Design Step 3
September 18 - October 2
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There were two main parts to this design step. The first one was our Decision Matrix. This gives our three concepts created in the previous step numerical values to help us decide which one to follow through with. We each had to create individual matrix's on a scale from 1-10 on how well the concept achieved the function. Once those were done, we found the averages of our three combined which produced our final matrix decision. We landed on Concept 2: A vaccine patch made from cheap materials, biodegradable microneedles, small and fitted packaging, and an instructional picture pamphlet on the patch wrapper.
Once we knew what concept we were creating, the second part was the Life Cycle Assessment. This paper and poster broke down six main sections to our final design: The raw materials used to produce our vaccine, the transportation/distribution methods, the manufacturing process, the waste/emissions produced throughout, the useability and reuse of our product, and the recyclable materials. This step took a large deal of research and helped us solidify what our final product will look like and the steps needed to get there. During these two weeks, we also began our online 3D modeling course on OnShape. These tools will help us in later steps when we have to design our product. Concepts Decision Matrix- a series of values in columns and rows that allows you to visually compare possible solutions by weighing their variables based on importance Life Cycle Assessment- is an analysis technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life Reflection This step went relatively well and passed quickly. A peak of this step would be our communication. We quickly discussed what was needed in this step and how to do it. We were also able to quickly divide and finish our sections on time. A pit seems to be a recurring problem with a team member lacking on their work. This can be fixed by addressing the issue directly and in a firm manner. |