Name: Shannon

Period: 1
Date Started: 3/15/16
Due Date:
Group Members: Taylor Swanson, Taylor Bianca
Foundations of Technology
Pringles Experiment Design Brief
1.

Date:

Define the Problem

What need or want must be met by the solution?
We must design a vehicle so that it protects and allows a complete pringle to be delivered through the
USPS completely intact and without maim. The vehicle must adhere to specific design constraints and
limits on materials. The product must be designed through the 12 step engineering process and be
completed in 5 days.

2.

Brainstorming
List/sketch possible solutions that might be used in your final design.
each of these ideas relates to the problem statement.

Clearly identify and describe how

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

3.

Research and Generating Ideas

In the space below, document your research. Be sure to include proper citations at the end of your
notes.

Notes
USPS

gives 3 X5 as the minimum envelope size

Rectangular
At least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick.
No more than 6-1/8 inches high x 11-1/2 inches long x 1/4 inch thick.
USPS charges extra postage if mail pieces are rigid, square, or unusually shaped or could jam
postal equipment and be difficult to process.

Folded pieces, or folded self-mailers, can save time and money because youre not paying for or
stuffing envelopes.
An index card is the minimum thickness of about .007
The whole envelope must weigh less than 1oz
Packages must defend against drops, vibration, compression, temperature changes, humidity and air
pressure

Citations/References
http://pe.usps.com/businessmail101/mailcharacteristics/letters.htm
https://smallbusiness.fedex.com/package-securely.html

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

4.

Identifying criteria and specifying constraints

What are the criteria and constraints of the design problem?

Criteria

Constraints

Chip has to be fully intact when delivered

Must be in 3 X5 envelope

The chip must not have any parts broken off,

not even a small crack or chip.

Less than 3 of tape

Must not exceed postal weight limit

6 index cards
8 straws

5.

Exploring possibilities
Reflect on your brainstormed ideas and research notes and describe the plusses and minuses of each
design approach you have considered.

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

6. Selecting an Approach
a. Enter the constraints and criteria of the project in the first column.
b. Score your brainstorming ideas against each constraint or criterion and indicate how well the idea
meets the criteria and constraints.
3 pts = easily meets, 2 pts = somewhat meets, 1 pt. = does not meet
c. Total the columns and circle the highest score to indicate your best design idea.

7. Developing a Design Proposal

Based on the evaluation of your ideas, develop a design proposal for the highest scoring idea. Include
working drawings (sketches with dimensions, so that you could build your project). Attach your
working drawings to this sheet. Determine the materials you plan to use based on your design. List
the material and quantity below.
Material to be Used
Straws

Qty
4

Index cards

Envelope

Pringle
Tape

1 package- developing only 1

3

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

8. Making a model or prototype

In the space below, document the construction of the model/prototype. Be sure to include
sketches/pictures as appropriate.
Construction in-process

Construction in-process

Attaining necessary materials and

workspace. Outlining the initial steps in the
design of the vehicle and determining who
will complete each part.

Materials are cut and manipulated to fit the design model.

The pieces are attached by glue to their location
according to the design model and by the person they
were assigned to. The vehicle is weighed periodically to
ensure it is within postal limit.

Construction in-process

Final Product

The model is finished and reinforced with

more glue in its weaker places. The envelope
is sealed and weighed again as a final check.

The final product is addressed, mailed and delivered to its

location after construction is complete.

9. Testing and Evaluating the Design, using specifications

As you create your solution, you will perform tests to make sure that the solution is meeting the needs
of the given problem. If your solution does not work, you may need to repeat the previous steps of the
Engineering Design Process, until you find a functional design. In the space below, document the type
of tests you conducted and the results.
Test Performed

Test Results

Measured thickness of envelope and

then of project before it was
permanently in place

The project was too heavy and we had to remove pieces

of straw and index card in order to make it fit the
constraints

Gently tapped the chip on the table to

determine its weak points

The edges were susceptible to cracking because they

are thinner and may need more reinforcement

Tested the stability of the straws split or

in the original tube shape

Determined that the straws were stronger in their

original shape but to reduce thickness we split them

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

10.Refining the Design

Based on your tests, what design refinements should be made to the prototype to ensure that it can
satisfy all of the criteria and constraints of the design problem.
Refinements
The straws need to be split in half and taped flat.
The index cards should be trimmed to reduce thickness and weight.
The chip should be placed carefully in the center of the envelope, paying careful attention to the edges.
The final product must be in the envelope before the final straw reinforcements are added in order to
keep it secure and undamaged.

11.Creating or Making It
Modify your model/prototype to incorporate the design refinements you identified in section 10. What
additional steps would be necessary to produce the final product for the customer?
The design would need to be replicated and tested several more times by sending several chips through
USPS in the same vehicle to test the effectiveness of the product. The product would also need to be
priced according to the material used and manufacturing costs. The product would also need an effective
advertising campaign and research should be conducted to see if the design could be adjusted to fit larger
envelopes.

12.Communicating processes and results

a) Demonstrate the operation of your Crane Strain device to the class. As part of your demonstration,
describe the steps involved in creating your device.

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design