Session 2011/2012 2 SMC4523 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING DESIGN Developing Problem Statements

1. Session 2011/2012 2 SMC4523 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING DESIGN Developing Problem Statements Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamarul Baharin Tawi Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain

2. Problem Statement???

3. Factors relevant to problem statement • Understand the problem • Problems are often specified rather imprecisely • It is important that designer and client communicate at the earliest opportunity - and continue to communicate throughout the design process - to make sure that they are both on the same wavelength regarding what has to be done  – communicate Don’t understand exactly what's required Complete clarification requires initial exploratory work

4. Factors relevant to problem statement • Avoid artificial constraints • Fictitious restrictions which are not intrinsic to the problem but which are introduced incorrectly and usually unwittingly by the designer Untrue Fabricated Invented Made up Inherent Built-in Essential Natural

5. Example • Design and build a device to pick up a ball from a rest position on the ground, transport it to a vertical pipe 3m away, and drop it into the end of the pipe 1m above ground 2 minutes!!

6. Do not narrow down to early!! Broaden your problem, you may get more attractive solutions

7. Factors relevant to problem statement • Broaden the problem • Define a less specific problem that covers the given problem Increasing potential advantages of a successful solution

8. Factors relevant to problem statement • Consider subdividing the problem • Sometimes splitting the original problem into sub-problems make it easier to solve • Can lead to a more tractable solution process HOWEVER.. Avoid artificial constraints!!

9. Example • Collect a pile of grain at ground level and deliver it to a bin 3m high and some meters distant horizontally • How to collect the grain and lift it off the ground? • How to elevate the grain to a height of 3m? • How to transport the grain some meters horizontally? • How to energise these various transportation components? • What materials should a device be constructed?; etc. etc. 2 minutes!!

10. Factors relevant to problem statement • Consider subdividing the problem • Sometimes splitting the original problem into sub-problems make it easier to solve • Can lead to a more tractable solution process HOWEVER.. Avoid artificial constraints!!

11. As a problem-solver: • You cannot afford to accept uncritically whatever information is handed to you • In many cases, you have to figure out the best problem before figuring out the best solution!! • Problem statement must be as broad and as complete as you can make it

12. You must ask the right questions!!