Problem Definition

The purpose of creating a rigorous problem definition is twofold. By submitting the problem definition to the client, miscommunication can be avoided. An engineering team which does not satisfy the client's needs by finding a solution to the client's problem has not done their job. The second purpose of creating a clear problem definition is to guide the engineering team towards a distinct goal. By having a definite goal, superfluous work can be avoided and the actual problem of the client be the team's focus.

The team's client, Dr. Allison Kipple, did not initially have a definite project in mind and instead encouraged the team to develop a project which focused on power issues found in off-grid residences. Since there are a wide array of power quality issues found in off-grid homes, the initial task faced by the Pure Wave team was to identify a specific problem which would be substantial enough to be investigated for two semesters while also being a topic which a group of undergraduates could approach. To ensure both of these requirements were satisfied, extensive researching was done by the team. After looking into various issues, the team agreed to focus on reducing harmful harmonic distortion found in off-grid power systems. A document detailing the project conceived by the team, along with initial research relating to the subject, was submitted to the client on November 6, 2012. To see the document submitted, click here. Note: the actual document submitted also contained a section detailing project requirements and specifications. This requirements and specifications section is not found in the linked document, but can be found on the project description page.

The next phase of the project was to create a proposal for the client.