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Summary
• After brainstorming, engineers work on
sketching and researching the potential
design solutions.
• Engineers communicate their initial design
solutions using rough sketches.
• The four basic steps of sketching are to
visualize, block out, outline, and detail
solutions.
• Engineers begin sketching by visualizing the
appearance and functionality of the object.
• Once the visualization of the object is
developed, it must be blocked out using a
combination of boxes, cylinders, cones, and
pyramids.
• After blocking out shapes, solutions are
outlined before feature details are added.
• Two types of research are historical research
and experimental research.
• Historical research involves library research,
fi eld visits, and discussions with others.
Engineers use library research to look at
how they can adapt current technologies
and tools to solve the problem at hand.
• Engineers use experimental research to
discover information relating to material
properties, feasibility, production
possibilities, and effectiveness.
• After the initial research has been
completed, engineers consider the strengths
and weaknesses of each solution. A trade-off
analysis helps engineers determine which
design will be most benefi cial.
• Engineers also consider the criteria and
constraints of the initial problem when
analyzing the trade-off matrix.
• To make the fi nal selection of the potential
solutions, engineers analyze the data
from the research, assess preferences, and
consider the trade-offs.
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Test Your Knowledge
Answer the following questions using the information
provided in this chapter.
1. What is research?
2. When are rough sketches normally developed?
3. In the ______ step of the sketching process,
the engineer is concerned with the
appearance and functionality of the object.
A. visualization
B. blocking out
C. outlining
D. detailing
4. The ______ is the basic shape of the object.
5. Library research is a type of ______ research.
6. Which method of research involves
engineers seeing technologies in action?
A. Library research.
B. Discussion forums.
C. Field visit.
D. Experimental research.
7. What four considerations are engineers
interested in when performing experimental
research?
8. When is a potential solution’s feasibility
considered most important?
9. Engineers analyze a solution’s ______
by looking at the advantages and
disadvantages to create a chart.
10. ______ sketches combine all the components
of the fi nal design.
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