Explain how you used design thinking practices to arrive at this iteration of my device.

I wanted to be creative when I designed a blueprint for the disc launcher, and decided to combine three launchers into one. I thought that I needed longer rubber band to attach all three launcher into one, and considered how many discs I should put in the magazine ( plastic cylinder, in this case).  That way, as can be seen from the photo of the blueprint, I could connect three launchers using high-elasticity rubber band and wood popsicle sticks

Share your design concept.

This is the photo of the blueprint I designed:

Although it can be slight confusing, the materials I need are:

6 wood plates(10cm tall): I need these wood plates to create fortified main body of the disc launcher, the reason why I need six wood plates instead of three is because I need two layers of them in one disc launcher in order to stick the popsicle sticks between them.

9 popsicle sticks(12cm tall): Popsicle sticks have a crucial role in this device because it enables this launcher to shoot. I have to plug in two popsicle sticks between the two layers of wood plate, so I can pull and push the popsicle stick when I want to shoot.

3 plastic cylinder(6cm tall): I need three plastic cylinders to fill and hold the discs. I need a place to hold the discs, like the magazine does in real gun.

9 rubber band: The rubber band is where the potential energy comes from in this device. Rubber band contains strong elasticity and therefore can shoot the discs powerfully. I have to attach the wood plate and the popsicle stick with the rubber band so the disc can be shot. Additionally, when I have to combine three different disc launcher, rubber band can tie them into one.

1 saw: To attach the rubber band on the wood plate and the popsicle stick, I need to make a space to hang it. That way, I decided to cut off some part of the wood plate so it makes a gap to hang the rubber band. I need a saw to cut wood.

1 glue gun: Glue gun is widely used to stick two things together, and in this case it can glue two and three popsicle sticks together. Firstly, I need to fit in two popsicle sticks in one disc launcher to create a space to attach a rubber band. I thought that using a glue gun is a more effective method to combine them together.

Cardboard Discs(0.3cm tall): The cardboard discs are material needed for “bullets”.  I can fill 20 of those discs inside each cylinder.

 

Develop a detailed plan for creating the preferred design, including success criteria

 

Firstly, I plan to use materials that are all equal in shape and sizes, to prevent situation where some materials do not fit. My second plan while I am designing this toy is making one disc launcher at a time rather than attaching into a whole. If I make mistakes while I am making the first disc launcher, I can easily revise the problem and  learn how to make it accurately while I make another launchers. However, when I first put in three launchers together, the prototype would not be precise. My third plan is to find a rubber band that contains more potential energy. This means that it have stronger elasticity and can swiftly shoot the disc without pulling it hard as I can. That way, I can reduce the chance of snapping the rubber band. My third plan is to attach the wood plates and the popsicle sticks stronger. I want to make this device that is not prone to damage, simply do not want it to break.

The goal of designing a disc launcher can be considered as a success when I achieve the following criterions:

  1. Be safe when I am working on this project.
  2. I can combine three different disc launchers into a wide one.
  3. When I pull the rubber band, discs can be shot simultaneously.
  4. Rubber band does not snap
  5. The disc launcher is faster and stronger than the original prototype that we were inspired on but it is safer