User:BrittanyJ/ENES-100/Project 0/Conceive

CONCEIVING AND ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

Idea
To learn how to use the engineering mindset with a beginner project that can be used as a foundation for other larger projects.

Problem Statement
Build a working fin ray out of material found around the house.

Competitors and benchmarking information
The entire class is on the same mission to start thinking and documenting projects like an engineer. The other up-and-coming engineers are considered to be competitors due to the fact they are start at the same time with the same mission.

Being able to complete the basic structure and visualize where it can be implemented into a bigger project down the road is the most important benchmark to achieve with this project.

Influences
The fin ray has been used by a company named Festo to create several invention based on the fin ray.

Below are some examples of their work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8MJTbzM0UE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vT-oidWyXE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-O8-N71Qcw

Initial target goals (based on needs, opportunities and other influences)
The initial goal is to build a basic fin ray in ordered to meet the basic needs of a bigger project idea of a invention or other opportunities with the same basic concept of the fin ray.

Necessary system functions
In order for this project to be a success, the fin ray needs to be able to move at minimum with gravity along the frame of the fin ray.

Project cost and schedule
The cost of this project will be minimal do to the limitation placed on the project. The material must be materials found around the house. In addition, this project last only two weeks. Thus the project must be finish within this time frame.

Next Steps
In order to succeed in this project, it would be beneficial to view other fin rays that others have already successfully built.

Below are some examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=550lWHJGKCk

Diagram