Backpack Re-Design
EDP Design Activity
What is the Engineering?
Engineering Design Process
The Engineering Design Process (EDP) is a series of steps that engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem.
What is the problem?
Who has the problem?
What have others done?
Why is it important to solve the problem?
What are some possible solutions?
Then, choose the best (one) idea
Plan
Draw a diagram, �layout the details
Decide what materials you need
Set a timeline
Build it!
Test it!
How can you make it better?
Does your solution work?
What changes do you need to make to make it work?
No?
Yes?
Process Repeats!
Keep these steps in mind!
Engineers
Engineers are problem solvers! ��Different kinds of engineers exist to solve different kinds of problems. ��Q: What kinds of skills do you think an engineer needs?
Answers:
“Re-Designing”
Engineers don’t always “start from scratch”. In fact, engineers will often take existing things and make them better, “re-designing” (i.e. improving) them.
For example, a transportation (or industrial) engineer for the MBTA might look at ways to improve current train routes to be more accessible for all.
“Re-Designing”
Today, we will be mechanical engineers and re-design a backpack to be more tailored towards this pandemic.
What do you want on your backpack?
A backpack is something you bring to school every day! During the school shutdowns many of you didn’t use backpacks as much… how has Covid made you think differently about what you carry/bring with you?
• What are some features of a backpack?
• Questions to think about: How would you make your backpack better?
• What do you want your backpack to be able to do? Hold books? Hold other things?
• How do you want your backpack to look? Pretty vs. practical
Design Goal
The goal of your design - i.e. what you want your product to be able to do and look like. ��Our goal is to make a backpack that is specially designed for this pandemic: one that makes you feel safer and/or more comfortable during this ongoing pandemic (and potential future outbreaks). ��Some things you’ll need to keep in mind when designing your backpack:�Purpose: what is the purpose of your backpack? Why does it exist? What is it supposed to do?�Features: what can your backpack do that other backpacks can’t? �Aesthetics: how attractive is your backpack? You want people to buy it, so make sure it looks good (and perhaps has a catchy name).�Target Audience: who are you selling this design to? Students in school (is a backpack for high school different than elementary school)? Business people? Hikers?
Design Constraints
Design constraints are your limiting factors, - i.e. what you realistically can and cannot do with your design.��Some things you’ll need to keep in mind when designing your backpack:�Cost: how expensive would it be to make your backpack? Who will be able to afford it? Is it a luxury backpack or is it meant for everyday people?�Size/Weight: how big and heavy will your backpack be?�Materials: out of what materials are you making your backpack? This will also determine your cost/size/weight. �Time: how much time do you have to come up with your design? (For today: ____ minutes)
Instructions