Design Process Presentation

Team Introductions

MSU Urban Options

Woodcreek

WormTeam

Dr. SomertonCaitlen Douthitt

Jillian JoliatMatt Langenderfer

Brad Wackerle Jim Meyerle

5th Grade Students

Recap Engineering is:

• Using science & mathematics to design, build, and maintain devices and processes that are useful to humankind.

Warm Worms

Worm bin background

• Students dispose of their lunch using a worm-based compost bin

• During the warm months of the year the worms produce a compost

• During winter, worms become inactive and may die because of the cold weather

Vermicomposting

What is vermicomposting?

• Vermicomposting involves using red earthworms to consume waste and create soil useful for gardening.

+ + =

Design Process

2. Imagine

3. Plan & Analyze

1. Problem Recognition

5. Implementation

4. Optimization

Problem Recognition (Ask)

What is the problem?

• When temperatures fall below 40° F, the worms are unable to consume the waste and produce compost

Imagine What are some solutions? Brainstorm

• What do the worms need to stay alive? • How do we create heat? • How should we heat the worm bin?

Imagine What is solar energy?

• Solar energy is energy (light or heat) that comes from the sun

• Solar Energy Examples • What makes your car hot when it is parked in the sun?

• What makes your solar calculator work?

• What makes plants grow?

• What makes the solar panels work on the roof of your school?

Imagine

Plan & Analyze Data Collection (Measurements)

Plan & Analyze To meet a deadline, make a schedule!

Plan & Analyze Functionality Materials

Calculations come before building! What materials should we use to build the solar

heated worm compost bin?

Optimization Optimization means making something as effective,

efficient, and useful as possible. Take the best component of each idea in order

create the best design.

We need to optimize the following criteria: Aesthetics

Function Cost Safety Manufacturability

Implementation Build a prototype Test

Sometimes, when cost is an issue, full scale working prototypes are not built.

For the solar heating system, only the final product will be built.

Things to Remember The design process is ongoing

There is no such thing as a bad idea!

Through good teamwork, careful planning, hard work and determination anything is possible!

2. Imagine

3. Plan & Analyze

1. Problem Recognition

5. Implementation

4. Optimization

Questions?