Reverse engineering is when you take apart an already existing product and document it heavily, in order to figure out how it works. This is a very important step when making enhancements to an already existing design. Liam and I came up with possible enhancements by looking at the original truck and thinking of things we could add that wouldn't interfere with how the product works, like a piece blocking the wheels from rotating.
The visual analysis is the first stage of reverse engineering. during this stage you document all of the principles and elements of design that are used in the original design of the truck from the front, top, and right views. In the second stage you infer the purpose of the pieces. You also figure out the function of the product . For the third and final stage of reverse engineering you perform a structural analysis. for this you take the truck apart and document important aspects of each part, like the material, the length, height, width, weight and density.
Andrew and I decided to split the work so that we did what would be the easiest for us to do.Andrew did all of the inventor modeling because that was andrews strength and it would have taken me 10 times longer to do then it did for Andrew and I did the Dimensioning. We both helped on the brainstorming though. Since Andrew and I had already worked together when we did the cardboard arcade, we didn't have to exchange personal information
Brainstorming Ideas
1. Wings and a Jet engine
2. Lift Kit
3. Trailer
4. Armored Troop Carrier
5. SPG (Self Propelled Gun)
1. Wings and a Jet engine
2. Lift Kit
3. Trailer
4. Armored Troop Carrier
5. SPG (Self Propelled Gun)
Evaluate solution
When I showed my parents Andrew and my design they thought that the modified car looked very cool and that that the idea was a good one.
The factors that you need to keep in mind when you are enhancing a design are that you don't want the enhancement to limit the original design or to keep it from working properly. After you are done modifying the original design you will want to be able to recognize it somewhat. It is also important to write down the brainstorming ideas on a piece of paper so that you wont forget them later on. The only problem that we ran into was that andrews truck wasn't working properly so we had to use my truck and only one of us could use it at a time, so andrew used it because he was the most experienced with inventor.Overall I think that Andrew and I worked together very well and would be glad to be in a group with him again.