Name: Holly Nicolle

Date Started: 03/14/2016

Group Members: Savera and Maura
Foundations of Technology
Pringles Experiment Design Brief
1.

Period: 1
Due Date: 03/22/2016

Date: 03/14/2016

Define the Problem

What need or want must be met by the solution?

My team and I must design and model a vehicle that will transport one Pringles potato chip via the U.S. Postal
Service. The potato chip must be mailed from home to school in a 3 x 5 envelope and may not exceed the postal
limit. We will do this by documenting the engineering design process in our engineering journals, creating a sketch
and prototype, and potentially testing the finished product before sending it out through the mail.

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

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

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of Technology,
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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

Available for shipments up to 70 lbs and up to 130 inches in combined length and girth

Large, lightweight packaging subject to special pricing

Parcels that weigh less than 20 pounds but measure more than 84 inches (but not more than 108 inches) in
combined length and girth are charged the applicable price for a 20-pound parcel (balloon price)

The oversized price applies to pieces that measure over 108 inches but not more than 130 inches in combined
length and girth

The USPS Retail Ground price is charged per pound or fraction thereof; any fraction of a pound is considered a
whole pound. The minimum postage per piece is the 1-pound price

Height of the chip: .163 inches

width: 1.568 inches length: 2.59 inches

Resources:
http://www.slideshare.net/ramprasad3165/final-pringles-powerpoint
https://www.usps.com/ship/mail-shipping-services.htm?

4.

Identifying criteria and specifying constraints

What are the criteria and constraints of the design problem?

Criteria

Chips need to be in one

piece
Delivered in envelope
Sustain postal weight

Constraints

Envelope cant break

Cannot be too bulky
Cannot use materials that are not on
the list

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

5.

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

Brainstorming Idea
Put the pringle in an
enclosed box made
of index cards and
cut straws for
dimension (3D)
Cut up straws and
put them in a box
formation for
cushion for the
pringle
Put pringle in the
middle of an X
made by straws in
between index cards

Pluses
-Less work
-Less material
-Safe core packaging

Minuses
-Chip could move around when moved
-Not as sturdy
-Chip could be easily broken because this model
allows movement

-Cushioned
-Thinner box
-safe core packaging

- chip could possibly move around causing it to

break
- time consuming, a lot of labor

-sturdy
-chip is not allowed a lot of
movement
-secured well
-not time consuming

- model possibly could be too thick

- maybe too much pressure

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 criteria 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.
Constraint/Criteria
Does it meet
the
requirements
Enclosed box with cut up
12
straws for cushion

Pringle in the
14 middle of
an X

11

Enclosed box

Time to
build

Could
envelope
break

Is it too
bulky

Appropriate
resources
used

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

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
Our highest scoring idea was the idea where the pringle would be in
the middle of the X made of straws the between two index cards

Qty

Straws

Index cards

Tape

3 inches

Chip

Envelope

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

Construction in-process

Final Product

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
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Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

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

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

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?

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

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.
b) Complete the Crane Strain Efficiency calculations (

and present your data

to the teacher.

2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

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