Background

Last-mile transportation is the last leg of a trip in the transportation of goods and people. Goods may be transported in complicated routes across a city, around a country, or between continents. Transportation will often take place in stages: a simple example of goods purchased from the internet will begin with a journey from their origin point to a distribution warehouse in one city; continuing with a second journey from that warehouse to a warehouse in another city; and ending with a third journey to an address of a home in that city. The last leg or final stage of the journey is known as the last-mile. The goal is an efficient last-mile transport system, that is quick, energy saving, safe, not wasteful, and that reduces traffic congestion.
​​​​​​​

The design brief

Design a last-mile transport system for the transport of goods in cities or in rural areas. For example, the last-mile transport system may be for the delivery of retail goods, produce, or mail, and so forth. Your last-mile transport system may be for the transport of general purpose or specific goods, as you wish. Your last-mile transport system must be electric powered, and it may be autonomous, or piloted by people. Consider the transport system’s means of propulsion, the navigation system, the cargo hold, cockpit (if required), and other parts. Build a small-scale model of your last-mile transport system. Alternatively, you may build a computer-aided design (CAD) model of your design concept, if you prefer. Work on this project in a team with a group of your classmates.

​​​​​The design thinking process

Follow the six stages of the design thinking process to ensure that you are thorough and do everything necessary to succeed in your design project. First, you endeavour to understand the design topic and EMPATHISE with the needs of the users. With that understanding, you can DEFINE what is essential to the product or system that you are designing. Then you IDEATE, that is, you creatively come up with ideas and develop them. The next step is to PROTOTYPE your chosen design solution in a physical form and improve it through trial-and-error. Then you TEST your design idea to elicit the opinions of users. And finally, at the end of the process, you REFLECT upon your project to benefit from the experience. Use the appropriate methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website as you proceed along the design thinking process.
​​​​​​​

Note for teachers

Undertaking a student design project using electrical parts or microcontrollers such as Arduino requires:

• teachers who are able to supervise such a project;
• laboratories or workshops with electrical and electronic parts and tools;
• ​​​​​​​and students who are trained to work with electricity, tools, and equipment.

Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the PROTOTYPE Stage for Level IV to safely supervise this design project.