Critical Reflection

 I’m responsible for the technical part of the tech report (https://docs.google.com/file/d/1fHgrxSn2Tbtc27tJy4aGWPioplWKSOjC/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword)

The project called “EzClean mechanical broom” is almost completed and my teammates and I have achieved satisfying results step by step. It has been a wonderful journey to train my critical thinking skill, essay writing technique and project management skill and I benefited so much through this project and from my teammates. 


In the beginning when we were tasked to come up with an idea of what topic to work on, I offered this idea of developing an mechanical broom that is made of biodegradable materials and requires no electricity to work. One of the reasons was that I realized environment related projects always have a plenty of topics to talk about so we would not have to stop and think about what to do next, especially in halfway of the project. The other reason was that I already had an original 3D model which I just needed to improve based on existing features to make it look professional.


The next contribution I made is redesigning the 3D model to have the various features that is relevant to out topic of environmental protection and user friendliness such as adjustable handle and dust proof trash box. There are six improvements made in total, which are:


  1. The synchronized gear system is upgraded from being connected by one part to three parts for improved stability, which are the wheel connector, broom holder and handle base.


  1. The handle is upgraded with an adjustable length feature to fit different heights of users.


  1. Dustpan is redesigned to be a dustproof trash box.


  1. Original wheels are made of PLA which is hard and smooth and is unable to provide sufficient frictional force, a pair of 3D printed TPU tires are designed for improved frictional force.


  1. The brush is redesigned to have a magnetic lock instead of screws and nuts for a more friendly user experience.


  1. Two types of the brush are designed to allow customization for users.


Finally, I found a unique way to present our product, which was to import 3D model into the PowerPoint slides. Each feature was demonstrated with simple description and smooth transition between slides, making the whole project look innovative and professional.


I focused on the technical part of our project while my teammates focused on everything else such as background and documentary details on importance of green manufacturing and benefits of EzClean. In the beginning we were confused of the motivations, the features and the linkages between the product and topic. So we helped one another with our personal knowledge and experience and eventually achieved a satisfying outcome.


When we did the report, we learnt many writing skills such as writing an executive summary. But more importantly we benefited from effective communication. For example we had many arguments on the content of the report. I wanted my teammates to write the background information based on the existing design while they wanted me to redesign to correspond with a more realistic background information. We shared over ideas and reasons, compared the time cost or the difficulty to do so, and voted foe the best decision. This process haled us to solve almost all the arguments and we managed to achieve the best outcome possible before the deadline. I feel this project is very similar to real commercial projects in terms of complexity and preparations. Applying what I learnt in this module surely benefited me in terms of communication skills and project considerations.



Note: Rendered design(Chi, 2022)






transparent view(Chi, 2022)




Adjustable Handle(Chi, 2022)




Dustproof Trash Box






Obstacle-free Window(Chi, 2022)





3D Printed TPU Tires(Chi, 2022)




Replaceable Brush(Chi, 2022)







Two Types of Brush with Magnetic lock(Chi, 2022)



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