PURPOSE:[index]
Once you have constructed your car and performed some testing you will want
to make adjustements to improve performance. Apply what you have learned
in the investigations and prototypes you have constructed to solve problems.
Get the whole team involved in brainstorming solutions - even ask other teams
or observe what others have done to solve your problems. Remember, your car
must be ready for the race so time is a critical consideration.
Observation
During your testing, make notes of what works best. Test the
car on the track (or a close replica) attached to the guide
string and make what adjustments you are able to in the current
design. Look for parts that are rubbing, alignment of wheels,
loose wires or parts, or weak points in the structure. Watch
what happens as the car goes down the line and then isolate
what the problem is that needs to be corrected. Work as a team
and be sure and evaluate completely all input from every team
member.
Determine Options for Correction
Once you have identified the problem brainstorm the teams options
for fixing it. Take advantage of the prototypes you built
during the first few weeks of the project, and the things you
learned during the design reviews. Make a complete list of the
options you have including the difficulty of each, how much time
it will take and the availability of parts/materials. Then as a
team start eliminating them until you get the top one or two then
as a team decide which approach to take.
Make the change and evaluate results
Once you make the change to your car re-test it and find out if
the fix improved the car or not. Try to do the test exactly the
same way as before and make sure nothing else went wrong during
the rework. You should only do one thing at a time so you know
what is affecting the performance of your car. As you optimize the
car, you will be more successful in the race.