The final solution of the terrestrial VEX robot must be able to safely relocate the eggs of the endangered piping plover without damaging the surrounding environment. The final solution for the aquatic variant of the VEX robot must be able to maneuver around a 10’ by 10’ by 10’ tank and complete a set of challenges. These challenges are placing a ball through a hoop, towing a friendly vessel, planting a buoy, sinking an enemy vessel, and cutting the finish line.
My group will give a series of tests, ranging from preliminary tests to final tests, on the VEX robot design in order to create the optimum VEX robot. There are a various amounts of testing that go into the process of creating a VEX robot, and these include exploratory tests, assessment tests, validation tests, and comparison tests. Exploratory tests are questions which are asked by each group in order to begin designing. Assessment tests are used to determine the creation and development the alternate solutions. Validation tests are the tests given to each alternate solution during the rationale process to determine the best solution. Comparison tests are tests given to possible the apparatuses in order to define the better solution.
Exploratory tests:
· What are the challenges that need to be completed?
· How can we complete each challenge?
· How could this product be used in the real world?
· Would this design appeal to environmentalists? (to save the piping plover)
· Would this design appeal to the Coast Guard? (to complete the AIM challenges)
· What kind of materials do we need to construct such a machine?
Assessment tests:
· Will the machine complete all of the tasks?
· Is the VEX robot efficient?
· Would each apparatus be effective in doing its specialized task?
· Is the VEX robot practical?
Validation tests:
· Can this design be constructed?
· Will it be able to complete each challenge without major error?
· Is the VEX robot usable?
Comparison tests:
· Is the claw more accurate than the slingshot?
· Is it more efficient to use the mechanical arm to tow a vessel or use electromagnets?
· Is it easier to build and use to use a claw to plant a buoy over a slide to drop the buoy?
· Which would be better equipped to sink a boat? A claw or an arm?
Design Questions:
Useful
· Can the VEX Robot parts complete all of the challenges both aquatic and terrestrial?
· Does the VEX Robot float and fit in the tank for the aquatic challenges?
· Can the VEX Robot easily traverse the sand dunes without leaving deep tracks?
Usable
· Is it portable enough for one man to carry?
· Does the remote controller properly relay commands to each apparatus?
Desirable
· Is the movement through the water efficient?
· Will anything hinder the mobility of the craft while on land?
· Does it look pleasing to the eye?
Producible
· Is the VEX Robot assembled in way that will not be extremely difficult?
· Are the materials easy to find and relatively inexpensive?
Differentiated
· Does each apparatus efficiently complete each challenge?
· Does it work better than any other possible solution?
