Ideas Taking Shape and Form

Over the past few classes we've begun to ask questions that will lead us to better understand our design challenge.  We've collected information about simple machines, working prototypes and potential energy.  Now's the time to begin letting our ideas begin to take shape.

This week we've started putting into words our Design Specifications, those detailed and specific criteria our mars rovers need to meet in order for them to be successful.  What must our rovers do and what features or characteristics must they have for them to meet the challenge?  When we set these concepts down, they provide for us a road map with a goal we can use to guide us through the process of designing a few potential solutions.

As we continue this week, we'll begin to sketch out 2 dimensional drawings of our rover concepts.  We'll design vehicles that are built out of a chassis, wheel and axles and include some form of propulsion.  The more concepts we come up with, the more options we'll have to choose from before we begin to build.  Eventually, we'll pair down our ideas to a final concept with labeled features and annotated measurements.  Whichever concept best meets our specifications will become the solution we decide to build.

I look forward to seeing all the amazing and crazy ideas you come up with... tempered with the reality that each of these designs will be driven by the need to meet our specifications.

Good luck designers!

Resources:
Developing Ideas Task Specific Rubric
Developing Ideas Student Worksheet Template


Images:
Balloon Car by MML
kinetically fueled car by James Noonan