Product Design With Response Surface Methods

Abstract

In this article, methods for demonstrating the iterative process of investigation are presented. As one example, it is shown how the sequential use of response surface techniques may be applied to devise an improved paper helicopter design with almost twice the flight time of its original prototype. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the process of investigation and how it can by catalyzed by the use of statistics. Although individual designs and analyses are used these are the "trees" behind which we hope the forest will be clearly visible.