Application of Mind Mapping tool in  Automotive domain

Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

I work in an Automotive R&D company. Here I mainly work on creating engine control strategies  or in other words I design how electronics integrate into our mechanical engine to make the  engine more efficient. Recently I faced an issue, the ECU (electronic control unit, it basically tells  the engine how to operate) was getting damaged each time I tried to start the vehicle. None of us  in my team was able to figure out the reason why, since the entire system was very complicated  and had a total of some 200 - 300 different variables involved.

Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is and  why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture  references).

Since it was a very complex system and there were a lot of inter-dependencies between the  influencing variables I decided to use the mind mapping tool to get the complete picture of the  issue and finding it’s root cause. Mind mapping is a highly effective and logical visual thinking  tool which can be used to showcase very complicated data in a structured manner.

Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g., what  you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).

Out of the total 200-300 variables involved I selected 25 most influencing variables and prepared  a complete mind map capturing their inter-dependencies. I also made sure that no vital  functionality of our engine was affected.

The mind mapping tool was very effective for me as I was able to figure the exact route cause of  the issue (the fuel injector was drawing in too much current) which was responsible for the  damage to the ECU.

Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your  challenge (e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about  design thinking more broadly).

Initially I thought the fault was from the electrical side. But after the completion of the mind map  and the inferences that I derived from it, I found out that there was a mechanical issue with the  fuel injector due to which it was drawing in too much current.

Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you  selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

This was a very successful project and I was able to finish it very much before the deadline. So I  found out that mind mapping gave me a very systematic & structured thinking approach. I was

able to map and link together multiple variables to get an overview of my system which  uncovered some important traits about my system which I didn’t even think of before.


Application of Mind Mapping tool in Automotive domain Challenge : Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . I work in an Automotive R&D company . Here I mainly work on creating engine control strategies or in other words I design how electronics integrate into our mechanical engine to make the engine more efficient . Recently I faced an issue , the ECU ( electronic control unit , it basically tells the engine how to operate ) was getting damaged each time I tried to start the vehicle . None of us in my team was able to figure out the reason why , since the entire system was very complicated and had a total of some 200 - 300 different variables involved . Selection : In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( e.g. , what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references ) . Since it was a very complex system and there were a lot of inter - dependencies between the influencing variables I decided to use the mind mapping tool to get the complete picture of the issue and finding it ’s root cause . Mind mapping is a highly effective and logical visual thinking tool which can be used to showcase very complicated data in a structured manner . Application : Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively ) . Out of the total 200 - 300 variables involved I selected 25 most influencing variables and prepared a complete mind map capturing their inter - dependencies . I also made sure that no vital functionality of our engine was affected . The mind mapping tool was very effective for me as I was able to figure the exact route cause of the issue ( the fuel injector was drawing in too much current ) which was responsible for the damage to the ECU . Insight : Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly ) . Initially I thought the fault was from the electrical side . But after the completion of the mind map and the inferences that I derived from it , I found out that there was a mechanical issue with the fuel injector due to which it was drawing in too much current . Approach : Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s ) why . This was a very successful project and I was able to finish it very much before the deadline . So I found out that mind mapping gave me a very systematic & structured thinking approach . I was able to map and link together multiple variables to get an overview of my system which uncovered some important traits about my system which I did n’t even think of before .