Engineering Design approach

Engineering Design is the practical application of science, technology, art/design, engineering, and mathematics to solve real problems in our world. The Engineering Design Cycle provides a roadmap to students as they work through an eight-step methodical process to solve engineering design problems. This is very similar to the "Scientific Method" which is introduced to students in elementary school.


The central idea behind our eight-step process is to teach our students about the iterative nature of engineering design including problem definition, innovation, strategy, design thinking, prototyping, collaboration, and making improvements. Students also learn and practice 21st-century skills such as teamwork, communication, marketing, project management, and technical documentation in their engineering notebooks.



The TRC EDC resides at the center of all of our robotics education and competition programs.


EDC works like this:

A gear that says step 1 define define the problem s what is the problem what are the constraints how can we solve it ask questions
A picture of a gear that says step 2 imagine brainstorm ideas and imagine creative solutions keep it simple sketch ideas on paper discuss ideas together
A picture of a gear that says step 3 strategize write down strategies and create action steps research and collaborate share ideas and identify potential designs
Step 4 design identifies parts supplies and resources you will need to build a prototype create drawings and 3d cad models
A gear with the words step 5 build on it
Step 6 test test your design for performance and evaluate your design goals against proposed solutions measure the results
Step 7 share share the results with others what worked well what didn 't work so well explain how the design solved the problem
A gear with the words step 8 improve identifiy what can be improved what changes are needed to better solve the problem repeat the edc as needed
A robot is sitting on a table with a sign that says trc 1161.
Three young men wearing glasses and a hat are standing in a room.
A sticker that says trw on it is on a cutting board
A robot with the number 1116 on it
A robot is sitting on a table with a sign that says trc 1161.
A man is sitting in front of a laptop computer.
A robot with the number 1161 on it
A group of young men are standing around a table with a tennessee flag on it.
A group of young men are working on a robot.
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