Why have an invention design process? The invention design process The day’s exercise

• Why have an invention design process?

• The invention design process

• The day’s exercise

A bit about the invention design process

• In product design is referred to as PREP (Peer-Review Evaluation Process)

• It seems complicated, but it is simple

• It has both individual and team components

Process by which 4 individuals develop ideas and thenshare them as a team…so that the team can select thebest idea.

The Invention Design Process helps obtain everyone’sinput/buy-in and brings the team’s diversity of

knowledge/experience to bear on the issue.

The process takes a team from many ideas to one idea to pursue.

Invention Design Process

Invention Design Process

Invention project idea generation

Information gathering

Invention Statement

Dissection of Invention Statement

Concepting

Concept Evaluation

Research

Test & Refine

Build Prototypes

Individual Thought



Invention Statement


Concepting

Concept Evaluation

Research

Test & Refine

Build Prototypes

Peer-Review

Peer-Review(Team of 4 people)

Do “the work” (idea generation, research, drafting, experimentation, etc.) associated with that step in the invention design process

1. Pass your work to the team member on your left for him/her to review (continue until your work has gone full-circle)

2. Review others’ comments on your work3. Discuss the ideas and comments to identify the most

important factors that will help the team select the best idea4. Determine the best idea using the most important factors

(weighted selection)…there can be only one!

Proceed as individuals to do “the work” for the next step in the invention design process

Peer-Review

Team selects: Watermelon ripeness evaluator


Individual members of the team generate ideas:

• Watermelon ripeness evaluator

• Automatic potato-peeler

• Perpetual motion machine

Think of problems and inventions that could address them…

Peer’s comments: “There’s already an automatic potato peeler!”…“Doesn’t perpetual motion violate the laws of physics!?”

Important factors: Uniqueness of idea, feasibility

Potato-peeler and perpetual motion machine ruled-out!

Peer-Review (Pass, Review, Discuss, Determine)

Peer-ReviewInvention project idea generation


Invention Statement


Concepting

Concept Evaluation

Research

Test & Refine

Build Prototypes

Invention Statement


Concepting

Concept Evaluation

Research

Test & Refine

Build Prototypes

Peer-Review

Invention design step & explanation

Sample individual work from Watermelon project

Peer-Review & explanation

Peer-Review result for Watermelon project

Total problem definition• All components of the invention problem• The Who, What, Where and How Much of the invention


Invention Statement

“Shoppers would use it in the store.”

“It has to be cheap!”

“It should show how ripe a watermelon is.”


Peer-Review result: Invention Statement for ProjectAs a team, we will invent a portable, handheld watermelon ripeness evaluator to be used primarily by farmers and supermarkets. The durable, compact unit will be made for under $200, be battery powered, easy to operate, and will accurately (95% confidence interval) display the ripeness of any variety of watermelon in less than five seconds.

Peer’s comments: “What does ‘cheap’ mean?”…

“How will it show ripeness?”…“Will shoppers really use it?”

Important factors: Cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics


The WHATs: What are the approaches to achieving the main goal (what the invention does)? What actions are needed for each approach?


What are the different approaches to assess the ripeness of a watermelon and what are the required actions?

Approach #1: Thumping1. Thump 2. Pick-up sound/voltage3. Analyze sound 4. Display result 5. Embodiment

Approach #2: Weight v. size1. Weigh2. Measure3. Display result4. Embodiment


Peer-Review result: Approach for Watermelon projectApproach #2: Weight v. size is ruled-out for accuracy reasons

Discuss/determine which approach (Thump or Weight) given important factors (cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics) andorganize ideas of the actions that have to happen (the whats) for the invention to work for the selected approach

Approach #1: Thumping1. Thump 2. Pick-up sound/voltage3. Analyze sound 4. Display result 5. Embodiment

Thump Pick-up Sound Analyze Sound Display Result Embodiment

Approach #1Thumping

The WHATs: a good way to divide up a team and tackle a complex project

Concepting

Sample individual work from Watermelon projectHow can we THUMP a watermelon to assess its ripeness?• Motor• Pneumatic• Solenoid• Spring• Finger

The HOWs (solutions): How can the action be achieved? What are the HOWs to come-up with THE HOW?


Peer-Review result for Watermelon project• Pneumatic and Solenoid are ruled-out for cost reasons, and finger is ruled-out for accuracy reasons

• Motor and Spring are both possibilities

Discuss/determine which solution is the best way to achieve the action. Which HOW, given important factors (cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics), is THE HOW

Motor,Pneumatic,Solenoid,

Spring, Finger

Thump

Contact micNon-contact mic

Pick-up Sound

Software programDecibel meter

Analyze Sound

LED,Monitor,Sound

Display Result

HandheldFixed device

Embodiment

Approach #1Thumping

The WHATs and HOWs: all of them

Concept evaluation

Sample individual work from Watermelon projectSketch and model of a motor to see how it would thumpSketch and model of a spring to see how it would thump

Evaluation of solutions based on important factors (i.e.: potential beneficiary’s needs/end-customer requirements) Make sketches and models to see how different solutions would achieve desired actionEmploy experimentation & analysis (e.g.: bench experiments and weighted-selection charts) to select THE HOW.

Sample individual work from Watermelon project (continued)

Weighted selection chartMotor Spring

Cost (x2) 0 1Accuracy 0 0Size 0 1Output 0 0Aesthetics 0 -1Total 0 1


Peer-Review result for thumpingSpring

Share results of experiments and analysis to determine which solution is the best way to achieve the action. Which HOW, given important factors (cost, accuracy, size, output, aesthetics), is THE HOW.

Research

Sample individual work from Watermelon project• Spring found that can perform desired action• Motor found that can perform desired action (even though motor ruled-out in previous step, it was still researched)

Search-out examples of your solution being used to perform the desired action or a similar action to determine if solution can be off-the-shelf or needs to be built from scratchCan include discussion with experts and end-customer


Peer-Review result: Research for thumpingOff-the-shelf spring available

Share results of research to determine if the solution can be purchased or a unique design needs to be created.

Test & Refine

Sample individual work from Watermelon projectRisks for spring:• Spring breaks• Loss of manual dexterity to trigger spring

Countermeasures for spring:• Alternative solution (motor)

Identify risks of solutions and countermeasures


Peer-Review result: Testing and Refinement for thumpingSpring is still viable

Share results of risks/countermeasures research to determine if the solution is still viable

Build Prototypes

Sample individual work from Watermelon projectParts are machined/ordered according to drawings and then assembled.

Develop sketches for each module to be developed


Peer-Review result for Watermelon projectSpring thumper performs as expected.

Prototypes are tested, results are evaluated and refinements are made if necessary.

Invention design exercise

Given the limited amount of time, this invention design exercise is significantly more restrictive than a normal invention design exercise. Your invention statement will be given to you and is also the only action (THE WHAT) your invention needs to perform. THE HOW is up to you.

You will perform this exercise in teams (4 teams of 4, 2 teams of 3)

Invention Statement:Invent a taco shell carrier, using a single piece of 14x17 paper, that will allow for said taco shell to descend from a height of approximately 30 feet to ground level without breaking.

Rules• No adhesives• You may cut & fold the sheet of paper• The paper must remain one continuous sheet• Use the invention design process and peer review!

Documents

Why have an invention design process? The invention design process The day’s exercise