Unit 3 Lesson 3 Notes
Unit 3 Lesson 3 Notes
Big Idea:
Systems are the building blocks of technology, and users must properly maintain, troubleshoot, and analyze
systems to ensure safe and proper function.
Big Idea:
Companies use reverse engineering to analyze the functioning and manufacturing of a current product for
product improvement and/or optimization.
Vocabulary:
Error Replicate
Minutiae Reverse engineering (RE)
Political implications Technological implications
Product Unstructured process
Profit
Guided Notes:
Forward Engineering vs. Reverse Engineering
Forward Engineering: process of moving from high-level abstractions and logical designs to the physical
implementation of a system.
Why Reverse Engineer?
The Original manufacturer of a product no longer produces a product.
The original design documentation has been lost or never existed
Some bad features of a product need to be designed out.
To explore new avenues to improve product performance and features.
To gain competitive benchmarking methods to understand competitors’ products and develop better
products.
To update obsolete materials or antiquated manufacturing processes with more current, less-
expensive technologies.
Reverse Engineering
Reverse engineering includes:
Identifying the system's components and their interrelationships
Creating representations of the system in another form or a higher level of abstraction
Creating the physical representation of that system
Steps of Reverse Engineering
Prediction
• What is the purpose of this product?
• How does it work?
• What market was it designed to appeal to?
• List some of the design objective for the product.
• List some of the constraints that may have influenced the design.
Observation
• How do you think it works?
• How does it meet design objectives (overall)?
• Why is it designed this way?
Disassemble
• How does it work?
• How is it made?
• How many parts?
• How many moving parts?
• Any surprises?
Analyze
• Carefully examine and analyze subsystems (i.e. structural, mechanical, and electrical)
• Develop annotated sketches that include measurements and notes on components, system design,
safety and controls
Test
• Carefully reassemble the product
• operate the device and record observations about its performance in terms of functionality
(operational and ergonomic) and projected durability