Marble Sorter Project

Kevin Snipes

Bryan Antunez

Dasha Selezneva

POE Riverside High School

04/16/2012 Table of Contents

Title Page 1

Table of Contents 2

Project Plan: Targets for 12 Design Steps 3-4

Brainstorming Ideas 5-7

Decision Matrix 8

Daily Journal of accomplishments, unfinished work 9-11

Design Choice (labeled sketch) 12

Design modifications 13

Final Design 14-16

Final Program 17

Use of subroutine(s) in final program 18

Reflection 19

References 20

Project Plan: Targets for 12 Design steps:

• Define a Problem (04/16/12):

Define a problem that we got to solve: Design a mechanical system that will sort marbles into bins. Gather information.

• Brainstorm (04/16/12):

Brainstorm some ideas that would directly relate to our project and the problem that we have defined. Generate and record them. Develop preliminary ideas. Discuss those ideas in the group and decide which of them are going to work best for us.

• Research and generate Ideas (04/17/12):

Research solutions that may already exist and define two main ideas that we are going to use. Build, test and, if needed, rebuild main design. Also define a backup plan if something goes wrong with the first one.

• Identify Criteria and Specify Constraints (04/17/12):

Identify what the solution should do and the degree to which the solution will be pursued. Look over the criteria for this project and think of how to apply those to our chosen design. Identify constraints.

• Explore Possibilities (04/17/12):

Consider further development of brainstorming ideas with constraints and tradeoffs. Explore alternative ideas based on further knowledge and technologies and do our best to find as many ideas as possible to have a big choice.

• Select and Approach (04/18/12):

Review brainstormed information and answer any lingering questions. Narrow ideas down by using a decision matrix. Decide on final idea and then start building the design and work in a computer program.

• Develop a Design Proposal(04/19/12):

Explore the idea in greater detail with annotated sketches. Make critical decisions such as material types and manufacturing methods. Generate through computer models detailed sketches to further refine the idea. Produce working drawings so the idea can be built.

• Make a model or Prototype (04/19/12):

Make models to help communicate the idea (rough sketches). Construct a prototype from the working drawings, so the solution can be tested.

• Test and Evaluate the Design using Specifications (04/20/12):

Design experiments and test the prototype in controlled and working environments. Gather performance data; analyze and check results against established criteria. Conduct a formal critique to flesh out areas of concerns, identify shortcomings, and establish any need for redesign work.

• Refine the design (04/20/12):

Make design changes; if needed, modify or rebuild the prototype. Make refinements until accuracy and repeatability of the prototype's performance results are consistent. Update documentation to reflect changes.

• Create or make solution (04/23/12):