goal-based engineering
nounA way of building things by first deciding what you want to happen and then working out how to make it happen.
The team used goal-based engineering to design a robot that could clean the whole room by itself.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. An engineering approach where the desired end result guides every design choice.
Goal-based engineering helped them choose the lightest materials that still met the safety goal.
3. A method of solving problems by starting from the target outcome and working backward to the steps needed.
Using goal-based engineering, the students planned their bridge from the finish line back to the first beam.
4. A style of project planning in which success is measured by whether the stated goals are reached.
The school fair was run with goal-based engineering, so every booth had a clear target to hit.