Lesson 9: Iteration & Refining the Design
Duration of Days: 4
Lesson Objective
SWBAT:
Redesign a component based on failure or inefficiency discovered in testing.
Implement "Light-weighting" techniques without compromising safety.
If we could only change one thing to gain 5 more minutes of race time, what would it be?
Why is it harder to fix an existing design than it is to start from scratch?
Iteration, Refinement, Optimization, Light-weighting, Root Cause.
CT-CTE.EDP.A.05 (Refine the design); CT-CTE.EDP.B.10 (Improvement).
DOK Level: 3 (Strategic Thinking)
Students make design changes based on test data to optimize the vehicle.
Misconception: "Changing the design means we failed."
Correction: Finding a flaw and fixing it is the definition of success.
Support: Facilitate a "Peer Review" where teams check each other's evaluation of the vehicle.
Extension: Recalculate "Factor of Safety."
The "Before & After" Profile: Comparison showing improved performance data.