Collaborative Collaborative Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Bill Hommes

What am I going to tell you about?

Creative Process we have used for the past

6 years to develop the concept for our robot Final concept is selected in 3 days Full participation by Students in Concept development

and selection – everyone has equal input Have always stuck with concept selected with full

team support – no second guessing

“To Thrive in the Age of Instability Requires a Distinctive Corporate Culture….

…a culture that breeds an endless search for ideas that stand or fall on their merits, rather than the rank of their originator, a culture that brings everymind into the game.”

(Jack Welch)

Collaborative Collaborative Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Criteria

ConvergentThinking

Divergent Thinking

ProblemStatement Robot Concept

Common Goal

Alternatives Information

Risks Criteria

Trust

ConsensusDecision

Key Factors in Consensus Decision Making

What’s your Team’s Common Goal?

• Functional Robot• Competitive Regionally• Regional Champion• Competitive nationally• National Champion

Day 1 Goal - Develop Understanding of Game

Common Understanding of game

Potential Robot Capabilities Game Strategies

Day 1 – Common Understanding

• Watch Kick-off event• Goal is to insure everyone has understanding

of the game– Game description– Field Layout – Scoring

• Chart key points • Make Sketch of field layout

Day 1 – Potential Robot Capabilities

1 hold multiple tetras

2 long reach placement of tetras

3 see vision tetras

4 place a skewed tetra to prevent others from scoring

5 cap with more than one tetras at a time

6 push other robots

7 get tetra off loading station

8 cap high goal even with number of tetras already stacked

29 block other robots from capping

30Precision navigation to allow tetra placement

• • •

• Brainstorm WHAT functional capabilities you might want your robot to have

• Goal is to continue to improve understanding of game and implications on robot• List all suggestions but do NOT discuss HOW to do these things!!!!

Day 1 – Potential Strategies

• Brainstorm what strategies are possible

Block others from capping Maximize Tetras – score as many tetra’s as possible Maximize rows - focus on completing rows rather than #’s– Maximize value of autonomous Add tetras to game– Prevent opponents from getting tetras

• Select up to four strategies to develop further – CONCEPT STRENGTHENING

Goal of Concept Strengthening• Develop and strengthen the strategies by identifying

and overcoming key limitations• Avoid the common idea-slaughtering that occurs

when groups confront novel or unusual options

1. Break into 4 groups – one for each strategy2. Select leader for group (1 student/1 mentor)3. Spend 20 minutes working on your strategy4. Rotate to next group

• Leaders stay behind to explain to new group• Spend 10 minutes improving• Rotate to next group

Involve Everyone !!!

Concept Strengthening

• Advantages – List the top 2-3 advantages of strategy

• Limitations – why might this strategy not work, where might it fall short

• Unique Qualities – what are the unique elements we need to preserve

What does this strategy have that few or none of the others haveWhy is this strategy different

• Develop detailed game strategies to overcome key limitations – describe 2 minute matches

2 min.

2 min.

3 min.

13 min.

20 minutes

Day 1 - Wrap-up

• Each group reports back

– Do they recommend continuing to pursue strategy

– If yes, what is best means of implementing. Described a a 2 minute match

• Homework - Think of how you would build a robot to implement whatyou think is the best strategy

Day 2 - CreativityDay 2 - CreativityCriteria

ConvergentThinking

Divergent Thinking

ProblemStatement Robot Concept

In what ways might we build a robot to

play triple play?

Problem Statement

The best way to get a good idea is to get lots of ideas.

(Linus Pauling)

Channeled into following patterns

Creativity & Lateral Thinking - DeBono

Breaking Patterns

Better solutions will be obvious AFTER you find them.

Creativity & Lateral Thinking

DEFER JUDGMENT STRIVE FOR QUANTITY

SEEK COMBINATIONS

FREEWHEEL

Guidelines for Creativity Session

• Record Idea on Concept

Sheet

• One idea per Sheet

Sequentially number concepts as presented

Concept Sheet

Idea Generation15 min Brain Dump

10 min Idea Generation Part II - Lateral Thinking

Organization10 min Develop Categories

Sharing 90 min Share Ideas

Agenda for Day 2 – Idea Generation

Forced Relationships:

Randomly grab a concept from a neighbor and combine it with the last concept you created and come up with at least one new idea that combines the two.

Forced Visual RelationshipsForced Visual Relationships

Write down 3-5 attributes of one of the Write down 3-5 attributes of one of the robots I am going to show robots I am going to show

Pick one set of attributes Pick one set of attributes Then think of how to build a robot for Then think of how to build a robot for

triple playtriple play

using that attributeusing that attribute Sketch it on an Concept SheetSketch it on an Concept Sheet

Collect pictures to stimulate your teams creativity

Worst IdeaWorst IdeaEveryone,Pick your worst idea.

UNLOCK YOUR THINKING

Now,Let’s try to make it work…

Categories

• After sharing we will need to group ideas by category• Goal is about 5-10 ideas per category• Look over your ideas and think of some categories • What categories did you identify – need 20

# Categories1 tetra catch or gripper2 drive train3 arm mechanism4 tetra storing on robot5 stablizers6 sensors7 blocking mechanisms8 cappers9 general robot principles

10 tetra knockers11 loading/placer mechanisms12 loading station interfacers13 tetra pushers14 vision tetra locators15 autonomous16 tic-tack-toe strategies17 multi tetra managers18 tetra stackers19 integration concepts

Categories for Grouping Ideas

Share ConceptsCategory #

Sequentially number concepts

• Share using – Transparency– Document Camera

• Post on Wall under Category Heading

Post Concepts by Category

#5 Stabilizers #11 Auto Loading/Placers #19 IntegrationConcepts

88 Total Concepts Generated

• Select final concept that:• Meets team goals• Team supports• Will not second guess in week 2

Day 3 – Concept SelectionDay 3 – Concept SelectionCriteria

ConvergentThinking

Divergent Thinking

ProblemStatement Robot Concept

• Ability to play game– # of Points– flexibility in strategy

• Feasibility– Can we finish in 6 weeks– Robot Robustness

Selection Criteria

• Identify the top 4 ideas – keep criteria in mind

• Review Ideas and make note of best ideas

• Trust your first impressions - decide quickly

• Once everyone has decided we will poll the group

Preliminary Preliminary SelectionSelection

Preliminary Selection

• Place dot on selected conceptsOr if available Wireless Polling technology

• Everyone decides before they vote – Avoids “Herd Mentality”

Preliminary Selection - total votes by concept #

All Concepts Receiving Votes Grouped into Clusters:

Cluster 1 – Helper Bot – feed tetras to partnerCluster 2 – Load Station/GoalPlacementCluster 3 – Telescoping/Rotating ArmCluster 4 – Fork lift Cluster 5 - Articulating ArmCluster 6 – Gripper conceptsCluster 7 – Defensive Bot – block other robots

Cluster Ideas Remaining after Preliminary Selection

Final Ranking of Clusters

Rank Clusters-Ability to play game-Feasibility of completing in six weeks

Everyone votes – (1-10)- Tally votes- Discuss & Select final Concept

Opportunity Matrix

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Feasibility of Completing In Six Weeks

Ab

ility

to

Pla

y G

ame

.

1

7

43

2

6

5

Highlow

Defensive bot

Fork LiftTelescoping/Rotating Arm

Articulating Arm

Helper bot

• Team Selected Fork Lift Concept• Recognized value of rotating fork lift to more easily place tetras

agreed could incorporate if identify simple means to implement

• Agreed defensive & Helper bots did not meet Team Goals

Final Final ResultsResults

Fork Lift Tetra StorageRotating Arm withFork Lift

Defensive bots

Fork Lift

Six Weeks Six Weeks LaterLaterMeet Moebius

Telescoping Arm

Rotating Arm

Tetra Storage