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To extensively grasp the architectural concept of our product, a general understanding of

identifying new products architecture is needed. Product innovation is the formation and the

resulting inauguration of either novel or improved goods and services. The Policy Studies Institute

(1988) defines product innovation as the development of new products, changes in design of

established products, or use of new materials or components in manufacture of established

products. This fundamentally elucidates that for the business, the arrival of anything - be it

categorized as original or enhanced, is considered to be innovation.

Novel goods and services are classified as a result of new product development. This process

involves two coexisting methods - the first including idea generation, product design and detail

engineering; while the second incorporates market research and marketing analysis. The second

category of innovation involves improving existing products - a common technique used for

stretching out a products lifetime.

Product architecture is defined by Ulrich (1995) as the arrangement of functional elements; the

mapping from functional elements to physical components; and the specification of interfaces

among interactive physical components. It involves the allocation of individual functions of a

product into physical groups, dubbed as chunks. Furthermore, its overall intention is to classify

these chunks with regard to what they do and and what their interfaces are to the rest of the device

(Ulrich and Eppinger, 2012, p. 184).

Our Product comprises of two main functional elements - the first detecting rain, and the

second protecting clothes. The core physical interaction anchoring these functions is an electric

circuit which reacts to one element while activating the other.

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Product architecture can be divided into two basic types - modular and integral. These forms of

architecture are derived from a products modularity. In modular architecture the functional

elements directly connect to the physical elements - the aforementioned chunks each apply to

single functional elements, and the interaction between these chunks is clearly expounded.

Conversely, an integral architecture entails a much smaller number of chunks which, inevitably,

have numerous functions.

Ulrich and Tungs (1991) findings detail the costs and benefits of modular products. As a

whole, the costs are accordingly the benefits derived from an integral architecture. Modular

architecture has advantages in clarity and reusability, while integral architecture amplifies

performance and condenses costs for specific product models. Elucidating the scope of product

modularity allows us to hereafter clarify the architecture ofour product as slot-modular. Ulrich and

Eppinger (2012) define this type of modular architecture as incorporating interfaces which are all

different from each other so as to not be interchanged. This applies to our product specifically in

that the awning cannot exert influence on the rain sensor - only the other way around.

Inputs and outputs explained

Establishing the architecture

Geometric pictures of whole products

Major Chunks

Rain sensor

Awning

Interactions

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References

White, M., Braczyk, HJ., Ghobadian, A., Niebuhr, J. (1988) Small Firms Innovation: Why Regions

Differ, Policy Studies Institute

Ulrich, K, and Eppinger, S; 2012,Product Design and Development, 5th edn, McGraw-Hill

Companies Incorporated.

Ulrich, K. (1995) The role of product architecture in manufacturing firm, Research Policy,

No. 24.

Cutherell, D. 1996, "Chapter 16: Product Architecture,"The PDMA Handbook of New Product

Development, M.Rosenau Jr., et al., ed,. John Wiley and Sons, pp 218.

Ulrich, K. and Tung,K., 1991, " Fundamentals of Product Modularity", 1991 , ASME Winter

Annual Meeting Conference, DE Vol. 39, Atlanta, pp. 73-80.

Salmi, A., and J. Ikonen, 2005: New piezoelectric Vaisala RAINCAP

precipitation sensor. 19th

Conf. of Hydrology, San Diego, Amer. Meteor. Soc., P2.6.