Browsing by Subject "Prototyping"

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    Fidelity and Feedback: A mixed methods analysis of prototype testing of children's toys
    (2023-05) Codner, Andria
    Prototyping is an essential part of the design process that helps determine desirability, feasibility, and viability of a product. Prototype testing with intended end users is important to determine if the current direction of the product meets the user’s needs, if the concept is feasible, and if the model functions correctly. Typically, prototype testing occurs with the intended end user, however, when designing products for children this has not historically been the case. Prototypes of products designed for children were tested with adults. In doing that, the designers missed the opportunity to truly engage with their intended audience and to learn more about their specific wants and needs. Because this field of testing prototypes with children is relatively new, there are multiple areas in which more research could be completed. One research area that deserves more exploration is how the fidelity of physical prototypes affects children’s understanding of the prototypes, and therefore impacts the feedback that the children give the design team. Another area of research that is needed is understanding how to balance prototype testing feedback received from multiple stakeholders; for toy products, this can include stakeholders like children, parents/guardians, experts in the toy industry and/or design field, and the client.This thesis research begins to fill those gaps in the research by using mixed methods to analyze data collected from a project-based design course, which was developing new toy products for children. The data captured were students’ reports of stakeholders’ feedback in testing sessions and the students’ own reflections on the experiences of testing. The relationships between the children’s understanding and feedback and the fidelities of the prototypes in terms of form and function were explored. The feedback from multiple stakeholders is also compared on the types of feedback, how feedback is given, and how feedback is implemented into the design of the product. The results of this thesis will aid designers in making effective and efficient decisions when deciding how to prototype and test children’s products.
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    Modeling, Estimation, and Prototype Design for the Cable-Actuated Bio-inspired Lightweight Elastic Solar Sail
    (2023-08) Raab, Nathan
    Traditional spacecraft that utilize rocket engines for propulsion have a fundamental drawback in that they require the use of rocket fuel. As a result, there is a need to develop spacecraft with alternative means of propulsion that can extend the effective mission range without relying on heavy, expensive rocket fuel. One of the most promising alternative means of propulsion is the solar sail. These sails utilize the reflection of solar radiation pressure and the corresponding transfer of momentum to achieve propulsion. However, one of the most significant challenges pertaining to solar sail design is the means by which stabilization and attitude control are achieved. To address these challenges, this thesis presents the concept of the Cable-Actuated Bio-inspired Lightweight Elastic Solar Sail (CABLESSail). This novel solar sail concept uses cable-actuated flexible beams to achieve stabilization and attitude control by means of sail shape modulation. Analysis is shown that confirms the feasibility of the CABLESSail model by demonstrating that NASA mission attitude control requirements for both Solar Cruiser and Solar Polar Imager can be achieved through cable actuation. A method to predict the end-effector pose given the cable lengths or cable tension is discussed, with intended application in a control algorithm to control the end-effector pose. A prototype cable-driven continuum manipulator is designed for use as the cable-actuated flexible beam. The cable-driven continuum manipulator is modeled in simulation, and the simulation results of the beam deflection, induced cable torque, and the change in motor position are compared to experimental results.