Purple Team!
Sketch Models!
View the 4 Presentation Slides (.pdf)
Presentation Video
Concepts
Avocado Annihilator
A machine that can automate the squishing of avocados in a household setting.
Reviewer Feedback
Tom Dillon
Product Opportunity
Solid presentation and concept design! Great that you have direct quotes from the user on the difficultly of smashing avocados in food chains. It might be worth reaching out to other stakeholders of the design also (e.g. upper management of these restaurants). They may have more practical considerations in deciding whether the device would appear in their workplace – e.g. how much time is saved per use, how long would it take for the chain to make its money back on the machine (assuming some average labour cost) etc. If you plan to tackle the home user group, I think its important to investigate how much people are willing to pay for an appliance that processes a single food-type. Another group I can imagine is people who lack the hand dexterity/finger strength to use mortar and pestle. Knowledge of your targeted user group(s) will help in making well-informed design decisions later (the product could have a very different aesthetic, capacity, footprint etc. depending on whether it’s used at home/in chains).
Product Embodiment
The embodiment was great. If you move forward with the design, it could be worthwhile holding a brainstorming session on reciprocal motion mechanisms that can achieve the smashing motion! Would warrant a pugh chart in itself (evaluating e.g. compactness, mechanical advantage, speed, volume etc.). Is there any merit to a manual tool with a large mechanical advantage that could do the same job?
Model Learnings
Model learnings were clear. Having quantifiable metrics to test (consistency in this case) is great when doing iterative prototyping. I imagine variables like cycle time and smashed volume would be important to think about coming up to mockups
Model Execution
Model is excellent!
April Anlage
Product Opportunity
You did a good job of painting the picture of the problem.
Product Embodiment
I wonder if there are other potential kitchen applications for this device - so it is more than a one-hit wonder ;)
Model Learnings
Great job stating your questions and clearly connecting them to your sketch model.
Model Execution
Again, good work demonstrating this.
James Penn
Product Opportunity
This seems like a good opportunity, and the sketch model seems like a good starting point for further testing and refinement.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Sam Ihns
Product Opportunity
For this product to be successful (not only in the hands of users but as a 2.009 product), it may be good to focus in on a particular user group and design around their specific needs. A small restaurant will certainly have different needs than an at-home guac enthusiast, and trying to design a product for both groups may just lead to a guac smasher that doesn't really suit either group. Choosing one group, finding their very particular needs, and designing a much more robust product will be helpful! But for this concept to be successful, you should really find a solid group of confirmed users who you can test and validate with (not just friends and family, although they can be helpful!). This is doubly true if you focus on a more commercial/small restaurant market, which seems to have more of a need for this sort of device!
Product Embodiment
I agree with Kaitlyn about the size of the device - a commercial kitchen may be okay with a larger profile if it can keep up with their needs, whereas an at-home hobby chef may prefer an attachment to an existing product they already own, like a mixer or food processor.
Model Learnings
It smashes alright. I liked the use of the texture analyzer (quantitative data!!) and it would also be cool to do some sort of blind taste test to see if people can tell the difference between your guac and off-the-shelf (this may be a bit more tangible/understandable than texture analysis results). I'm curious - have you tested any other avocado-smashing mechanisms? It seems like a big part of the project would be finding the most optimal way to smash/whip the avocados, and now that you have confirmed the ease with which you can smash you can start to really experiment on exactly what will work best.
Model Execution
The model seemed to answer your main question (will it create a similar consistency of smash). Nice work!
Rob Podoloff
Product Opportunity
This really seems like a product that fits with the whole "healthy eating" trend. I would have loved to see a live demonstration of your model. The real challenges for a consumer targeted device like this is to make it robust, easy to use, and importantly for a food prep item, easy to clean.
Product Embodiment
Not sure since we did not see it work
Model Learnings
see above
Model Execution
unclear
Juergen Schoenstein
Product Opportunity
While I find the word "annihilator" not exactly appetizing, I think that Avocados in general, and especially Guacamole are a healthy and delightful part of a modern diet. I would love to see a machine that actually "smashes" avocados - and all the other ingredients of a wholesome guac! - into a texture that is just smooth enough to be eaten as a dip, but chunky enough to to give us the mouth feel of a freshly made, stone-ground guacamole. Just do not suggest to use unripe avocados: They don't have the required taste, even if you can beat them into submission. But there are enough tough ingredients in a real guacamole that would warrant some help from a well-designed aplliance.
Product Embodiment
The size and the genera idea seem right. but maybe emulating the mortar-and-pestle appeal of the classic stone bowl might be an opportunity.
Model Learnings
You learned that you can mechanically smash an avocado - good, but not totally unexpected. I liked that you compared the texture to hand-smashed, but we had to take your word fr this. This is a qualitative comparison, and should you pursue this idea, make sure to test extensively to fine-tune this smashing to the degree that makes it really equal, if not superior to current methods.
Model Execution
What you showed us was a device that had some piston moving up and down. I was convinced that you could build that before you even pointed toward it - as I said, the challenge lies in accomplishing a particular texture, and do it consistently - some "smashing" to compel the audience would have been more convincing.
Kaitlyn Becker
Product Opportunity
Avocado smasher - Very fun presentation and fun product but I wonder how much depth you can get into with this product to make the most of a large team of engineers. This seems like more than I could ever imagine for home guac production , though I love both guacamole and kitchen gadgets.
Product Embodiment
If you're targeting home markets - could you make smaller device or a device that could attach to a multiuser product like a kitchenmaid mixer attachment. They have sausage makers for kitchenmaids, maybe something like one of these could be adapted.
Model Learnings
It does indeed smash. It sounds like the resulting guac was placed under an Instron and it was user tested/consumed. If here aren't additional tests to run, I wonder if this will be a substantial enough project to keep a large 2.009 team busy.
Model Execution
The model seems to hit the basic functions and hardware design.
Liz Stevens (Communication Instructor)
Product Opportunity
The avocado masher would definitely make me healthier, but do I still have to work hard to peel and de-pit? Avocados are very messy and hard to time the ripe/rot. Will this make the process that much easier? Can I clean the masher easily?
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Firehose Cleaner
A device that rolls in a roll of firehose after cleaning and drying.
Reviewer Feedback
Tom Dillon
Product Opportunity
Great presentation and really compelling need! Having Michael on the team has allowed insight into a very niche area. Good product design can often come down to an overlooked user need combined with engineering expertise (which clearly the team has in spades based on all 4 sketch models!). Similar to avocado annihilator, I would try to engage with all stakeholders of the project to understand e.g. how much would a fire service reasonably pay to install the device, what are the implied labour savings for the fire service, would the design allow firefighters to tackle more emergencies etc.
Product Embodiment
Concept is great all round! Continuous feedback on the design from firefighters will be key. Gather as many expressed needs as you can over the next few weeks, and also try to articulate latent needs (those features that are critical for the design, but that firefigthers do not explicitly express). This is really important for complex machine design and will prevent you from having to reiterate too much on the design as you learn more information. I think this would be a challenging project, though manageable amongst well-defined modules subteams (e.g drivetrain subteam, structure, cleaning, heating etc).
Model Learnings
Model learnings are excellent – the team highlighted the key challenges that would be involved if this design is taken forward, including cleaning more thoroughly, motorizing, and adding heating elements. Also great at this stage that you had back of the envelope calculations. Interested to see how this might inform the design and make the turning more “effortless” :)
Model Execution
Brilliant execution!
April Anlage
Product Opportunity
Again, good work painting the picture of the problem - it definitely sounds like a big time sink.
Product Embodiment
I like what you said in the Q&A about mounting this system to the truck itself to avoid having to remove the entire hose. (is there a reason to heat before rolling? seems to me, the opposite would be most logical - also I assume the heating would not damage the specialized material of the hose)
Model Learnings
Good job identifying questions.
Model Execution
Great demo - it would be great if you provided more data to answer your questions (i.e. pictures of different bristles tried, % of water emptied, value of torque required). The questions are well posed for the answers to be nice and quantitative!
James Penn
Product Opportunity
This seems like a good opportunity, and your "Next Steps" seem appropriate.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Sam Ihns
Product Opportunity
Having friends who are firefighters, this does seem to be a really good problem identification! It will be IMPERATIVE to get in contact with as many fire departments as you can and try to get tours. Try and clean some of their hoses yourselves! Different stations may have different peculiarities and requirements in their cleaning processes and ensuring your product fits the bill will be important.
Product Embodiment
I like the model and the idea of separate cleaning "stages." It may be interesting to test out hand cranking versus electric-powered for the main spooling operation - robust and clever mechanical solutions can often go a lot farther than immediately jumping to electrical, especially in this sort of product that will be subjected to dirt/grime/water/soap (the biggest enemies of electric motors)! There also may be some opportunities to apply some clever engineering to the cleaning mechanisms itself - ie squeezing the hose dry instead of using an electric heater. Also, what sorts of dirt/grime are most prevalent? I assume different kinds will require different solutions.
Model Learnings
This model is a good step in the right direction - it seems to give you a better understanding of what sorts of modules can be used for cleaning and what sort of driving mechanisms can be used to feed the hose.
Model Execution
This was a solid sketch model to determine general feasibility. If you pursue this concept further it will be necessary to dive deep into every individual step in the cleaning process and ask yourself how is best to approach it. I'm excited to see what comes next with it. Great work!
Rob Podoloff
Product Opportunity
Great job uncovering an unmet need that serves the public good! Seems like a problem with many alternative solutions and possible configurations. Will be important to get user feedback all along the design process. Will also be an interesting systems integration exercise.
Product Embodiment
Yes, nice job.
Model Learnings
I think your model did a nice job showing you the approximate size and possible configuration for some of the key components. I think a nice modular solution could allow for a ton of quick iterations.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Juergen Schoenstein
Product Opportunity
Working in a Firehouse is certainly a physical challenge, and anything that makes the lives of firefighters easier would seem to be a worthwhile pursuit. And as long as you design with the needs of (and the feedback from) real firefighters - not only one, but a larger set, to avoid designing to a singular personal preference - you should be able to deliver something impactful.
Product Embodiment
I am not sure that I received sufficient information where this device would "live" - on each truck, or back in the firehouse? I also am not sure how the workflow is structured, and if a hand-cranked system would be desirable: when you have spent a substantial time to physically exert and exhaust yourself fighting a fire, do you want to spend more time doing manual work? How are firehoses actually stored? Will you be able to make then dry enough to store them in that reeled state, or will they have to be hung up to dry after all? Should you pursue this idea further, make sure to design to those workflows - I have not too many friends who have been firefighter, but I remember them telling me that the routine and the flawless execution of the steps that they need to do are critical.
Model Learnings
I am not sure if you hot the important answers. I would think that bot steps - brushing off dirt and squeezing out water - are, by themselves, well-enough understood. What you would need to know is what forces you need to exert on the firehose, and if those forces that you require to achieve a certain performance (in terms of dryness or cleanliness) could damage the structural integrity of the hose. The have to withstand substantial pressure, and failure could be catastrophic.
Model Execution
See my previous answer: Your model was able to show a "looks like" more than an "works like" (even if you expected to accomplish the latter). Not a bad thin by itself, but it might not help to advance your idea.
Kaitlyn Becker
Product Opportunity
Fire hose cleaner - Seems like a strong need. This sounds like heinous task and I hope some of my tax dollars go to a product like this for the local firehouses some day.
Product Embodiment
I would definitely spend some time with local firefighters (you did mention this as ongoing work) and see how the product would best fit their work flow and space but the setup presented made sense to me.
Model Learnings
These seems like a good start for questions to ask. Maybe also think about how much water use is necessary, whether the brush also needs regular rinsing through the process/
Model Execution
Seems like a good start. I'm curious whether the incorporation of heating elements as mentioned on the slides will be necessary. Dish washers use water more efficiently than if you were able to wash dishes by hand - might this also be a possible benefit of your product?
Liz Stevens (Communication Instructor)
Product Opportunity
The hose system helps first responders, but does it need air flow (a fan) to truly prevent mold, and how long will it take to fully dry the hose before you can safely store it mold-free? (Preventing mold is one of my hobbies - yay Damp Rid.) Does the hose need to be bone-dry before it goes in the truck into storage?
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Stair Climbing Cart
Cart with the motorized spokes that can assist people in pulling their carts up stairs
Reviewer Feedback
Tom Dillon
Product Opportunity
Great job on the presentation! Really strong user need and motivation for the project. Its clear the team has an insight into all the important factors the user is looking for – a design that’s not too cumbersome, facilitates modularity, is personalizable etc. Good benchmarking of existing products on the market.
Product Embodiment
Nice idea for the embodiment! The design is simple and effective, and I like the concept of using a one way clutch / ratcheting mechanism for added stability. Also future work on adjustable spokes with linear actuation sounds interesting. For future testing, analyzing user gait and feedback with existing products compared to your solution will be key.
Model Learnings
Model learnings were clear! Team was able to get good insights into ergonomics and form factor. Also looks like you have a good plan moving forward on adding motorized components and wheel spokes
Model Execution
Model looks great! Might have been nice to test it out onstage but plenty of opportunities for this in future presentations
April Anlage
Product Opportunity
No feedback provided
Product Embodiment
Still have some concerns about tipping and I don't yet see how this product would help going down stairs.
Model Learnings
Good questions posed.
Model Execution
It would have been great to see the models demo'ed - I wasn't clear on your iterations until I really looked at your slides in detail. Good job quantifying user load. I think you could have examined dimensions a bit more, including footprint and height.
James Penn
Product Opportunity
This seems like a good opportunity and an age-old problem, but it's difficult to assess the promise of your proposed solution.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Sam Ihns
Product Opportunity
The motivation behind this concept is pretty clear. It will be very good going forward to identify some key users that can really help guide the refinement of the design features. Even if the cart is meant for a broad audience, finding a few potential users with various inclusion criteria (age, leg weakness, etc.) will be invaluable for making sure the cart can best serve its prime userbase!
Product Embodiment
To me, it seems that many people who would gain value from a stair-climbing cart may already have a nice cart they bring around on their day-to-day tasks. If this is indeed the case, it may be interesting to explore this product as an add-on to an existing type of cart. Climbing stairs is already a very difficult task to design for, perhaps designing a new cart itself is unnecessary! It may also be hard to compete with the robustness/design of a high-end existing cart, in this case an add-on would be much preferable. Motorizing the design is really interesting and has the potential to be really useful, but it also may be valuable to do some preliminary calculations on the power requirements for lifting heavy loads. Motors and batteries can get heavy and expensive really quickly!
Model Learnings
It was useful to see your force calculations determined by the sketch model and how that drives your decision making processes. Going forward, it will be great to see these accompanied by a lot more human-centered testing of different cart designs and styles! Very excited to see what happens with this :)
Model Execution
Solid works-like sketch models! The "looks-like" sketch model was nicely made as well, but without any user testing to back up the design and without doing a deep dive into the ergonomics of the cart, the looks like model is a bit assumptive. At this early stage, it's very important to remain open with regard to the final design of the cart! This will likely be determined more by your mechanisms and user feedback down the line.
Rob Podoloff
Product Opportunity
The challenge here, as you noted, is to come up with a cart that provides the desired assistance without being too cumbersome and heavy to be worthwhile. Would have liked to have seen a physical demonstration of the models you built and what you learned from them.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Juergen Schoenstein
Product Opportunity
For a long time, I lived in a 7-floor walk-up, and I would have appreciated any help that I could get to carry everyday goods up to that level. That said, I was not sure who you are trying to serve wit your idea, and if you were thinking of overcoming just a few steps (s.k.a. stoops), or do some actual stair climbing. The latter is much more complicated, with possible turns/spirals, sometimes even changing stair geometries from the lobby to the upper floors etc. And I was not clear if the device was supposed to be actively helping (with a motor), or rather being dragged (which might still be beneficial over lifting). As I can see it, a clearer vision will be necessary before you can take this idea any furher.
Product Embodiment
See my previous response: I just did not see clearly what the specific use case would be - and for something that would only be justified by its usefulness, that is a major challenge.
Model Learnings
Again, I was not sure what the model was supposed to accomplish (I only saw a box in front of some stairs, but no actual function - did I miss it?) And with regard to questions, see my first response.
Model Execution
I am not sure if it answered any questions at all.
Kaitlyn Becker
Product Opportunity
The motivation was nice and clear for this product.
Product Embodiment
Is there a way that the stair climbing cart provide any assistance for the user login up stairs with or without loading in the cart? The audience member suggestion of have a switch for the motor on the handle seems like good one and very doable with the format of the sketch model presented.This product seems like it could pose major safety challenges but also seems like it would be helpful for both users with limited mobility but also able bodied individuals going up stairs. Could this also work for steep inclines. Might this also be helpful for going down stairs and steep inclines? I could imagine a heavy or awkward grocery cart being challenging to safe/smoothly going down hills in Somerville for example.
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Liz Stevens (Communication Instructor)
Product Opportunity
The stair climbing cart serves everyone, because at some point, we will all have chronic pain and mobility issues (if we're lucky enough to live that long). I have scoliosis pain that is worsened by constantly hoisting grocery carts and strollers up and down stairs. I would buy this product, and I would also buy it as a birthday gift for family members. I'd love to see what Amazon is doing (if they are pursuing it, you must be on the right track) and see how you can push the innovation further. It would be so cool if Amazon saw your final project and stole your idea.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Safe Stair
A device installed with stairs that will detect when a user is falling and deploy protective mechanisms.
Reviewer Feedback
Tom Dillon
Product Opportunity
The strength of the user need is really clear here. I like that you’re approaching the problem with a radically different mindset from conventional solutions. The argument for maintaining user independence is compelling, and stands out from other solutions that constrain people more in their everyday lives.
Product Embodiment
The concept is strong in that it allows people to take on the task of going up a stairs without the associated risk. Given no sensors are perfect and subject to noise, I think a key functional requirement for the fall detection will be your algorithm’s robustness (which you could quantify as likelihood of a false positive/misfire). It’s worth thinking about the consequences of a misfire for the user – e.g. can the user easily restore the deployed mechanism, how often is a false positive acceptable, which sensing modality is least susceptible to false positives etc. Interested to see the concepts the team comes up with for the catching mechanism over the coming weeks!
Model Learnings
Well-defined scope and learnings for the models! I agree that fall detection is the most critical module of this design, so it made sense that you constrained the sketch model to this aspect. Made great points about the pros and cons of various sensors.
Model Execution
Really nice execution and engineering all round! Did a lot of work with a variety of sensors (computer vision, pressure, IMU) which is impressive! Happy to chat more about any of the 4 ideas during lab slot, or shoot me a message over slack/email if it’s helpful to meet!
April Anlage
Product Opportunity
Definitely a big (too big?) problem identified.
Product Embodiment
I'm not sure how your idea solves the problem - you seem to be going in several directions and it would be helpful to get more details.
Model Learnings
You posed a good question, but didn't include the answer - did any of the methods you tried work?
Model Execution
Again, a demo would have been really helpful (even if it's not fully functional, pointing to 3 different prototypes is far more effective than mentioned you tested different things).
James Penn
Product Opportunity
This seems like a good opportunity, but a very difficult problem to solve.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Sam Ihns
Product Opportunity
Falling down the stairs is a huge problem not only in terms of deaths (as stated in the presentation) but also in terms of injuries and even fear of falls. There is a clear desire for a safer way to traverse stairs.
Product Embodiment
While there are many tricky elements to this concept, the actual intervention method in the case of a detected fall may be the most critical. Detecting a fall (or the lead-up to a fall) is useful only if a proper intervention can be achieved - otherwise the whole system is just acting as an "I've fallen and I can't get up!" system for notifying emergency services post-fall. As this concept evolves it is critical to determine how the fall will actually be stopped and how the falls can be robustly detected in a real life setting. Early fall detection in and of itself could take your team a whole semester to perfect, so drawing on existing products to help with intervention (or drawing on existing products for fall detection so you can focus more on the intervention) will be very helpful.
Model Learnings
The sketch models actually did seem to explore the different ways you can detect a fall in a very clinical environment. I am excited to see how they scale to a more "human" environment with more edge cases.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Rob Podoloff
Product Opportunity
I may have missed something, but I was really unclear on what your concept was. I saw some things that instrumented stairs, but I was unclear on how that would help someone in the event of a fall.
Product Embodiment
Unclear
Model Learnings
Once you detect a potential fall, what do you do about it?
Model Execution
Unclear
Juergen Schoenstein
Product Opportunity
Stairs can be death traps - I did lose a loved one when they fell down the stairs in their home. And avoiding such death traps is definitely worthwhile.
Product Embodiment
While the opportunity is clear, I could not see how your ideas would be able to address this. Actually, I saw the opposite: The added steps seemed to increase the tripping risk, as far as I could tell. And sensors - whether on the stairs or as a wearable - will only work when it is too late, i.e. when the person has begun falling. At that point, gravity will override most attempts to stop the fall, and wearable airbags or inflatable stairs might not be able to compensate for the chaotic forces that such a fall will exert on a human body.
Model Learnings
I did not see much in terms of models, really. And I did not understand how the metrics that you were testing would feed into a solution that actually makes stairs safer.
Model Execution
See my previous response: I did not see what you were trying to model.
Kaitlyn Becker
Product Opportunity
Great start with motivating your product but I could have used earlier clarity and specificity on what your product is (more than safe stairs) What makes them safe?
Product Embodiment
(A) A detection method was described but not the safety mechanism and this seems like a really important part of the product that was not clear in the sketch model. (B) What happens if there are two people on the stairs and one person falls? (C) In what way do the current solutions not respect the autonomy of the user? This sounded like a bold statement that might be true but was not obvious and could use some clarification. I have close friends that live together, one in a wheel chair and one not. They have a chair lift that seems like it would be on the range of expense of your product, required minimal modification to their home, and allows full independent use of those stairs by both individuals.
Model Learnings
The sketch model focused on detection - were multiple detection strategies considered. are there other fall detection products that could be incorporated into this product? More questions and analysis regarding the safety mechanism would be critical to consider before moving forward with this product.
Model Execution
There was some interesting work on fall detection but it was unclear to me how this might be affected by different fall scenarios and/or having multiple people on the stairs at the same time. Some more analysis on different safety catch/cushion mechanisms seems critical.
Liz Stevens (Communication Instructor)
Product Opportunity
Stairbags taps into really deep empathy for our lived ones, but what ensures the padding will prevent injury? In a car, the seat belt and air bag work in tandem. How do you know the person will land on the pad at a safe angle, versus bouncing off or missing it or hitting the wall? Is it going to prevent enough injuries?
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided