Key Idea.
Section 1
Engineers Define Project Goals
Before building anything, engineers must establish design criteria. These are the specific standards that a successful solution must meet. For the FuturaBar, the criteria include nutritional value, taste, and low cost.
These goals act as a checklist. Throughout the design process, engineers reference the criteria to ensure their product is on the right track to solving the problem.
Section 2
Solving Community Problems
Engineering is often about helping people. An engineering problem is a challenge faced by a community that requires a designed solution.
In this case, the problem is providing food to people in disaster zones. The solution is a new product: a shelf-stable health bar. Engineers apply science to create a product that meets the specific needs of this crisis.
Section 3
Balancing Competing Goals
Design criteria often conflict with each other. For example, making a bar that is very nutritious might make it taste bad or cost too much. These are competing goals.
Engineers must navigate these conflicts. They often have to make a trade-off, accepting a compromise in one area to ensure the product is successful in another more important area.
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
Engineers Define Project Goals
Before building anything, engineers must establish design criteria. These are the specific standards that a successful solution must meet. For the FuturaBar, the criteria include nutritional value, taste, and low cost.
These goals act as a checklist. Throughout the design process, engineers reference the criteria to ensure their product is on the right track to solving the problem.
Section 2
Solving Community Problems
Engineering is often about helping people. An engineering problem is a challenge faced by a community that requires a designed solution.
In this case, the problem is providing food to people in disaster zones. The solution is a new product: a shelf-stable health bar. Engineers apply science to create a product that meets the specific needs of this crisis.
Section 3
Balancing Competing Goals
Design criteria often conflict with each other. For example, making a bar that is very nutritious might make it taste bad or cost too much. These are competing goals.
Engineers must navigate these conflicts. They often have to make a trade-off, accepting a compromise in one area to ensure the product is successful in another more important area.