Engineering Design Process Overview
The ultimate goal of the Engineering Design Process (EDP) is to solve a problem or create something new. This is sometimes confused with the Product Development Process which is the standard process for developing a product. The Product Development Process includes the EDP along with other process steps.
What is Design?
First, what it isn't...
Design is not discovery!
Science is about discovery. We have trained our students in this (necessary) venture…but it isn’t design.
Design is about creation and problem-solving, or more simply “Creating Solutions”.
The Scientific Method is an algorithm for discovery.
It’s all about verifying or ruling out a hypothesis. It is not about the creation of a new technology or device.
The Scientific Method involves experiments, observations, analysis and conclusions. It’s about answering the “Why?” question.
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why did the apple hit Sir Isaac Newton on the head?
- Why do the planets revolve around the sun?
Design is about creation.
Design is focused on form and function that achieve objectives within specified constraints.
Design is about using the knowledge that we have and applying that knowledge (usually in conjunction with math and technology) to create something that has not yet existed. Designers spend a lot of time focusing on the form (physical characteristics) and function (what it actually does) of a design. Design projects are focused on achieving specified objectives while working within a host of constraints.
The Engineering Design Process is an algorithm for creation and invention.
These words are key. The process is an ongoing cycle that is centered around a particular goal. Solving a specific problem or creating/inventing something new.
The primary steps involve:
- Ask (define the problem and constraints)
- Imagine a solution
- Plan the solution
- Create the solution (usually by prototyping)
- Improve that solution (redesign/changes)
Then repeating the process by Asking if this solution solves the problem and meets the constraints.
Product Development Process
The steps of the Engineering Design Process are used throughout a practical product development. We might map the EDP steps to a product development process as follows:
Implement – Implement your design decisions into detailed design specs that are sufficient for actual physical production of the product.
Physical constructions of the final product. Production is the most expensive step in the process. All of the design work that leads up to Production is of great importance as any iteration after production begins is very costly.
Below is a representation of a typical Product Development Process.
Lesson content was provided by:
- Mark Conner, a long-time BEST Robotics teacher with the Engineering Academy at Hoover High School.
- Greg Young, a BEST Robotics veteran volunteer and an engineer at AMD in Austin, TX.
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Excellent!