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ADM Activity 2.3.2

Design of Experiments & Workcell Optimization

Use a factorial design of experiments to test interacting workcell settings and identify a combination that balances speed, quality, and reliability.

Back to Unit 2Student WorkflowWhat You Submit

Your lesson guide

Objective

Work toward the lesson goal: Design of Experiments & Workcell Optimization. Use the directions and success criteria in the activity below.

Materials

For the online work: a browser and your engineering notebook. Follow the activity’s materials list for any physical build, and get teacher approval before using equipment.

Plan your time

Suggested work block: 45–60 minutes. Physical builds and projects may span several classes; follow your teacher’s schedule.

Learning Targets

By the end of this lesson

  • Identify factors, levels, and response variables in an engineering experiment.
  • Create a two-level factorial experiment plan.
  • Collect repeatable workcell performance data in a spreadsheet.
  • Select optimized settings using measured trade-offs.
Equipment & Systems

What you will use

  • VEX CTE Workcell
  • VEXcode EXP
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Instructor-approved workcell factors
Student Workflow

What You Will Do

  1. Select two or more workcell settings that may interact, such as conveyor speed and sensor range.
  2. Assign two test levels to each factor and generate every required combination.
  3. Define response variables such as throughput, error rate, or reliability.
  4. Program and run each experimental condition and record results in a spreadsheet.
  5. Analyze the results and justify the best overall setting combination.
Programming Focus

How coding supports the lesson

Modify existing workcell code so experimental factor levels can be changed consistently between trials. The program should make settings easy to identify and repeat.

What You Will Submit

What You Submit

  • Factorial experiment plan
  • Completed spreadsheet with settings and results
  • Graph or summary of measured responses
  • Recommended optimized settings with evidence
Back to Unit 2

Build your lesson report

Checkpoint: is your evidence ready?
  • Check calculations, units, labels, and measurements against the activity requirements.
  • Record what actually happened, including unexpected results.
  • Explain what you changed and why; attach required drawings, photos, CAD, or code in your classroom assignment.

Factorial experiment plan Completed spreadsheet with settings and results Graph or summary of measured responses

A PDF download is not a submission. Review it, then upload it and any required attachments through your classroom assignment system.