Engineering Processes: Define the Problem
The First Step in Engineering is to Assess/Create the Need and
to Define the Problem that will be Solved.
It is critical not to simply restate assumed solutions but to focus only
on the problem in order to keep your mind open and unbiased.
take any situation and structure it into "layers"
- layers can be artificial, practical, or physical
- layers are /called systems and subsystems
- There are various models for doing this:
Hourglass Model
/|\
somewhat less visible
| _______________
| \ /
| -------------
| \ / EXTERNALS (corporations, universe, etc.)
| --------- Externals affect the Focus overtly, constantly
| \ / people must make conscious concerted effort to affect Externals
\|/ -------
visible ( ) FOCUS: the here, the physical environment or people
/|\ -------
| / \
| -------
| / \ INTERNALS (beliefs, genetics, atoms etc.)
| --------- Internals affect the Focus overtly, constantly
| / \ people must make conscious concerted effort to affect Internals
| -------------
much less visible
\|/
Onion Model
every layer you peel, there's a thicker layer inside
Altitude View Model
Look at problem from varying heights (from a plane or from a mountain)
Highest altitude shows entire system
Lower altitudes show subsystems
How do the systems affect each other?
look at interfaces between levels of abstraction
flow down (through layers) -> objectives, needs, requirements, specifications
flow up (through layers) -> constraints, tolerances, conflicts, constraints
Example of Problem Definition and System Structuring:
Comunity through Dining
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+-> Common Dining
|
+-> Only for Dinner Meal
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+-> Food is Served
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+-> Dinner is at 5pm
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+-> only one menu possible
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+-> there will always be bread
|
+-> bread will always be wheat
Discussion of Term Project Problem
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