Solar car- progress report number 1!

As you can recall from my past blog posts, it's time to construct our own final project. I chose to construct a solar powered car, using two solar panels, a switch, and connectors. I've finished finding the criteria, objectives, and constraints. However; Mr. Carpenter hasn't given it back yet with the corrections so I'm not sure if what I speculated was right.

I believe the objective is to harness the energy of the sun through solar panels, enabling the car to move. Criteria are things that can be measured and they show the quality of the design. Below is a list of criteria I created for the solar powered car.
-Cost
-Energy
-Weight
-Size 

 

Constraints are things that must be followed. Below is a list of constraints that I found for the solar powered car. 
 -  Must be powered only on solar energy. 
-  Must not use dangerous material. 
 -  Material must not be prepackaged. 
 -  Must be inexpensive. 
 -  Must move freely without interference / be autonomous, after flicking the switch on.
 -  Must be able to move after harnessing energy.

I finished defining the problem, therefore now I have to generate ideas, which is the second step out of eight in the design process. I am currently brainstorming ideas by making a morphological chart and doing research. I'm thinking of the material, wheels, hubs, axles, how the panels, switch, and connectors will connect onto the robot, and the objectives, criteria, and constraints. Thus, I'm moving on slowly through the design process, yet gradually. I should be able to keep up a steady pace if I stay highly motivated.