Intro to Engineering & Design (PLTW-IED)

Automata Design Challenge

AUTOMATA DESIGN BREIF

CLIENT COMPANY: Automata Toys

TARGET CONSUMER: South Western School District Students

DESIGNER(S):

PROBLEM STATEMENT:
A manufacturer opened a competition to design and build an original hand-operated toy for its
U.S.-based market for girls and boys that attend South Western School District.
DESIGN STATEMENT:
You and your partner must design a toy that includes a mechanical system that will produce
realistic motion of a figure(s) or object(s) resulting from the rotation of an axle. The motion results
in the interaction or coordinated movement of at least two separate displayed objects.

OPERATION SPECIFICATIONS:
 The mechanical system must be human powered.
 The system must produce repetitive motion of figures or objects related to a theme agreed
upon with the teacher. Write your theme on the rubric checklist and obtain teacher
permission to continue. Theme:
 The axle must pass through the wood box. Turning the axle must convert the rotational
motion of the axle to linear motion of objects outside of the wood box.
 In addition to an axle, the mechanical system must include at least two cams. You may
include additional components, such as gears, levers and cranks to create a more realistic
motion if desired.
 The automata objects should display realistic motion of the real objects they represent.
Before manufacturing the mechanical components, students must create a motion graph to
represent the desired motion(s) of the displayed objects. The motion of the displayed
objects should accurately reflect the vertical motion represented by the motion graph.

QUALITY & RELIABILITY SPECIFICATIONS:

 The system must operate as designed for at least one minute at a sustained speed of one
revolution per second without noticeable damage to any component of the design.
 There must be no visible “slip” or “disconnect” between components in all cycles.

SAFETY SPECIFICAITONS:
 The product is safe within the criteria established by the teacher.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS:
 The design of the system must include a wood box manufactured in Project 3.9
Manufacturing a Box. (Outside Dimensions: 4”x 4.5”x 5”)
 The system must include components manufactured from at least three different materials,
including the wood used to construct the box. Connectors or adhesives are not considered
to be materials.
 The assembled hand-operated toy must fit completely within a rectangular prism that
measures 6 in. x 8 in. x 12 in. when in a static state.
 The cost of the system must not exceed , excluding the cost of the box
manufactured in Project 3.9 Manufacturing a Box (Spreadsheet showing actual costs must
be included in presentation).
 A 3D solid model of the system must provide the ability to alter the nominal diameter of
each cam causing an automatic change in the scale of the cam. This requires that each
cam incorporate parameter variables.

WORKING DRAWINGS:
Should include the following:
 Appropriate Cover Page with appropriate Assembly & Exploded Views with Balloons and
BOM
 Correct Title Blocks throughout
 A fully dimensioned part drawing for each individual part that includes appropriate
tolerances and notation.
 Any and all documentation and annotation necessary for the construction of your project.
 Completed and printed on correct “A” Size drawing template paper

**Additional criteria as determined by the class.

PROCEDURE:

Follow and document every step of the design

process in your Engineering Notebook…
Intro to Engineering & Design (PLTW-IED)
Automata Design Challenge Rubric
Incomplete: Basic: Proficient: Advanced:
1.INVENTOR/WORKING DRAWINGS: 0/100 60/100 85/100 100/100
 Appropriate Cover Page
 Correct Title Blocks throughout
 Appropriate Assembly & Exploded Views with Balloons and BOM
 A fully dimensioned part drawing for each individual part that includes appropriate
tolerances and notation.
 Any and all documentation and annotation necessary for the construction of your project.
 Completed on correct “A” Size drawing Template
 Somebody else could make your project based on your plans…
Incomplete: Basic: Proficient: Advanced:
2. OPERATION/FUNCTIONALITY: 0/50 30/50 40/50 50/50
 The mechanical system must be human powered.
 The system must produce repetitive motion of figures or objects related to a theme agreed
upon with the teacher. Write your theme on the rubric checklist and obtain teacher
permission to continue. Theme:
 The axle must pass through the wood box. Turning the axle must convert the rotational
motion of the axle to linear motion of objects outside of the wood box.
 In addition to an axle, the mechanical system must include at least two cams. You may
include additional components, such as gears, levers and cranks to create a more realistic
motion if desired.
 The automata objects should display realistic motion of the real objects they represent.
Before manufacturing the mechanical components, students must create a motion graph
(linear and radial graphs) to represent the desired motion(s) of the displayed objects. The
motion of the displayed objects should accurately reflect the vertical motion represented by
the motion graph.
QUALITY/RELIABILITY:
 The system must operate as designed for at least one minute at a sustained speed of one
revolution per second without noticeable damage to any component of the design.
 There must be no visible “slip” or “disconnect” between components in all cycles.
SAFETY:
 The product is safe within the criteria established by the teacher.
Incomplete: Basic: Proficient: Advanced:
3. GENERAL CONSTRAINTS: 0/50 30/50 40/50 50/50
 The design of the system must include a wood box manufactured in Project 3.9
Manufacturing a Box. (Outside Dimensions: 4”x 4.5”x 5”)
 The system must include components manufactured from at least three different materials,
including the wood used to construct the box. Connectors or adhesives are not considered
to be materials.
 The assembled hand-operated toy must fit completely within a rectangular prism that
measures 6 in. x 8 in. x 12 in. when in a static state.
  The cost of the system must not exceed
, excluding the cost of the box manufactured in Project 3.9 Manufacturing a Box
(Spreadsheet showing actual costs must be included in presentation).
 A 3D solid model of the system must provide the ability to alter the nominal diameter of
each cam causing an automatic change in the scale of the cam. This requires that each
cam incorporate parameter variables.
Incomplete: Basic: Proficient: Advanced:
4. CRAFTSMANSHIP: 0/100 60/100 85/100 100/100
 Project has been constructed in such a way that it is evident that much care and thought
has been put into the overall design…
 There are no obvious mistakes or errors in construction or assembly
 The overall design is challenging and ambitious from a design standpoint
 Attention to detail is obvious…
Incomplete: Basic: Proficient: Advanced:
5. FINAL ANALYSIS & 0/50 30/50 40/50 50/50
MATHMATICAL MODELING DOCUMENTATION:
 Type up a final report summarizing your project
o Report should include:
 Proper Cover Page
 Appropriate organization, formatting, spelling, and grammar throughout
 Use the information found below in the presentation outline to help frame out your final
written report/analysis on your automata design.
 Must include:
o Mathematical Modeling: Any spreadsheets/data documenting your design
mathematically; (includes linear and radial graphs of your cam design)
o Cost Analysis: Estimated total cost to construct your object must be documented
in a professional spreadsheet
Incomplete: Basic: Proficient: Advanced:
6. 5-10 MINUTE PRESENTATION: 0/50 30/50 40/50 50/50
 Proper introduction
 Initial design ideas/sources & how you came to your final design idea
 Problems/issues you encountered and how you overcame them
 An overall evaluation of your product/project using data and/or mathematical modeling to
justify your design…
 Things you learned in doing this project (“major take-a-ways”)
 Proper conclusion
 Presentation should include charts, diagrams, sketches, inventor parts, assemblies, etc to
showcase your work. LOTS OF VISUAL AIDS & MINMAL TEXT PLEASE!
 Presentation must include a working motion video of your Automata Project you created in
Inventor.
*See Presentation Rubric for more information

**50% deduction for any group that does not submit two completed identical projects for testing
*10% deduction for any late work

Comments:

Total Points: /400