Project Objective: This project's goal was to use a compound machine system with at least five different simple machines, a wheel/axle, screw, gear machine, second or first class lever, and inclined plane, to lift a 1 kg weight, 5 inches above the base plate. The objective needs to be accomplished with the groups assigned in class and within a specific time constraint. 

Design/Project Process: Because our group had 4 members, we decided that everyone except our quality control engineer would create their own brainstorming sketch. After the 3 brainstorming sketches were completed, the quality control engineer would look over all of them and suggest improvements to all the designs so that they would meet the mechanical advantage constraints and would also be as reliable as possible without changing the whole design. Our quality control engineer then told the rest of the group what he liked and disliked about each machine. At the end, we completed the design matrix as a group. For each criteria in the design matrix, we took turns speaking about what rating we individually thought we should give that design. If there were multiple different rating opinions, we took a vote and chose the rating with the majority. For the build we collaborated on different aspects, for example, as one person is building the gear mechanism, the other two were building the base of the project.

What I Learned: By accomplishing this project, I learned how to use second-class levers. I had experience with gears and screws before due to robotics, however, I learned how to calculate the mechanical advantage in all simple machines, this can help me make better decisions in future projects that require mechanical advantage.

Personal Reflection: In my opinion, this project helped me gain knowledge and have new social interactions with people I am unfamiliar with to simulate an engineer's environment because engineers work with many different types of people for all sorts of problem-solving.