Duncan Winning

Mrs. Green
Systems Engineering II
August 22, 2015
Testing Procedures
Individual Part Testing
-

Adjustment portion
Bed/Ramp
Flotation Device
Stability mechanism

Place of individual testing. (Unknown, Unknown. Mast.mcvsd.org. Mast.mcvsd.org. NA. Web.

August 14 2015)
Flotation Device:
Description- The floatation device stays floating at the surface of the water while the
platform dangles below. The floats do not go underneath the surface of the water, even under the
weight of Ace the turtle. The floats hold between 50 and 60 pounds of turtle below the water.
Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Preliminary
State of Solution: Stationary
Condition of Testing Stage: Wet, Inside
Tools and Equipment Required: Adjustable wrench, Screwdriver, Rope, Knife
Testing Procedure:

1) Put floats on the float apparatus.

2) Add weight of the entire system plus the turtle.
Likely Failing points:
1) Floats could not be buoyant enough.
2) Floats could come off of the float apparatus.

Adjustment Portion:
Description- The adjustment portion of the turtle platform raises and lowers the ramp
piece in relation to the floats. The adjustment system allows fine tuning of the distance between
the floats and the ramp depending on what the turtle needs.
Testing Type: Validation
Testing Stage: Preliminary
State of Solution: Moving up and Down
Condition of Testing Stage: Dry, Inside, Close to the floor
Tools and Equipment Required: Rope, Knife, Adjustable Wrench, Screwdriver
Testing procedure:
1) Tie adjustment line (chain, rope, cable, etc.) to the eyelets on the Bed/Ramp.
2) Make sure that there are no twists in the line that you are using so that the line doesnt get
caught in the holding portion.
3) Put the line through the holding mechanism.
4) Close the holding mechanism on the line.
5) Test the strength of the holding mechanism with 50 to 60 pounds of weight.
Likely failing points:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

The eyelets on the ramp could be too weak for the weight required.
The line could not be attached to the ramp in the correct way.
The line itself may not be able to support the desired weight.
The line may not have been used with the holding mechanism correctly.
The holding mechanism may not be strong enough to hold the desired weight.

Bed/Ramp:

Description- The bed part moves independently from the floats. The bed has eyelets to
attach the adjustment mechanism to the bed itself, which makes raising and lowering the bed
possible.
Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Preliminary
State of Solution: Stationary
Condition of Testing Stage: Dry, Inside, Close to the floor
Tools and Equipment Required: Rope, Knife, Adjustable Wrench, Screwdriver
Testing Procedure:
1) Attach the bed to the adjustment mechanism
2) Put weights on the bed in the center up to 60 pounds
3) Make sure the bed does not bow outward with the approximate weight of the turtle in the
center
Likely failing points:
1) The bed may not have the strength to support the weight of the turtle
2) The weight of the turtle might be too much for the tie points with the adjustment system

Stability Mechanism:
Description- The stability mechanism holds the platform in one spot underneath the sun
lamp. If necessary, the platform moves freely around the tank, and can be placed wherever it is
needed when the stability mechanism is removed.
Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Preliminary
State of Solution: Stationary
Condition of Testing Stage: Wet, Inside
Tools and Equipment Required: Rope, Knife, Adjustable Wrench, Screwdriver
Testing Procedure:
1) Attach turtle platform to the stability mechanism
2) Put approximate weight of the turtle on the bed

3) Move the bed to the top, middle, and bottom of its range of motion
4) At each level make sure that the platform stay underneath the lamp
5) Ensure that tank currents dont move the platform in a way that causes major stress on the
stability mechanism
Likely failing points:
1) The material that keeps the platform in place may be too weak to do so
2) The mounting points for the stability mechanism may be too weak
Place of Final Testing.
(Unknown, Unknown. Jenkinsons
Aquarium. Jenkinsons.com. NA.
Web. August 14, 2015)

Overall System Testing Procedure

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Assemble the floats, ramp, and adjustment system

Bring the system to Jenkinsons Aquarium
Place the whole turtle platform in the tank
Attach the turtle platform to the stability mechanism
Attach the stability mechanism to the mount
Adjust the platform to its highest setting
Put weight on the system until something fails so that the absolute limits are known.
(floats sinking, bed bending, line breaking, etc.)
8) Adjust platform to middle setting
9) Put weight on the system until something fails so that the absolute limits are known.
(floats sinking, bed bending, line breaking, etc.)
10) Adjust platform to bottom setting
11) Put weight on the system until something fails so that the absolute limits are known.
(floats sinking, bed bending, line breaking, etc.)
Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Preliminary

State of Solution: Stationary

Condition of Testing Stage: Wet, Inside
Tools and Equipment Required: Rope, Knife, Adjustable Wrench, Screwdriver

Survey:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Has the Turtle platform enhanced the workers experience when working with Ace?
Does Ace seem attracted to the Turtle Platform or repulsed?
If Ace is repulsed what can be done to make it more attractive to her?
Is the Turtle Platform easy to use?
If the Turtle platform is difficult to use, how can it be made more user friendly?

6) Is the Turtle platform holding the weight of Ace without going underneath the surface of
the water?
7) Is the turtle platform disrupting the natural flow of water around the tank?
8) Is the Turtle Platform interfering with the other species in the tank?
9) Are the materials too abrasive for Aces soft skin?
10) Are the building materials showing any signs of coming apart or corrosion?
11) Is the stability system to loose causing it to bump into and damage the side of the tank?
12) Can Ace be contained effectively on the Turtle platform?
13) Does Aces head have the ability reach out of the water?
14) Is Ace getting improved exposure to the sun lamp?
15) Does Ace seem to be accepting of the Turtle Platform?
16) If Ace isnt accepting of the Turtle Platform, how can it be made more inviting to her?

Works Cited
Unknown, Unknown. Mast.mcvsd.org. Mast.mcvsd.org. NA. Web. August 14 2015
Unknown, Unknown. Jenkinsons Aquarium. Jenkinsons.com. NA. Web. August 14, 2015