Beyond Brainstorming“What to do when your ideas fizzle?”

For FLL and FIRST

Introductions

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

What 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

Components 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)

Make following assumptions about the Robot

A

C

Robot has one motor Each side, A and C.Red areas can holdattachmentsLarge Bicycle Wheelsin back.Skid Wheels in front.Light sensor in front.(blue)

Typical Problem Solving Process

1. Get Mission/Objective

2. Generate Ideas & Plan Prototype

3. Build Initial Solution (Prototype)

4. Evaluate or Think of Improvements

5. Rebuild Better Solution

6. Repeat step 4 as necessary

Planning 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.

Expectations 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

Look 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.

Sample Species Mission - 1

Initial SolutionIssue: Need larger contact with target

MissionTag gray fish without touching other fishes

ContactArea

Sample Species Mission - 2

Second SolutionIssue: Need softer contact with target. Hardcontact makes it touch other fishes.

ContactArea

Sample Species Mission - 3

Final SolutionFlexible Tip makes softer contact.

ContactArea

Another 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.

How 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

Path of Robot to Sling & Pipeline(more complex 2 mission combo)

Pipeline

Sling

BackwardsForwards

Attribute 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.

Manipulator 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)

Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 1

Initial SolutionIssue: Front contact area too small.

Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 2

Second SolutionIssue: Dolphin gets in the way of other missions

Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 3

Third SolutionIssue: Sometimes doesnot come back at correctangle after hitting dolphinsling and wall.

Dolphin Deflector (not requiredas Dolphin can be removed)

Dolphin and Pipeline Mission - 4

Final SolutionThe axles help “square up” manipulator to wall.

Morphological 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

Example Morphological Analysis

adapt modify substitute add

To

yes

/no

reverse switch side

Length, width,

height, weight

Attachment pt

to robot

Sensor Triggers

Attachment

Impact with

Target

Path to Target

Orthogonal Thinking (mentioned in van Oech’s 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

Container and Cargo Mission - 1

Option 1Pull from back

Container and Cargo Mission - 2

Option 2Pull from inside front

Container and Cargo Mission - 3

Option 3Pull from outside front (prevent grabber slipping off)

Close-up of Pawl and Ratchet

Ratchet Gear

Pawl (Bushing)

Generate Ideas using

Analysis of Past Solutions (group) Brainstorming (group) Brainwriting (group) Attribute Listing Morphological Analysis Orthogonal Thinking

Sources and Links

“A Whack on the side of the head” by Roger von Oech

“101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques” by James M. Higgins