BE218, Design Methodologies Lab 1 – Investigation & Prediction

Instructions: Complete this lab activity and submit a PDF document to the Moodle Dropbox by midnight on
Friday, September 11. Submissions must be completed individually unless specified in the question (i.e. Question
#10). Please review your submission for clarity before submission.

Introduction
In this week’s lab, you will investigate a product to create a stakeholder-function-feature table and predict
functional aspects of the product. You will also develop metrics to evaluate and compare product performance. It
is important to document as much information about the product PRIOR to the dissection (next week!). Once you
take it apart, you will not be able to re-create the “new-in-box” experience.

Activity
Answer the following questions for your product. Include pictures where helpful, but please include figure
captions and explain the point of the picture!
1. Study the product & the packaging – take pictures of the product (in the packaging and out of the packaging).
Document the product “opening” process – in words and with pictures, identifying strengths & weaknesses of
the product, packaging, marketing, etc.
The package (out of the plastic bag) is relatively open with a cardboard backing and plastic zip ties
to hold the product in place. The product is a toy Nerf Gun that is, as previously stated, attached to a
cardboard backing with zip ties. There is also a set of three foam bullets encased in plastic. The cardboard
is folded and then taped to ensure it stays together. After unfolding it, it is easy to take the bullets and gun
out. The zip ties are easy to cut with scissors or a knife. On the downside, this product could be easy to steal
if you had a pocketknife or scissors on you. The packaging is tailored towards boys as there is a boy on the
front of the packaging. The packaging also has pictures of scope rings which refer to the accuracy of the
gun. The back of the package tells the user how to use the toy gun, and about its other functions (dart
storage).There is also detail on how they tested This is good marketing of the package if the audience is
young boy ages 8+, but not for children (boys and girls). The product itself is relatively small toy pistol
probably used as a secondary weapon. It adorns bright red, and orange with white markings, and a dark
grey to accent on the handle. The bring colors is a good way to attract young boys and to signify the gun is
fake.
2. Analyze the product to determine the function(s) of the product. Describe in detail the critical function(s) of
the product, i.e. “What does it do?”, “How is it used?”.
The product has the main function of shooting the foam bullets. It does this with three step:
1. Place a foam bullet in the chamber.
2. Pull the syringe-like tab down and lock it in place
3. Pull the trigger to release the syringe, and propel the gun.
This product is for kids to shoot foam darts and play toy guns with. It mimics real guns with
significant differences that allow kids to play war or battle without severe injury.
3. Predict how you think the product works (i.e. what is happening “inside”) WITHOUT taking it apart. What
are the “inputs” and “outputs” for the product? Predict the parts list for the product. (For example, the input to
an electric toothbrush is the user pushing the “on button” and the output is the oscillation of the bristles.)
The product works by utilizing air force to propel the foam dart. After placing the dart in the
chamber, the user pulls down a tab in the handle. Inside the handle is a tube and a syringe that fills
the tube with air when pulled down. The syringe is hooked into a groove that is released by the
trigger. The trigger works as a lever. When the trigger is pressed in it lifts the bottom of the lever
that releases the syringe, and shoots the foam dart.
Input-trigger pressed
 Output- air propelled dart is shot.
4. Analyze the product to identify special features of the product. Describe these features.
The product has three features: the dart storage, trigger, and syringe tab. The dart storage areas
are on top of the gun, and on the finger guard. The user slide the other 2 of the 3 foam bullets in
these area for quick reloading. The trigger behaves as a lever to release the syringe to propel the
foam dart. The syringe tab when pulled back is a similar function to cocking a real gun. When
released, the syringe pushes all of the air out to shoot the dart.
5. Use the product yourself – describe your experience and record your observations.
The product shoots the foam darts at a surprisingly high velocity. When I shoot the foam dart at
my hand (around 5 inches away) it hurts. The gun itself is relatively accurate. I shot the foam dart
about 20 feet away and was able to hit my doorknob.
6. Observe another person using your product. (Note: ask someone who has a different product type). Record
your observations and indicate differences and similarities in product usage. Identify key performance
requirements.
Observing someone else using the product I was able to see how they shoot and aim the gun. I had
the person shoot close-range(<5ft.), medium-range(5ft.-10ft.), and long-range shots(>10ft.). At close
range the person used one hand to shoot objects especially large ones. At both medium and long-
range shots, the person used both hands to aim. They steadied their aim by holding the handle with
their right hand and placing their left hand on the bottom of the handle. Using both hands is
required in order to make accurate and precise shots. According to the person they have to aim
higher than they expected in order to hit their target.
7. Document the product's intended function (as well as how it is used) with pictures and descriptions (consider
making a flow chart), and make notes of annoyances, interesting “discoveries”, pleasant surprises, limitations,
and opportunities for improvement.
The products intended function is to simulate combat with real guns without harm or damage. It is
used as a gun and the foam darts as bullets to shoot other people/objects with. A few annoyances
come with the syringe and lever mechanism. When the trigger is pulled the lever presses against the
hand of the user. Along with that the trigger does not go in very far when you press it. Moreover,
the handle is uncomfortable where the fingers go. While the rest of the handle is round, that part
has sharp edges. Because this gun is manual loader, it takes a while to load. On top of that, the gun
only came with three bullets, and two storage spots. I think this pistol could have replace the single
chamber with two smaller chambers and more (smaller) foam bullets. However, this would sacrifice
accuracy.

8. Identify
other stakeholders beside
s the end user, such as
those who manufacture,
distribute, sell, purchase,
assist, install, maintain,
repair and manage the
product's end of life.
Some other stakeholders would include retailers, toy safety regulators, product testers, quality
control, competitors, crossover partners, parents, and children.
9. Create a stakeholder-features-functions table.
Stakeholder Feature Function
End User Dart storage Store darts that are not being used
Retailers
Quality control
 Product testers
End User Trigger Release syringe in order to propel foam dart
Toy safety regulators
Quality control
Competitors
Product testers
retailers
End User Syringe/tab Propel foam dart with air
Toy safety regulators
Quality control
Competitors
Product testers
retailers

10. Compare your product to other products in the same category. As a group, develop a “Consumer Report”-
style table comparing the products. Describe the metrics your group used to evaluate or measure the product
performance. Identify at least two standards that are relevant for the products. (Be sure to include the names
of each group member on the table.)

Brand and Model Price Features Test Results

Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 3 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

Bulldog 17.24 Dart Storage Pull tab Shoots 3 Stores 3 darts Slow fire 3 bullet burst
bullets at rate with makes it
one time tab, but easier to hit
faster than target in
bulldog with close-range
three bullet shots, but
burst harder in
long-range.

CycloneShock 19.23 Shoots six Slide Revolving Shoots 6 darts Slide The
Blaster bullets chamber without increases revolving
having to fire rate chamber
reload significantly allows 6 darts
to be fired
without
reloading

Talon Dart Storage Pull Tab trigger Stores three Slow fire Trigger is
darts rate due to slow and
pull tab hard to press
down making
a slow
firerate.

Product reviews:
Bulldog:
1. Great item, clever how it folds out and items move.
 2. Cruel lack of strength, precision, impact and amplitude. That's the biggest
disappointment. Sensation of wet firecracker during a shot. It's a shame. And that takes away a lot of fun
in combat.
CycloneShock Blaster
1. I am pretty much convinced that as far as "bang for your buck", this is the best Nerf gun
on the market... I have bought 3 of these now and they shoot hard, have nice distance, and the gun itself
feels great in hand.
2. Thought the price was awesome & the reviews were fantastic...unfortunately, they do not
live up to the hype. The bullets were difficult to load & it doesnt shoot straight at all. Now after 1 week (a
handful of load/unload)..the bullets fall out when the gun is caulked to chamber the next shot. When it
doesn’t fall out, the bullet just blops out and barely makes it 15 feet. I was really looking forward to
enjoying this gun playing with the kids, but it plainly stinks.
Talon
1. I bought these for my husband and 3 1/2 year old grandson to have a mock battle. My
grandson loved them, especially because they had bigger bullets than his other nerf guns!
2. Okayish price for a single shot mega blaster, but the shell requires work before I'd even
think about calling it comfortable. Ok performance.
11. Based on your product evaluation, what tools do you anticipate that you will need next week to dissect the
product next week?
Based on this evaluation I would need a Philips screwdriver at the very least and, possibly to reach
in some of the smaller areas, pliers.
12. Make a rough isometric sketch of the product on isometric paper (included with this handout). Choose a view
that highlights the most important feature(s) of the product – explain why you selected this view. (Note: a
perfect isometric sketch is not the goal here, we are shaking the cobwebs off our drawing skills!) Scan your
drawing to include it in the lab report.

I used this view in order to see both dart storage compartments, the pull, tab, as well