Mastering the Engineering Design Process

A team is designing a new water bottle. They have identified the problem and researched existing solutions. What should be their next step in the engineering design process to ensure their solution is effective and innovative?

• Immediately start manufacturing the bottle

• Brainstorm and develop multiple possible solutions

• Test the existing water bottles

• Survey customers about their favorite colors

You are tasked with improving the energy efficiency of a school building. After gathering data and identifying the main sources of energy loss, what reasoning process should you use to select the most effective solution?

• Choose the cheapest option without analysis

• Compare the potential impact, feasibility, and cost of each solution

• Select the first idea that comes to mind

• Ignore the data and proceed with traditional methods

A group of students is designing a bridge for a local park. They have created several prototypes. What evidence should they use to decide which prototype to develop further?

• The prototype that looks the most attractive

• The prototype that best meets the criteria and constraints based on test results

• The prototype that is the easiest to build

• The prototype that uses the least amount of material

During the redesign phase of the engineering design process, what strategic approach should a team take if their initial solution failed to meet the requirements?

• Abandon the project entirely

• Analyze the failure, identify specific weaknesses, and modify the design accordingly

• Repeat the same process without changes

• Blame the testing equipment

A team is working on a new smartphone case. They have defined the problem, researched, and brainstormed ideas. How should they plan their prototype testing to ensure reliable results?

• Test only one prototype and ignore the rest

• Develop a testing plan that includes multiple prototypes, controlled variables, and clear evaluation criteria

• Test prototypes randomly without a plan

• Ask friends for their opinions only

When evaluating the results of a prototype test, which reasoning process is most appropriate to determine if the design meets the original criteria?

• Compare the test data to the established criteria and constraints

• Focus only on the positive outcomes

• Ignore the data and rely on intuition

• Select the prototype with the lowest cost regardless of performance

A team is designing a solar-powered car. After testing, they find the car does not travel as far as expected. What should their next step be, based on strategic thinking in the engineering design process?

• Discard the project

• Analyze the test data to identify specific performance issues and revise the design

• Ignore the results and continue as planned

• Reduce the size of the car without analysis

You are tasked with designing a device to help people with limited hand mobility. After developing several concepts, how should you use evidence to select the best design?

• Choose the design that is easiest to manufacture

• Evaluate each design against user needs, test results, and feedback from potential users

• Select the design with the most features

• Pick the design that looks the most modern

A team is working on a new type of bicycle helmet. They have completed initial testing and found some safety concerns. What is the most strategic next step in the engineering design process?

• Ignore the concerns and proceed to production

• Redesign the helmet to address the safety concerns and retest

• Lower the safety standards

• Change the color of the helmet

When planning the development of a new medical device, what should a team do to ensure their solution is both innovative and meets regulatory standards?

• Focus only on making the device unique

• Research existing patents, regulations, and user needs before developing prototypes

• Ignore regulations and focus on speed

• Copy an existing device