Rain Water Energy Harvest We are a design team in a green technology company and we have been commissioned to do a design with the following mission statement: Design a device to convert the potential energy of rain fallowing on residential houses into energy and store it in batteries. The main buyers of this device are regular home-owners and builders. The product is to be DIY and available at home-improvement retail stores. The device is to have a payback period of 5 years in an area with an average rainfall similar to Portland, Oregon. The Steps of the Design Process – Develop PDS – PDS document (dynamic document) – External search - Existing products and related technologies (Research) – Internal search (Brainstorming) – Lots of – Evaluation and selection – Select one idea to pursue – Detail design (engineering) – physical details – Prototyping, testing, evaluating – feasibility evaluation, improvement suggestions – Documentation – production drawings, design process, user manual, safety guidelines Identification of Customers External customers Customer What do they want Home owners (end users /buyers) Cost, Payback period, Reliability, high energy harvest, Ease of installation, safety, esthetics, ease of operation, low maintenance, long life, Anti Theft Builders (buyers) Cost, ease of installation, performance, safety, Retailers Cost, Nice packaging Long shelf life, exciting features. Small package sizes, Long warrantees, Reliability Government Fed/State/city/local Codes, regulations, laws, city, state, Fed, local Shipping Size, weight, mode of transportation Codes and standards Standard sizes, tests, Manufacturing Manufacturable, manufacturing site limitations Service and maintenance Low maintenance, low cost, ease of maintenance, standard replacement parts, available tools Internal customers
Packaging Must withstand shipping temperatures and vibration and package dropping H Aesthetics To rate acceptable by n% of group members H Quality and Reliability Must pass ASME testing xyz.3 with a score of 98 or more out of 100. H Applicable codes and standards Federal, state, city, local Regulations Applicable codes H Testing Per Standards (score TBD) H Company procedures Follow Design Document abcd regarding processes H Documentation Follow Design Document abcd regarding processes H Follow required safety warning, search patent databases H Timelines Per company design guideline in abcd H Disposal/Recycling Use recyclable materials as much as possible L Other (Noise) colors Must be quiet during operation Difficult to steal valuable components TBD H L Selecting Metrics and Setting Targets PDS Requirement Metric Target Performance return of investment Reduction of carbon footprint High energy conversion efficiency Environment Exposed parts subject to rain, wind, sun, moisture, dust Life in service Long life Quantity TBD life Long shelf life Cost (retail) Affordable to typical homeowners Size and Shape Small added footprint to house Weight Light weight Maintenance Low maintenance Installation Easy to install Adaptable to most houses in US Ergonomics Easy to use No handling or service installation Directly into the wall outlet Safety Safe to people, pets, wild life Materials Meet all regulations and codes Manufacturing Made in US facilities Shipping Company trucks Packaging Must withstand shipping temperatures and vibration and package dropping Aesthetics To rate acceptable by focus group members Quality and Reliability Must pass ASME testing with good score Applicable codes and standards Federal, state, city, local Regulations Applicable codes Testing Per Standards- score high