You are on page 1of 5

Inquiring and Analyzing

Design Brief
The formal starting point of the design, states the expectations and design problem. Does not
provide the solution.The design brief states the intended outcome and the major constraints
within which it must be achieved.
Problem Statement (defines problem):
The problem is...
There is no efficient form of transportation by water in China right now.

Why is the problem important?


The problem is important because...
An efficient and reliable form of transportation on sea is important for trading long distances,
transporting people and goods, and improving the economy.

Goal/Aim (what will be accomplished by the design):


The goal/aim of the project is to...

Create a reliable and efficient form of water transportation that can travel long distances at a
consistent pace, that is also able to transport people and goods.

Target Audience (who will use/benefit from the product)


My target audience is...
Merchants looking to trade and distribute their goods more efficiently over larger distances.

Major Constraints (which place constraints on design; i.e. materials, cost, time, etc.)
The major constraints are...

Rules for the building of the boat are:


The hull of your boat may not be longer than your milk carton
The hull of your boat may not be wider than your milk carton.
Your paddlewheels may may extend the length and width of your boat.
You may not use any materials other than the ones on the lists below
You may only use the materials provided by Mr. Smith (you may use the carton and
chopsticks you are required to provide) In other words, you may not substitute my
rubber bands for your rubber bands, or my paperclips for your paperclips.
The allowed materials are 1 pair of wooden chopsticks, 1/2. gallon paper carton, 8 popsicle
sticks, 6 rubber bands, 10 paper clips, 6 staples, 6 inches of tape, 4 plastic spoons, and hot
glue used on paddles only (no hot glue on any part of the hull of your boat)

Time-Scale (how long will it take to produce your product)

Boats must be finished by Friday, February 3rd.

Design Examples (describes the main features of an existing product that inspires a solution to the
problem) Some examples of good designs are...

This paddle boats paddle wheels on the


side which is a design I would like to
use, but the paddle wheels are also
large which you usually only see in
boats with the paddle wheel on the
back.

https://diy.org/rabinovitch/63115
Video shows how to propel a vehicle using a rubber band and chopsticks, two materials we
use, and makes me not as confused on moving my boat.
Investigation continued...

What do you need to know to develop a solution to the problem? (These questions should guide
your investigation) Prioritize your list with most important things first.
(Add rows as needed)

Research Question Priority (#) Why it is important Sources

Example: What is the best 3 Hull shape and Internet: pictures of various
hull shape for improved hydrodynamics has an impact boat hull designs
hydrodynamics? on the paddleboats speed
and stability. Interviews of boaters

How will I make the boat 1 To win the race, your boat Internet: Instructions or
move without using my must go as fast as possible, tutorial video on how to build
hands? and to make it go fast, you a rubber band powered
want to have an effective way vehicle.
of propelling your boat.

What is the best material and 4 The build of your propeller is Internet: Pictures/videos of
design for my propeller? very important in making a diy paddle boats using
fast but stable boat, because different items for paddles
if it is too fast it wont be very
stable, but if its overly stable,
it will not go fast enough.

How will I keep my boat 2 To make your boat a boat, it Test weight limit of paper milk
above water? must float on water, or else it carton.
wont be able to race, and
you also dont want your boat
to collapse mid race.

How should I arrange my 5 To make my boat as fast and Internet: Pictures of boat
different paddles and parts on stable as possible, I need building, and interviews of
the hull of my boat? proper balance when racing. boat builders.

How can I effectively use all 6 If I can find a way to use all of Internet: Different pictures of
of my materials, and not let the given parts, and make homemade boats using said
anything go to waste? them do something effective, materials well
my boat will probably perform
better.
Respond when your investigation is complete. What sources did you use for research and what
relevant findings did you make. Be specific here, include web addresses, specific individuals,
book titles, etc. Think of this section as answers to the things you listed in the questions above.
The sources I used were...the information I found was...

Research Question Findings Sources

Example: What is the best hull shape After looking at dozens of pictures of Internet:
for improved hydrodynamics? various types of boats, such as, paddle http://www.compositesworld.com/articles
boats, race boats, cargo ships, fishing /the-basics-of-boat-design
boats, etc, I found that a boat with a http://www.thewoodenboatschool.com/b
squared back with a V shaped bow are oatbuilding/boat-design-elements.php
most commonly used, providing the best
hydrodynamics and boat stability. Google Images: pictures of various boat
hull designs

Interviews with frequent boaters


-Sergeant Amos (Coast Guard)
-Private Cunningham (Navy)
-My Dad (fisherman)
-My friend Blake (water skier)

How will I make the boat move without The video in the link shows that when Internet:
using my hands? building a rubber band powered vehicle, https://diy.org/rabinovitch/63115
to power the vehicle, you cut a rubber
band, knot one end, tape the knotted Google Images:
end down, loop the free end around the
axle to create tension, and release it to
propel it forward.

What is the best material and design for When looking at pictures and Internet:
my propeller? instructions for paddleboats, the most http://www.instructables.com/id/Rubber-
common propeller type was made of Band-Powered-Boat/step2/Materials-req
some form of wood, so I will most likely uired/
be using popsicle sticks as my paddles.
Google Images:
How will I keep my boat above water? In this article it says that one gallon Internet:
milk carton can float 4 pounds of weight, http://eastpdxnews.com/general-news-fe
so to ensure my boat not only floats, but atures/class-teaches-how-make-a-milk-c
is fast and effective, my maximum arton-boat-that-floats-2/
weight should be less than 3 pounds.
Google Images:
None applicable to situation.

How should I arrange my different If you have one propeller you should Internet:
paddles and parts on the hull of my place it in the very back of your boat to http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administrati
boat? make sure it propels evenly, and with on_pdf/2002jrnat7.pdf
two paddles you place them parallel on http://www.kidsvt.com/vermont/propeller-
either side at the back of the boat. sailboat/Content?oid=2129349

Google Images:

How can I effectively use all of my To effectively use all of my materials, I Internet:
materials, and not let anything go to may use two different paddle types, and http://www.kidsvt.com/vermont/propeller-
waste? also shorten the length and width of the sailboat/Content?oid=2129349
hull, and then add some of the other
materials to the sides of the hull to Google Images:
provide more balance to the boat. Pictures of boat designs using different
pieces.

You might also like