Design Defense Document

Below is our defense for our project where we explain how we adhered to the design process and successfully completed the project.

Written Defense

• Did the team adhere to the Engineering Design Process?

Yes, we began by identifying our problem of the need to reduce the amount of plastic on our Earth. We then generated a few possible solutions we thought may work to solve this problem and settled on the water bubble as the best solution to our problem. Even once we had chosen to do the water bubble for our project, we generated alternative designs of the water bubble and then tested to see which model would work the best. We then began to test and create our water bubble protype and performed a few tests on it to tests its durability, acidity, and shelf life. Once we ran performance tests and ensured it worked as we had hoped, we were able to complete the final product. We presented our product at project presentation night and will present our final product at STEM exhibition night.

• How does the final concept work?

The final concept is two types of water bubbles; one with propel and one with glucosamine pills in it. The propel is aimed at runners and is an easy way to grab a drink as they keep running. The glucosamine pills are for dogs and are ideal for long walks to get hydrate your dogs and also to give them their daily supplements! This is easier than trying to hide it in their food, and healthier for them than using a pill pocket! These bubbles will be stored in our 3D printed container which seals shut with a latch and is waterproof.

• What level of risk is associated with this design?

There is a small sanitary risk to our bubbles, just because they are a consumable good. There is also a risk of the water bubbles popping in transportation but we have tested them and altered them to withstand a 13in. Drop, and should enable them to stay intact within the packaging. However, all ingredients in the bubbles are safe, and are healthy for you, as if you were taking a vitamin supplement!

• Do the students appear to be teaming effectively?

We believe that we have worked very well together and have been able to split up work efficiently. Also, we have been excellent at prioritizing and have turned in all assignments on time, and we both have A's in the class!

• What problem were we trying to solve?

The problem we are trying to help solve is plastic pollution that is helping contribute to global warming. THe strain of plastic pollution is seen all over the world especially in our oceans. Currently there are 315 billion pounds of plastic waste in the ocean. This mass amount of plastic waste strains wildlife and contaminates our waters. By creating the "water bubble", we hope to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated from the use of plastic water bottles.

• Why should you invest in our project?

You should invest in our product because it is an innovative new idea, that may become very popular in a time when we are becoming very aware of how damaged our Earth is becoming. The water bubble is innovative because it can hold more than just water., it is able to hold water with added electrolytes, dog pills, etc. Our Earth is slowly dying and one way to help slow this down would be helping to reduce the amount of plastic waste put out into the world that takes 450 years to decompose. With our alternative, the packaging would only take 6 weeks to decompose. This is a new and exciting idea that we feel many people will be interested in and getting put on the market.