Table of Contents
Unit 1- Understand the Problem
Unit 2- Gather Information
Unit 3-Develop Solutions
Unit 4-Implement a Solution
Unit 5-Test and Evaluate
Unit 6-Redesign and Communicate
What are Land Speed Record Vehicles?
Land Speed Record Vehicles are fast. In fact,
they are like rockets on wheels. Land Speed
Record Vehicles are raced where it’s flat for long
stretches, like in the desert or on a dry lake bed.
You have just been hired as a research and development engineer
at Racer Designs, Inc. Racer Designs is a small company known for
testing the limits of race car design.
At Racer Designs, research and development follows a standard
process. First prototype, or model, cars are designed, or planned,
and built. Then they are tested and evaluated. If a prototype car
performs well, a full-size car is built from the design or plan.
Building a full-size car is very expensive. Before driving the full-size
car in a race, it is also tested and evaluated.
Your goal is to develop a prototype race car. The design should
consider aerodynamic concepts, such as drag, weight, and friction.
Most projects start with specifications. Specifications, or “specs”,
are a list of the required elements and features for a design.
Specs identify the criteria, or conditions, and restrictions for the
design.
DO: Get the race car specifications form. (1-2)
DO: Notice the columns to check that your design
meets the specifications.
DO: Review the specifications.
You will fill out the Specs Form
at a later date. Right now I
would just like you to review
the sheet with your partner.
Your goal is to develop a prototype race car. The
design should consider aerodynamic concepts, such as
drag, weight, and friction.
Specifications are a list of required elements and features,
the criteria, or conditions, and restrictions for the design.
The steps in the technological problem solving method
serve as the guide for this project.
When you are working on
the Race Car Design Project,
you can use the
technological problem
solving method. This
method is a process for
solving a challenge.
You will use a technological
problem solving method to
design a prototype race car.
Sometimes you may need to
revisit activities that you
have already done. For
examples, you may need to
gather more information
before you can test your
solution.
When solving a problem, a checklist is an easy way to keep track of
your work. A checklist is a way to break a project into a series of
tasks. A checklist can help to put tasks in an order to be done.
You will use a checklist to work on this project. You can take notes
about your progress at the end of each class on the checklist. You
will also date tasks when you complete them.
DO: Get the race car design
checklist. (1-3)
DO: Write today’s date in the
box next to Activity 1:
Understand the Problem
The technological problem solving method is a process for
solving a challenge. It involves several steps: understand the
problem, gather information, develop solutions, implement a
solution, test and evaluate, and redesign and communicate the
solution.
A checklist is a way to break a project into a series of tasks
that need to be completed. A checklist can help to put tasks
in order to be done.
Congratulations! You have completed Unit One- Understand
the Problem. You will now move onto Unit 2. The power
point is titled “Unit 2 – Gather Information”.