Name: Zanab, Katie, Taylor, Victoria

Period: 1
Date Started: 5/25/16
Due Date:
Group Members:
Foundations of Technology
Unit 4 Lesson 1: The Core Technologies
File 4.1.3: Rube Goldberg Design Brief Design Folio
1.

Date: 5/25/16

Define the Problem

Develop a problem statement that identifies the what, who, when and how the problem
should be addressed.

We have been hired by a local museum to design an interactive Rube

Goldberg exhibit for visitors to learn about Rube Goldberg, simple
machines and core technology. We need to make the exhibit fun and
informational, the museum wants our device to use a wide variety of core
technologies and simple machines in creative and interesting ways. We
need accomplish watering a plant.
2. Brainstorming
Sketch five possible subsystems that you might use in your final design to meet the
criteria and constraints of the design challenge. Clearly identify and describe how each
of these ideas uses core technologies and simple machines.

3. Research and Generating Ideas

In the space below, document your research. Be sure to include proper citations at the
end of your notes.

Notes:
Mechanical : Toy car
Biotechnology: Plants
Structural technology: Wood frame
Fluid technology: Water
Material technology: Plastic pipe
Inclined Plane
Pulley

Citations/References

Bob123834. "Watering a Plant Rube Goldberg Style." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Jan. 2013.
Web. 25 May 2016
Build Your Own Rube Goldberg." Build Your Own Rube Goldberg. Virtual Learning, n.d.
Web

4. Identifying criteria and specifying constraints

What are the criteria and constraints of the design problem?

Criteria
Constraints
Constructed from materials provided by
At least 5 out of 9 core
the teacher and one item from home
technologies must be used
Cost should be minimized
At least 2 subsystems
Safe to operate
Must complete the task between
1 -3 minutes
Device cannot be touched or altered
during process
Must fit within a 24 wide x 24

long x 18 high volume

Materials List: Based on your brainstorming and the criteria and constraints, list the
materials you plan to use to meet the design requirements.
1 Live plant
Toy Car
Wood pieces to support the platic piping
Water bottle to use so we can water the plant
Paper towel and tolet paper roles
Hot glue Guns
String
Fabric

5. Exploring possibilities
Reflect on your brainstorm ideas and research notes and describe the plusses and
minuses of each design approach you have considered.
Brainstorming
Idea

Pluses

Minuses

More wood componets

The wood will get wet after the first test run

Idea 2

Toy car leading the

water

The car could more off track and make the

water run off corse

Idea 3

Pipe to lead the water

in pot

The pipe could lead the water on the

ground

Idea 1

Did alternative solutions arise as you initially evaluated your designs? Cite
examples.

Instead of using wood frames the entire time we could use pipes to lead the water so
the wood doesnt become soggy.

4.
6. Selecting an Approach
a. Enter the constraints and criteria of the project in the first column.
b. Score your brainstorming ideas against each constraint or criterion and indicate how
well the idea meets the criteria and constraints.
3 pts = easily meets, 2 pts = somewhat meets, 1 pt = does not meet
c.
Total the columns and circle the highest score to indicate your best design
idea.
c.
Write a short paragraph justifying your solution. Include trade-offs that were
made in the selection.
Constraint/Cri
teria

Brainstorm
ing Idea 1

Brainstorm
ing Idea 2

Brainstorm
ing Idea 3

Devices cannot
be altered
during
experiment

At least 2
subsystems

24 wide x 24
long x 18 high
volume

Must be safe to
operate

At least 5 out of
9 core
technologies
must be used

Brainstorm
ing Idea 4

Brainstorm
ing Idea 5

12

12

15

Must fit within a

Total
Justify the solution

1
12

12

We are choosing brainstorming idea 3, we are choosing it becasue it meets all of the
constraints and criteria and it had the highest score.

7. Developing a Design Proposal

Take your highest scoring brainstorming ideas and create working drawings (sketches
with dimensions, so that you could build your project) of your complete device. Attach
your working drawings to this sheet.
In addition to the drawings in your design proposal, use the material type and cost data
in the design brief to predict the cost of materials for your device. Remember, the
customer wants to keep the cost of the device down as much as possible. The following
table will help you organize your cost data and calculate a predicted cost before you
build.
Material to be Used
live plant

Cost Per Unit

$ 0.00

Total Cost
$ 0.00

tolet paper roles

$0.00

$0.00

wood pieces

$0.00

$0.00

toy car

$0.00

$0.00

Plastic cup

$0.00

$0.00

marbles

$0.00

$0.00

dominoes

20

$0.00

$0.00

Fabric sheet

$0.00

$0.00

Water

$0.00

$0.00

Plastic wrap

$0.00

$0.00

Total:

Qty

$0.00

8. Making a model or prototype

In the space below, document (using digital pictures) your construction of the
model/prototype. Be sure to include a picture of the final model/prototype.
Construction in Process

Construction in Process

Construction in Process

Final Product

9. Testing and Evaluating the Design, using specifications

As you create your solution, you will perform tests to make sure that the solution is
meeting the needs of the given problem. If your solution does not work, you may need
to repeat the previous steps of the Engineering Design Process, until you find a
functional design. In the space below, document the type of tests you conducted and the
results.
Test Performed

At least 5 out of 9 core technologies must

be used

At least 2 subsystems

Must fit within a 24 wide x 24 long x

Test Results
We included 5 out of 9 core
technologies in the project.

We included2 subsystems in the

project.

The project fit the measurment

requirments.

18 high volume

10.Refining the Design

Based on your tests, what design refinements should be made to the prototype to
ensure that it can satisfy all of the criteria and constraints of the design problem.
We had to refine the materials we had by making them stronger and sturdier with tape.
We also had to completely remove the marbles form the porject because they werent
working like we wanted them to so instead we just used the water.

11.Creating or making it
Modify your model/prototype to incorporate the design refinements you identified in
section 10. Document the construction of the model/prototype. Be sure to include
sketches/pictures as appropriate.
Construction in Process

Construction in Process

Construction in Process

Final Product

A Video of the project working will be up on Taylor Swansons weebly.

12.Communicating processes and results

a. Demonstrate the operation of your Rube Goldberg device to the class. As part of
your demonstration, describe the steps involved and point out the core technologies
& simple machines used in your device.
b. Time Required to complete the task: _________ min. and _______ sec.

c. In the table below, describe each

machines used.
Subsystem
thumb tack and string
wood block against wall
wood blocks
toy car
water
toilet paper rolls with aluminum foil

subsystem & list the core technologies or simple

Core Technology or Simple Machine Used
pulley
inclined plane
structural
mechanical
fluid
material

d.
Final Cost Estimation and Comparison
Using the material type and cost data in your design brief, estimate the final cost of your
device.
Material Used
toy cars

Qty
2

Cost Per Unit

0.00

Total Cost
0.00

flower plant

0.00

0.00

toilet paper rolls

10

0.00

0.00

aluminum foil

alot

0.00

0.00

wood blocks

0.00

0.00

tumb tacks

0.00

0.00

string

0.00

0.00

water

0.00

0.00

felt bag

0.00

0.00

Total

0.00

Predicted Cost from Design Proposal

0.00

Difference (Final Cost Predicted Cost)

Percent Difference (Final Cost Predicted Cost)/(Final Cost) x 100

e.
Mechanical Advantage Calculation
To meet specifications, your final device should have included at least 2 simple machines.
Examine one of the simple machines used in your device and calculate the mechanical
advantage (MA) it creates. Be sure to show all your work and the actual measurements you
obtained from your device. Refer to the mechanical advantage worksheet we went over in
class for examples of how to calculate MA for various simple machines.

Category

Below Average

Average

Excellent

Define
Problem

Rephrases the
problem with
limited clarity.

Develops a problem statement that

includes the who, what, when, and
how the problem will be addressed.
Recorded in the Engineering Folio
or EDJ.

Develops a problem statement that is clearly

and precisely stated. The problem statement
includes the who, what, when, and how the
problem will be addressed. Recorded in the
Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Brainstorm
Possible
Solutions

Contributes few or
implausible ideas.

Contributes a series of plausible

ideas, which are recorded in the
Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Contributes multiple plausible ideas, which

are expanded upon to show understanding of
the concept. All notes are recorded in the
Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Research
Ideas/ Explore
Possibilities

Contributes ideas,
but without
documented
research. Produces
incomplete
sketches.

Specify
Constraints
and Identify
Criteria

Does not identify

the criteria and/or
fails to specify
constraints.

Clearly identifies the criteria and

specifies the constraints listed in
the design specifications. All notes
are recorded in the Engineering
Folio or EDJ.

Consider
Alternative
Solutions

Inadequate
analysis of a
variety of possible
solutions.

Satisfactorily analyzes a variety of

possible solutions, based on
research and the relationship of
those designs to the criteria and
constraints. All notes are recorded
in the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Select an
Approach

Selection of
solution is not
justified based on
consideration of
criteria and
constraints.

Selects and justifies a promising

solution based on the problem
statement as well as the criteria
and constraints. Uses some type of
evaluation method to determine
the final design. All notes are
recorded in the Engineering Folio or
EDJ.

Develop a
Written Design
Proposal

Design proposal is
inadequate and
lacking pertinent
information.

Make a Model
or Prototype

The model or
prototype meets
the task criteria to
a limited extent.

Test and
Evaluate

Testing and
evaluation
processes are
inadequate.

Testing and evaluation processes

are defined in the Design Proposal
and align to the problem
statement. The data collected
during evaluation can be used to
improve the design. All notes are
recorded in the Engineering Folio or
EDJ.

Testing and evaluation processes are clearly

defined in the Design Proposal and align to
the problem statement. The data collected
during evaluation is clearly documented and
can be used to improve the design. All notes
are recorded in the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Refine/
Improve

Refinement based
on testing and
evaluation is not
evident.

Refinements were made from data

collected during testing and
evaluation. Data-driven decision
making is clearly evident, and the
solution has improved based on

Refinements were made from data collected

during testing and evaluation. Data-driven
decision making is clearly evident and
documented. Refinements to the solution are
clearly documented, and the solution has

Contributes several additional

plausible ideas and includes
documented research. Produces
accurate conceptual models to
show the design concepts. All notes
are recorded in the Engineering
Folio or EDJ.

Design proposal contains the who,

what, when, where, and how the
solution will be developed as well
as how the solution will be
evaluated and what tests will be
conducted to determine success.
Includes annotated sketches,
notes, and technical drawings.
Recorded in the Engineering Folio
or EDJ.
The model or prototype is neatly
developed to meet the problem
statement and the given criteria
and constraints. A record of the
construction process can be found
in the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Contributes many additional plausible ideas

and with clearly documented research.
Produces accurate conceptual models to show
the design concepts with annotated sketches.
All notes are recorded in the Engineering Folio
or EDJ.
Clearly identifies the criteria and specifies the
constraints that are listed in the design
specifications and some that are not but
pertain to their suggested design. All notes
are recorded in the Engineering Folio or EDJ.
Did not enter the research phase with a
preconceived idea of the final design.
Satisfactorily analyzes a variety of possible
solutions, based on research and the
relationship of those designs to the criteria
and constraints. All notes are recorded in the
Engineering Folio or EDJ.
Selects and thoroughly justifies a promising
solution based on the problem statement,
criteria, and constraints as well as evidence
collected through research. Uses some type
of evaluation method to determine the final
design. All notes are recorded in the
Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Design proposal is written technically and

precisely and contains the who, what, when,
where, and how the solution will be
developed as well as how the solution will be
evaluated and what tests will be conducted to
determine success. Includes annotated
sketches, notes, and technical drawings.
Recorded in the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

The model or prototype is neatly and

precisely developed to meet the problem
statement and the given criteria and
constraints. A record of the construction
process can be found in the Engineering Folio
or EDJ.

testing. All notes are recorded in

the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

improved based on testing. All notes are

recorded in the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Create/
Make Product

Finished solution
(product) fails to
meet specifications.

Finished solution (product) aligns to

the design proposal and reflects the
Engineering Design Process and
includes evidence of refinement
based on testing and evaluation of
the design. The process(es) used to
create the product are recorded in
the Engineering Folio or EDJ.

Finished solution (product) aligns to the

design proposal and reflects the Engineering
Design Process and includes evidence of
refinement based on testing and evaluation of
the design. The solution (product) is well
constructed and easily meets the problem
statement. The process(es) used to create
the product are recorded in the Engineering
Folio or EDJ.

Communicate
Results

Solution presented
with limited
accuracy. Limited
supporting
evidence on how
the solution meets
the task criteria.

Solution is presented accurately

and precisely using the Engineering
Folio or the EDJ. The Engineering
Design Process is well documented,
with supporting evidence. All
information aligns to how the
solution meets the problem
statement as well as the criteria
and constraints.

Solution is presented accurately and precisely

using the Engineering Folio or the EDJ. The
Engineering Design Process is well
documented, with supporting evidence. All
information aligns to how the solution meets
the problem statement as well as the criteria
and constraints. A more formal
presentation/showcase was developed to
support the solution.