Evaluating new and emerging technologies to inform design decisions Flashcards
(75 cards)
1
Q
budget constraints
critical evaluation
A
- how much are customers prepared to pay
- cost affecting material selection?
- will new tech maximise profit?
- cost savings from speed of manufacture, reduction in materials, reduction in size
2
Q
timescale
critical evaluation
A
- time investment in staff training
- production times
- what lead times do customers expect?
3
Q
who is the product for?
critical evaluation
A
- how can new tech help the product fulfil customer needs?
4
Q
materials used
critical evaluation
A
- testing materials
- will improvements outweigh increased cost?
- sustainable?
5
Q
manufacturing capabilities
critical evaluation
A
- new tech influcences the way products are made
- automated assembly lines: high-quality, customised products?
- can new tech enable a flexible reaction to demand?
6
Q
natural disasters
inform design decisions
A
- new tech helps reduce environmental impact
- predict extreme weather patterns
- better designs, like earthquake-proof buildings
7
Q
medical advances
inform design decisions
A
- biotechnology (e.g. prosthetic limbs)
- medical equipment (MRIs)
- medical advances that allow people to live longer also create a greater need for supporting the elderly
8
Q
travel
inform design decisions
A
- more comfortable
- more safe
- more efficient
- but environmental impact is still a concern, speed of travel still relitavely the same
9
Q
global warming
inform design decisions
A
- emission of greenhouse gases
- new energies, new low/zero-carbon tech
- ensuring sustainable development
10
Q
communication
inform design decisions
A
- now cheap, quick, global, and easy cause of internet
- designers shouldn’t assume target audience has access to hardware, software, or power sources
11
Q
where it was made
ethical considerations
A
- cheap labour in LICs: save costs, but exploits workers
- new tech produces less pollution and waste
12
Q
who was it made by
ethical considerations
A
- hiring low paid workers in LICs: exploitation, such as child labour
- rights of workers should be high priority
- check health and safety rules/building regulations in factory location
13
Q
who will it benefit
ethical considerations
A
- new tech: cheaper, widely available, higher quality products
- benefit consumer: makes their life easier
- manufacturing new products can create jobs
14
Q
fairtrade
ethical considerations
A
- tackles poverty and injustice
- ensures farmers and producers in LICs are paid a fair price for their goods
- working conditions: prevents child and enforced labour, and discrimination by gender
15
Q
use of materials
environmental considerations
A
- fewer materials should be chosen
- ensure they are recyclable, lighter, and less toxic
- consider the way materials are mined
16
Q
carbon footprint
environmental considerations
A
amount of CO2 emissions attributed to an entity (business or person)
reduce carbon footprint by…
* maximising energy efficiency
* analysing supply chain
* recycling
* using renewable energy
* identify carbon offsetting methods, reduce overall emissions
17
Q
energy use and consumption
env considerations
A
- extraction, transport, and emissions of fossil fuels harms environment
- renewables impact habitats and water usage
- transporting goods burns petrol
- companies should use energy efficient vehicles to transport products
- energy cleaner = costs more
18
Q
life cycle analysis
env considerations
A
- raw material extraction and processing
- product assembly
- product distribution
- product use
- product disposal OR recovery at end of useful life
19
Q
what are SMAs
A
can be plastically deformed and return to original shape when heat or current is applied, e.g nitinol
* glasses frames
* greenhouse window openers
* medical stents
20
Q
adv/disadv. of SMAs
A
+lengthen life of product
+reduced overall size, so less complex
-expensive
-continuous use causes metal fatigue
21
Q
what are nanomaterials
A
made of tiny components less that 100 nanometers
* fire retardants
* sunscreen
* tennis rackets
22
Q
adv/disadv of nanomaterials
A
+large SA improves strength, elasticity, conductivity, and absorbency
+combines properties: lightweight but robust and scratch-resistant
-unusual physical properties needs specialist risk assessment
23
Q
what is photochromic glass
A
darkens when exposed to light and reverses in the dark
* sunglasses
* cockpit windows
24
Q
adv/disadv of photochromic glass
A
+adapts easily to changing conditions
+undergo many cycles without performance change
-may be slow to react
-not user-controlled reaction
25
what is reactive glass
electrochromatic tech to chanbge from transparent to opqaue
* welding masks and goggles
* windows
26
adv/disadv of reactive glass
+retains heat, reduced energy bills
+instant privacy without permenant blocking of light
-expensive
-requires electricity source
27
what are piezoelectric materials
* SENSORS: generate electric charge when compressed
* ACTUATORS: generate movement when electric charge applied
28
adv/disadv of piezoelectric materials
+sustainable
+low maintanence
+compact size, useful in micro-electronics
+actuators: high response speed w/ large force
-wear out
-temp, load, and voltage limitations
29
what are temperature-responsive polymers
change physical properties with a change in temperature
* e.g. dexcom (delivers drugs in a controlled way) (sensors and gel activators)
30
adv/disadv of temp responsive polymers
+useful in biomed
-still being researched, wider application may take time
31
what are conductive inks
contain pigments allowing small currents to flow through, even when dry
* silver, graphite, carbon
* improvising or repairing circuits on printed circuit boards
* printing RFID tags for tickets
32
adv/disadv of conductive inks
+easy to use
+lighter and more economical than traditional circuit boards
+low waste
+ink can be folded
-silver is expensive
-difficult to get circuits right
33
what is concrete
made of gravel, sand, cement, and water
proportions can depend on use
tensile strength can be improved by steel rods: reinforced concrete
34
adv/disadv of concrete
+excellent compressive strength
+cheap
+last 100 years, additives prevent seawater/acid attack
-low tensile strength
-damaged by corrosion of reinforcement bars, heat, and freeze-thaw
35
what is plywood
wood veneer bonded with glue
odd no. of layers to balance the stresses arround central core, stable in all directions
veneer's grain direction run in 90 degrees, inc stability
36
adv/disadv of plywood
+very good stability
-some plywood will come apart if layers become wet
37
what is fibre/carbon/glass composite
plastic reinforced with glass or carbon fibres (carbon fibre/fibreglass) with polyester resin
* GRP: easily formed into shapes, large structural items
* CFRP: more expensive than glass fibre but stronger, used in body armour/propellor blades/gold clubs
38
adv/disadv of glass/carbon fibre
+high strength:weight ratio
+sanded for smooth finish, and painted
-breathing in fibres can cause respiratory problems
39
what are reinforced polymers
resin combined with cotton fabrics to make inflammable laminated plastic sheets/rods/tubes
40
adv/disadv of reinforced polymers
+half the weight of aluminium
+tough
+good dimensional stability
+insulating properties at high temperatures
+weatherproof and do not need further treatment
-expensive
41
what are robotic materials
materials that take input from the surroundings and react to their surroundings automatically
42
adv/disadv of robotic materials
+react to surroundings w/o a computer
+react quickly, appropriately, by themselves
+change colour and shape
-expensive and complex
43
what are agrotextiles
improve or increase agricultural production
* shading
* thermal insulation
* netting
* wind-breaks
* weed suppresion
44
adv/disadv of agrotextiles
+durable
+reduced need for weed killers and pesticides
+cheap
-could chanege ecosystems
45
what are construction textiles
improve construction appearance and longevity
* structures: concrete reinforcement
* construction: awnings, scaffolding
46
adv/disadv of construction textiles
+strong and light
+reistant to degradation from chemicals/sunlight
+stable in diff heat conditions
-expensive and hard to source
-degrades overtime
47
what are geotextiles
when soil/rock needs to be stablised/filtered/drained/reinforced
48
adv/disadv of geotextiles
+dont rot
+deal well with water
+cost effective
-easily blocked by sediments
-ineffective if damaged
49
what are sports textiles
combine function with comfort for high performance
50
adv/disadv of sports textiles
+improve athletic performance
-expensive
-not env friendly
51
what is linear movement
straight line
one direction
52
what is reciprocation movement
back and forth
straight line
53
what is rotary movement
motion around a central point
54
what is oscillation
swings back and forth
in an arc
on a central point
55
what is class 1 lever
**pliers**
load at one end
**fulcrum in middle**
effort at other end (same direction as load)
large input movement --> small output movement but with greater force
56
what are class 2 levers
**nutcracker/wheelbarrow**
**load in middle**
fulcrum at one end
effort at other end (opposite direction to load)
same as class 1, but fulcrum at one end
57
what is a class 3 lever
**tweezers**
load at one end
**effort in middle**
fulcrum at other end
force applied by user > output force
58
formula for mechanical advantage
MA = load/effort
| in newtons
59
formula for velocity ratio
VR = distance by effort/distance by load
60
formula for efficiency
efficiency = (MA/VR) * 100
61
what is a bell crank
class 1 lever
transmits motion through 90 degrees
(around a corner)
bicycle breaks
62
what is a reverse motion linkage
class 1 lever
reverses motion of input
windscreen wipers/gear levels in a car
63
formula for velocity ratio of a simple gear system
VR = no. of teeth on driven gear/no. of teeth on driver gear
64
formula for total VR of compound gear train
total VR = VR of gear train 1 (A to B) * VR of gear train 2 (C to D)
65
formula for output speed
output speed = input speed/gear teeth ratio
66
properties of mild steel
iron + 0.1-0.3% carbon
tough
ductile
malleable
poor corrosion resistance
67
properties of stainless steel
ALLOY of carbon steel and chromium
corrosion resistant
hard
tough
resists wear
difficult to cut
68
properties of cast iron
iron and high amounts of carbon
hard skin and soft core
brittle
self-lubricating
good in compression
magnetic
69
properties of aluminium
corrosion resistant
malleable
ductile
good conductor
excellent strength:weight ratio (lightweight)
70
properties of copper
good conductor
corrosion resistant
polishes well
malleable
tough
71
properties of brass
ALLOY 65% copper 35% zinc
corrosion resistant
harder than copper
good conductor
polishes well
72
properties of acrylic
tough
easily finished and cleaned
food safe
-easily scratched
+widely available
+no need for painting
+shaped using heat
-brittle
73
properties of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)
lightweight
high stiffness
impact resistant
-easily scratched
used for toys
+low melting point
-brittle when exposed to UV light
74
properties of polyester resin
rigid
brittle (unless laminated)
good insulator
good chemical resistance
used for boat hulls and sport car bodies
very lightweight and strong
75
properties of urea formaldehyde
rigid
hard
heat resistant
excellent electrical insulation
-can break if dropped (poor impact resistance)
