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MSD I: Reflection and Readiness for MSD II Work

Expectations

• All team members present and prepared to report on team and individual status.
• All team MSD deliverables are complete and uploaded, and ready to be graded.
• Guide is present and prepared to evaluate critical items included in the review.
• Review should take about 15 minutes.

Status Review

Current state of the project

Requirements

Live Requirements Document

Expected performance

We have created a design that addresses all of our customer and engineering requirements. At this point in our design process, we have simulation and testing that validates many of the design decisions we have made. We expect our design to function as we intend and as the customer envisions because we have seen few indications otherwise.

Issues raised during Detailed Design Review. 

• Green Issue: Dimensions were added to CAD drawings and the issue no longer stands in the way of build and test in MSD II.

• Yellow Issue:  System architecture needs to be updated with further detail.  This should be done over break and will be ready for review in MSD II Week 2.

• Red issue: None.  

Current project plan/schedule compared to our original plan/schedule

• Originally, the scope of the project was to enhance the previous team's cart design and add two new renewable sources to increase the battery length of the cart. Since then we learned that only one power source can charge the battery at a time,. We also learned that the previous team's design was not adequate .Therefore, the scope of the project changed to designing a new renewable energy cart with an education forward focus and plug and play capabilities for power sources.
• Our schedule did not change drastically throughout MSD I.  We were able to accomplish everything that was originally put in, but sometimes needed to sacrifice the order in which it was completed.  We ran into the problem of not having enough time to do things, but there were no major schedule changes.  We knew from the start that we would be designing a new cart.
• We learned to be more fluid with our approach to the project. We learned to adapt to problems and to pivot past them efficiently.

Individual team member status

• Matt
  • I did most of the energy production and structural analysis of the cart.
  • I delivered on my personal responsibilities that stayed relevant during each phase. Some tasks became irrelevant due to the scope of the project changing over time.
  • I did not use my original MSD I plan because the scope of the project changed many times throughout the process. However, I was efficient with dealing with the project changes and addressing any new issues. The plan was realistic, the changes were just unforeseeable at the time. I learned how to be more fluid with my approach to the project  and not to get caught up on one issue. I applied this to the next phase by setting more realistic goals for myself. 
• Christian
  • My completed tasks adhered to my three week plan generally. There were some tasks that were not anticipated but were completed. 
  • Any tasks that were not able to be completed during the ending of the detailed design phase are to be completed during the initial weeks of winter break, where other classes no longer pose time restrictions and the tasks can be given appropriate attention.
  • It was found that when diving into a task, new tasks would come up as a result. In these instances, time must be allocated dynamically within one's schedule to account for the unforeseen. 
• Garrett
  • I worked with the team to make a plan for our design
  • I completed the overall CAD model and associated drawings to represent it.
  • My next task is to choose vendors for our fabrication materials.
• Jake
  • I kept the project schedule on track and helped wherever was needed.
  • I was successful in completing all things on my three week plans.
  • I took the lead on Confluence, and delivered on my personal responsibilities to the team.
  • I am excited to take on a more direct role in the MSD II build, and give some of the documentation responsibility to Matt.

Current risk assessment compared to our original

• We have closed out some of our smaller risks but our larger risks are still a potential issue. However, the importance of most larger risks has been mitigated. We wont be able to eliminate these risks until we actually build the cart and test it.
• Our remaining risks are all things we are keeping an eye on.  We have actions to minimize these risks, and have mitigation plans for risks that could completely derail our project.  
• The only risk that manifested a direct problem was the Covid-19 shut down risk.  We were very close to having this risk become a reality.  
• Risks changed as a result of the project changing directions. When a design decision was made, some risks were not applicable or lessened, however some new risks were also found as a result. The challenge became to make design choices that lowers the total risk of our system. 

Self Critique

MSD II: Project close-out

Status Review

Current state of the project

• Review your current risk assessment and problem solving status.
  • Have you closed out your most important risks?
    • Yes our most important risks have been mitigated and documented.  The risk mitigation was seamless to say the least.
  • Were there risks that you did not anticipate? If so, what do you think the reason is?
    • The wobble turbine as a generation source did not go as planned, there generated power was much lower than expected.
    • Time management to compile a fully functional electrical education kit,  the end of MSD II had a lot of documentation materials to be submitted which took away from finalizing designs and builds. 
    • The PRP did not adequately asses the electrical task requirements needed to be done, this team could have benefited greatly from an additional EE to cover additional scope. 
    • The wobble of the scissor lift was reduced but a long term solution should be investigated.
  • How did you use your problem solving process during the semester?
    • We tested the cart in many different areas and identified problems.  We then brainstormed possible solutions and took action on them.  We were able to solve the majority of problems.

Deliverables Checklist and Website Status

• All relevant documents will be shared with faculty customer on the G suite.  A finished prototype will be stored in final customers lab area on 5/6/21.  
• All Confluence pages for MSD 1 and 2 will be finalized before 5/6/21.  
• All tools used for the duration of MSD II have been returned to the office. 
• Our cubicle has been cleaned out and all materials have been either moved to surplus or are being stored with the customer.

Lessons learned, etc.

• Does the team have any other lessons learned that were not addressed above?
  • Always ask questions when you get confused. Some of the confusion is not your fault; it is just MSD.
• What advice would you give to future teams?
  • Keep on top of your CAD work and try to be the first team in the machine shop. It helped our team get ahead and stay ahead. Contact Gary as soon as possible and check your spam folder. 
  • Plan a reasonable amount of work for yourself and make sure you have everything you need before you start working.