Today’s Progress:​

Integrative Thinking Template: During our class today, we learnt about the concept of integrative thinking. This problem-solving approach allowed us to explore ways to leverage opposing models to generate innovative solutions. We’ve learned and practiced the step-by-step process, as outlined below:

1. Identify Two Opposing Models: This involves identifying two contrasting models or solutions based on a problem statement.

2. Build a Pro-Pro Chart: In this step, we learned to identify the advantages of each model, encouraging us to value and leverage the strengths of each.

3. Identify the Tension: We discovered how to highlight the core tension between the models

4. Create a new Choice: With a clear understanding of the tension and the pros of each model, we then innovated a new model that integrates the strengths of both while addressing the tension.

Sketch Updates​

Alongside our classroom learnings, we continued to build on our design sketches.

Teaching Assistant (claretb) Feedback​

Attachments:

It really makes sense to create an attachable design with some attachments. In this way the robot can be converted to a race car or a sumo bot or anything you want. One of the most attracting things for me is making some modular thing.

Even you don’t have to create a robot from scratch. Maybe you can use the current Curio design and create some attachments. Just an idea…

Today’s Progress:​

• Sketches: Our team worked on creating new design sketches using AutoCAD. The focus of these sketches was to envision a design that is simple to assemble and uses recyclable materials such as cardboard.

• Weekly Pitch Video Feedback: We received valuable feedback on our presentation video from both our professor and teaching assistant. Their comments have given us a fresh perspective and actionable insights to improve our design process and future presentations.

Our thoughts on the feedback​

Overall we felt that our project was on the right track as the our goals and the scope of the project align with what the professor had in mind. We were also able to gain insight into what aspect of the project we should focus on such as the designs and analyses on Curio as well as the specific parts of the Curio robot that can be improved on in terms of sustainability. The professor also pointed out the fact of the likelihood of the robot being damaged which was something that we considered as group and felt that one possible solution was including a “base plate” sort of design where the user could replace the damaged part by cutting out an outline on a piece of cardboard on the base plate. We also noted that we should include what we learnt from the prototypes and pick out certain features or points that can be incorporated into our final design such as the front and back of the smartibot. We gained valuable feedback on the video as a whole and will tweak the future pitch videos to sound less sped up, include our learning and the designs and analyses on Curio.

AutoCAD Sketches​

Front view:

Back view:

Side view:

Sketch​

We have sketched the top view too.

Top view:

Videos​

The car moving forward.

The car doing a 360°turn

Teaching Assistant (claretb)​

I liked how in your video, you expressed your initial thoughts about the design and then, with the feedback from your partner, managed to define an MVP for yourselves. This way, you successfully created a clear goal statement and sharpened your objectives.

While reviewing your daily logs, the example of the prototype applied on Curio caught my attention, and I was hoping to see that sketch in the video as well. The explanations and the identified problems that could be addressed with this prototype were well expressed. Instead of focusing on Smartibot in the video, it would have been more effective to highlight and discuss the changes that could be made on Curio.

As a team, I can advise you to focus on creating designs and presenting analyses on Curio. This way, you can receive feedback more easily from partners and also evaluate your own prototypes to gain insights. If you can also mention the learnings you gained from the prototype next time, I’m sure we will make even more progress.

P.S. I had a lot of fun with the design of your presentation, the robot figures around it were very intriguing :slight_smile:

Professor (jgrizou)​

Video sounds sped up. Please do this with caution, the video is bordeline too fast to follow.

Learned from user

I am glad we managed to re-align on the scope of this project, I think you now have a good picture of what the goals are.

How likely do you think it is that a robot get damaged?

I like the sustainable angle, but was not sure on which specific parts do you think we can improve upon?

Learned from prototype

I am not sure about what you learned from the Smartibot at this stage. Am I right to say that the video say that the Smartibot has a clear front and back because of the face on the robot? Did you learn anything else from it?

Today’s Progress:​

Clarifying Deliverables: Today, we had a productive discussion with our professor to gain clarity on the project deliverables. The conversation allowed us to understand the project’s expectations better and what is actually required of the team.

Simplified Assembly: The professor stressed the importance of ensuring our final product is easy to assemble, similar to an ‘out-of-the-box’ concept. He also highlighted the comparisons between the curio and smartibot design features and how each design had its own advantages and disadvantages and finding a middle ground between the two designs would be ideal.

Iterative Design: We also established that while our final product can be one finalized design, it is crucial to document and demonstrate the design iterations that lead to the final product. This will showcase our design journey and the considerations that shaped the final product.

Prototyping Session:​

Our class today was dedicated to understanding more about prototyping methodologies. We gained insights into choosing a prototyping method suitable for our project as well as clearing up any prior misconceptions we had about prototyping. It also helped us learn more about the logic and steps to prototyping that we may not have considered going into the class.

Reflections and Learnings:​

Overall, the professor’s advice has given us a clearer direction on how to approach the design process. We understood the importance of simplicity and ease of assembly in our design, which will guide our prototyping phase. Learning about various prototyping methodologies has also given us a toolbox of techniques we can choose from, depending on the specific needs of each design iteration.

Smartibot​

We sketched this out to find out more about how we can incorporate certain design features of the smartibot into our prototype.

Front view of the smartibot:

Back view of the smartibot:

Images of Sketches:​

We have sketched some preliminary ideas.

Initial Idea 1:

Initial Idea 2:

Today’s Progress:​

• Initiated discussions on design iterations for the Curio robot. The primary aim was to add value while still keeping the design affordable and accessible.

• We strategized and came up with a number of design implementations, aiming to optimize the robot’s functionality and user interaction:

  • Face + Speed: A base design using the base features of the smartibot to address the issue with identifying the front of the robot and the speed of the robot
  • Smartibot with Curio: Explored the feasibility of integrating Smartibot into Curio. This aims to enhance the design by enabling quicker and more effective design explorations.
  • Teapot Design with Phone: Explored the potential of implementing the ‘teapot’ design of the smartibot kit while including a dedicated spot for the user’s phone. This would improve user interaction and extend the capabilities of the robot by leveraging the phone’s sensors.
  • Battle Bots: Brainstormed ideas for a ‘Battle Bots’ feature that enables users to add components to the base of the robot using simple household materials.
  • Base Plate with Face + Attachments that can Self-Make (Tentative): Contemplated on an innovative base plate design with a ‘face’ and the ability to replace certain components of the robot if faulty using simple household materials given a base plate.
  • Challenges: Identifying the balance between innovative design and cost-effectiveness

Upcoming Priorities:​

• Start sketching out designs based on the ideas that were generated during the meeting.
• Establishing concrete goals and deadlines for each design iteration.

Today’s Progress​

1. Split tasks among the team members to maximize efficiency and progress
2. Made plans for the prototyping of the curio robot including the initial designs and additional components that can be added to the robot
3. Set goals and deadlines to meet in the coming week
4. Made arrangements to meet and work on the prototype and project deliverables in the coming days

Customer Questions​

1. Who are the target audience
2. What are the limitations of the current design, more specific about the speed(functional and non functional requirements)
3. What are the limitations of the hardware aspect
4. What are the limitations of the aesthetic aspect
5. Are the stakeholders of the company aiming for sustainability by using recyclable items
6. If a part of the robot is spoilt, can it be easily replace or do we have to change the entire robot
7. What is the current lifespan of the product (durability)
8. How is it being charged or is it operated by battery lifespan
9. What are the type of mobile or devices that can be used on the robot