Rapid Prototyping: Accelerating the Design Process

Abstract

Prototyping techniques have significantly advanced in the last decade, providing engineers with quick ways to iteratively modify designs of parts and systems with greater precision and at lower cost than ever before. The Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has made the most of these advancements, using rapid prototyping tools and quick-turn manufacturing that was not possible a decade ago to achieve success in many applications. Examples highlighted in this article include human–machine interfaces conceived through a Navy program called Tactical Advancements for the Next Generation (TANG), confined-area autonomous mapping devices like the Enhanced Mapping and Positioning System (EMAPS), and personal protective equipment to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the unprecedented and uncertain times of the early pandemic. These three case studies demonstrate the benefits of rapid prototyping.