Do we really need to prototype anymore?

Prototyping is a crucial step in the product development process, but with the advent of modern technology, the question of whether or not it is still necessary has been raised. The ability to make changes to products through over-the-air updates and constant upgrades has led many to wonder if prototyping is still necessary.


From a hardware perspective, prototyping is still an important step in the development process. It allows for the uncovering of unforeseen issues with both design and manufacturing and can be the only way to realize a vision. Physical prototypes can be simpler to manipulate and refine, and additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing make it faster and easier to create physical prototypes.


On the other hand, the software perspective argues that with modern computing, physical prototyping may be becoming redundant. Virtual and augmented reality, along with computer modeling, can create highly detailed and realistic models that can be used to "see" and "feel" a product before it even exists. Furthermore, the ability to capture data from computer models is much more efficient than capturing data from physical prototypes.


Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to prototype comes down to the specific product and the needs of the design team. While technology has made it possible to create accurate and detailed virtual models, there is still value in creating physical prototypes in order to test and validate a design before it goes into production.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are microLEDs the next big (small) thing?

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has been around for decades, but the introduction of micro LEDs has changed the way we think about it. As the name suggests, micro LEDs are tiny versions of the regular LEDs engineers use in embedded systems. The main application areas for micro LEDs are displays of various shapes and sizes, from very small to very big. MicroLEDs are defined as LEDs smaller than 100 micrometers (um) in size. This site is significantly smaller than traditional LEDs, and it opens up new possibilities for applications. The main advantage of micro LEDs is their increased brightness and higher power efficiency compared to OLED or LCD-based displays. This makes them ideal for microdisplays, which are defined as very small displays used for near-eye applications (i.e. not direct view). These displays are usually under 1-inch in size, with high performance (in terms of resolution, brightness, and refresh rates). The manufacturing process of micro LEDs is challenging due to...
Read more

Safety and security in autonomous driving

The integration of autonomous technology in vehicles has brought about a new set of concerns, particularly when it comes to safety and security. As the industry moves towards higher levels of automation, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that cybersecurity measures are in place to protect both the vehicles and their passengers. One key standard that is being used in the automotive industry is ISO/SAE 21434, which provides a structured process for incorporating cybersecurity considerations into automotive products. This standard requires manufacturers and suppliers to demonstrate due diligence in implementing cybersecurity engineering and ensures that cybersecurity management is applied throughout the supply chain. The development of automated driving features also brings new challenges to safety. Historically, automotive electrical and electronic systems have been regulated according to the functional safety standard ISO 26262, which assures a high level of resilience in th...
Read more

Six cool and update autonomous technologies

 EVAA prevents plane crashes with its moral compass: NASA’s Resilient Autonomy team and the Federal Aviation Administration have developed the Expandable Variable Autonomy Architecture (EVAA) to avoid aviation accidents by giving aircraft autonomous capabilities. It can assist human pilots or act on its own and has already saved 11 lives according to Mark Skoog, principal investigator for autonomy research at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. Autonomous tractors increase farm productivity: Autonomous farming can increase the efficiency of large industrial farms, by using self-operating tractors and other machinery, such as John Deere's Autonomous Tractor Concept, which uses GPS and sensor technology to navigate and perform tasks on the farm. Self-driving tractor-trailers fight driver fatigue: Self-driving tractor-trailers can help reduce the risk of accidents caused by driver fatigue, by using sensors and cameras to navigate the roads, and advanced algorithms to make dec...
Read more