best idea using the most important factors
(weighted selection)…there can be only one!
Proceed as individuals to do “the work” for the next step in the invention design process
Peer-Review
Team selects: Watermelon ripeness evaluator
Invention project idea generation
Individual members of the team generate ideas:
• Watermelon ripeness evaluator
• Automatic potato-peeler
• Perpetual motion machine
Think of problems and inventions that could address them…
Peer’s comments: “There’s already an automatic potato peeler!”…“Doesn’t perpetual motion violate the laws of physics!?”
Important factors: Uniqueness of idea, feasibility
Potato-peeler and perpetual motion machine ruled-out!
Peer-Review (Pass, Review, Discuss, Determine)
Peer-ReviewInvention project idea generation
Information gathering
Invention Statement
Dissection of Invention Statement
Concepting
Concept Evaluation
Research
Test & Refine
Build Prototypes
Invention Statement
Dissection of Invention Statement
Concepting
Concept Evaluation
Research
Test & Refine
Build Prototypes
Peer-Review
Invention design step & explanation
Sample individual work from Watermelon project
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result for Watermelon project
Total problem definition• All components of the invention problem• The Who, What, Where and How Much of the invention
Sample individual work from Watermelon project
Invention Statement
“Shoppers would use it in the store.”
“It has to be cheap!”
“It should show how ripe a watermelon is.”
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result: Invention Statement for ProjectAs a team, we will invent a portable, handheld watermelon ripeness evaluator to be used primarily by farmers and supermarkets. The durable, compact unit will be made for under $200, be battery powered, easy to operate, and will accurately (95% confidence interval) display the ripeness of any variety of watermelon in less than five seconds.
Peer’s comments: “What does ‘cheap’ mean?”…
“How will it show ripeness?”…“Will shoppers really use it?”
Important factors: Cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics
Sample individual work from Watermelon project
The WHATs: What are the approaches to achieving the main goal (what the invention does)? What actions are needed for each approach?
Dissection of Invention Statement
What are the different approaches to assess the ripeness of a watermelon and what are the required actions?
Approach #1: Thumping1. Thump 2. Pick-up sound/voltage3. Analyze sound 4. Display result 5. Embodiment
Approach #2: Weight v. size1. Weigh2. Measure3. Display result4. Embodiment
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result: Approach for Watermelon projectApproach #2: Weight v. size is ruled-out for accuracy reasons
Discuss/determine which approach (Thump or Weight) given important factors (cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics) andorganize ideas of the actions that have to happen (the whats) for the invention to work for the selected approach
Approach #1: Thumping1. Thump 2. Pick-up sound/voltage3. Analyze sound 4. Display result 5. Embodiment
Thump Pick-up Sound Analyze Sound Display Result Embodiment
Approach #1Thumping
The WHATs: a good way to divide up a team and tackle a complex project
Concepting
Sample individual work from Watermelon projectHow can we THUMP a watermelon to assess its ripeness?• Motor• Pneumatic• Solenoid• Spring• Finger
The HOWs (solutions): How can the action be achieved? What are the HOWs to come-up with THE HOW?
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result for Watermelon project• Pneumatic and Solenoid are ruled-out for cost reasons, and finger is ruled-out for accuracy reasons
• Motor and Spring are both possibilities
Discuss/determine which solution is the best way to achieve the action. Which HOW, given important factors (cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics), is THE HOW
Motor,Pneumatic,Solenoid,
Spring, Finger
Thump
Contact micNon-contact mic
Pick-up Sound
Software programDecibel meter
Analyze Sound
LED,Monitor,Sound
Display Result
HandheldFixed device
Embodiment
Approach #1Thumping
The WHATs and HOWs: all of them
Concept evaluation
Sample individual work from Watermelon projectSketch and model of a motor to see how it would thumpSketch and model of a spring to see how it would thump
Evaluation of solutions based on important factors (i.e.: potential beneficiary’s needs/end-customer requirements) Make sketches and models to see how different solutions would achieve desired actionEmploy experimentation & analysis (e.g.: bench experiments and weighted-selection charts) to select THE HOW.
Sample individual work from Watermelon project (continued)
Weighted selection chartMotor Spring
Cost (x2) 0 1Accuracy 0 0Size 0 1Output 0 0Aesthetics 0 -1Total 0 1
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result for thumpingSpring
Share results of experiments and analysis to determine which solution is the best way to achieve the action. Which HOW, given important factors (cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics), is THE HOW.
Research
Sample individual work from Watermelon project• Spring found that can perform desired action• Motor found that can perform desired action (even though motor ruled-out in previous step, it was still researched)
Search-out examples of your solution being used to perform the desired action or a similar action to determine if solution can be off-the-shelf or needs to be built from scratchCan include discussion with experts and end-customer
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result: Research for thumpingOff-the-shelf spring available
Share results of research to determine if the solution can be purchased or a unique design needs to be created.
Test & Refine
Sample individual work from Watermelon projectRisks for spring:• Spring breaks• Loss of manual dexterity to trigger spring
Countermeasures for spring:• Alternative solution (motor)
Identify risks of solutions and countermeasures
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result: Testing and Refinement for thumpingSpring is still viable
Share results of risks/countermeasures research to determine if the solution is still viable
Build Prototypes
Sample individual work from Watermelon projectParts are machined/ordered according to drawings and then assembled.
Develop sketches for each module to be developed
Peer-Review & explanation
Peer-Review result for Watermelon projectSpring thumper performs as expected.
Prototypes are tested, results are evaluated and refinements are made if necessary.
Invention design exercise
Given the limited amount of time, this invention design exercise is significantly more restrictive than a normal invention design exercise. Your invention statement will be given to you and is also the only action (THE WHAT) your invention needs to perform. THE HOW is up to you.
You will perform this exercise in teams (4 teams of 4, 2 teams of 3)
Invention Statement:Invent a taco shell carrier, using a single piece of 14x17 paper, that will allow for said taco shell to descend from a height of approximately 30 feet to ground level without breaking.
Rules• No adhesives• You may cut & fold the sheet of paper• The paper must remain one continuous sheet• Use the invention design process and peer review!