Title: Beyond Brainstorming What to do when your ideas fizzle
1Beyond BrainstormingWhat to do when your ideas
fizzle?
2Introductions
- K.K. Quah
- Owner, Technology Learning Classes for Kids
- involved in education of science and math in
after school programs, summer camps, etc. - Mentor 1 year, FLL coach 3 years
- Mark Egbert
- Owner, Excellerated Leaning
- involved in education of computer technology,
science and math
3What We Will Talk About
- Discussion of some practical techniques for
generating ideas/solutions besides brainstorming,
anecdotes from FLL only - Discussion for manipulators NOT robot
- Talk through problem solving process
- For LEGO pieces, will use LDraw names
- Will have a demo area in front after session
4Components of Each Mission
- Like the movie From the Earth to the Moon when
NASA Flight Director said the basic things were
Orbit, EVA, Rendezvous, Docking and Long Duration
Flight - In FLL missions, the basic components are
- get the robot to the target area,
- deploy the manipulator,
- return robot to base (optional)
5Make following assumptions about the Robot
Robot has one motor Each side, A and C. Red
areas can hold attachments Large Bicycle
Wheels in back. Skid Wheels in front. Light
sensor in front. (blue)
C
A
6Typical Problem Solving Process
- Get Mission/Objective
- Generate Ideas Plan Prototype
- Build Initial Solution (Prototype)
- Evaluate or Think of Improvements
- Rebuild Better Solution
- Repeat step 4 as necessary
7Planning Prototypes (3 Ps)
- Path must determine path to target
- Program path will help determine the complexity
of the programs used. - Pieces the type of approach, angle of approach
will determine the kind of manipulator that must
be designed.
8Expectations to Keep in Mind
- The initial answer is usually NOT the best.
- There is always room for improvement.
- The plan may be useless but planning is
essential. Eisenhower - Art is a series of recoveries from the first
drawn line. - How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice(3x).
How do you evaluate a model? Observe(3x)KK
9Look at FLL Missions
- Starting solution does not have to be
complicated. I encourage the simplest a simple
stick (extended axle) - Use problem solving iteration to get to better
solution. - See details on Sample Species Mission.
10Sample Species Mission - 1
Mission Tag gray fish without touching other
fishes
Contact Area
Initial Solution Issue Need larger contact with
target
11Sample Species Mission - 2
Contact Area
Second Solution Issue Need softer contact with
target. Hard contact makes it touch other fishes.
12Sample Species Mission - 3
Contact Area
Final Solution Flexible Tip makes softer contact.
13Another Point of View
- Compare the fishes from the side and you see the
tail of the gray fish is 3 plates higher than the
highest point in the green fish.
14How do you Get the Next Idea
- Analysis of Past Solutions
- Brainstorming (Alex Osborn)
- Brainwriting (variation of brainstorming)
- Attribute Listing (Robert Platt Crawford)
- Morphological Analysis (Fritz Zwicky)
- Orthogonal Thinking
15Path of Robot to Sling Pipeline(more complex 2
mission combo)
Sling
Forwards
Backwards
Pipeline
16Attribute Listing
- Listing all attributes or qualities of a problem
or object. In this case, the robot and the
manipulator will have different listings. - Then systematically analyze each attribute or
groups of attributes and attempt to change them
in as many ways as possible. - Here attributes are mostly physical BUT in real
world problems, they might be social,
psychological, etc.
17Manipulator Attribute Listing (Prof. Robert Platt
Crawford, U. of Nebraska)
- Dimensions length, width, height (up/down)
- Weight payload (up/down)
- Attachment point to Robot (right/left,
front/back, top/bottom, at an angle) - Sensor triggered (yes/no). Light/Touch.
- Impact with Target (hard/soft)
- Contact Place on Target (R/L, F/B, T/B, at what
angle) - Contact Region with Target (point, line, area)
18Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 1
Initial Solution Issue Front contact area too
small.
19Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 2
Second Solution Issue Dolphin gets in the way of
other missions
20Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 3
Dolphin Deflector (not required as Dolphin can be
removed)
Third Solution Issue Sometimes does not come
back at correct angle after hitting dolphin sling
and wall.
21Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 4
Final Solution The axles help square up
manipulator to wall.
22Morphological Analysis (Fritz Zwicky)
- Uses matrix where items on horizontal axes are
again physical attributes. - Vertical axes are characteristics, adverbs,
adjectives, prepositions, etc. - Force one set of characteristics against the
other to create new ideas that can be used - Not all will work BUT some will yield good results
23Example Morphological Analysis
24Orthogonal Thinking (mentioned in van Oechs book)
- An approach borrowed from MBA business strategy
class. - Idea is to look at the opposite elements to a
particular business to try to discover what the
new business can become. - E.g. vertical integration v. horizontal
stratification - Pull v. Push, Back v. Front, Inside v. Outside
25Container and Cargo Mission - 1
Option 1 Pull from back
26Container and Cargo Mission - 2
Option 2 Pull from inside front
27Container and Cargo Mission - 3
Option 3 Pull from outside front (prevent grabber
slipping off)
28Close-up of Pawl and Ratchet
Pawl (Bushing)
Ratchet Gear
29Generate Ideas using
- Analysis of Past Solutions (group)
- Brainstorming (group)
- Brainwriting (group)
- Attribute Listing
- Morphological Analysis
- Orthogonal Thinking
30Sources and Links
- A Whack on the side of the head by Roger von
Oech - 101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques by
James M. Higgins