PYTHON · NUMPY · IN-BROWSER

Reading the Verdict: Did It Settle?

Learn that touching the target once is not passing — add damping so the device truly SETTLES (velocity → 0), and read the simulator's settle verdict correctly.

01Challenge

The device now has the right mass and stiffness, so it reaches about -0.10 m — but with almost no damping it overshoots to -0.114 m and keeps bouncing. The verdict reads 'reached the target but still moving.' A real device has to come to REST. Add damping until it settles.

02Model

Here's the trap: the load swings through -0.10 on its first bounce, so a naive check would call it done. But watch the velocity — it's still flying. A real part has to stop there, not ring forever. Damping is what bleeds the energy out: too little and it oscillates for ages, enough and it eases to rest. So the verdict has two parts, not one — is it AT the target, AND has it STOPPED? Raise the damping and watch the wobble die.

Touching the target isn't passing — it must settle.

03Guided practice

1. See the problem. Simulate the starter: it crosses -0.10 but the verdict is 'still moving' — low damping (0.2) lets it ring. 2. Add damping. Raise the joint's damping="0.2" toward 6 so energy bleeds out and the load eases to rest. 3. Read the verdict. PASS needs BOTH: settled AT -0.10 AND velocity ≈ 0.

04Feedback

PASS WHEN PASS when the load is BOTH at -0.10 m (±0.006) AND has stopped (|velocity| < 0.02). Reading the full verdict.

'Reached but still moving' — it crossed -0.10 but is oscillating; raise the damping (toward 6) so it settles.
Over-damped and sluggish — it creeps and hasn't reached -0.10 in the run time; ease the damping back down a bit.
Settled at the wrong place — check mass (0.5) and stiffness (49); damping changes HOW it settles, not WHERE.

05Retrieve & space

A sim verdict has two parts: the output is AT target AND has ____ (stopped / velocity ≈ 0).
What physical role does damping play? (bleeds energy so oscillation dies and the system settles).
Damping changes ____ the device settles, not ____ it settles (how; where).

06Mastery & project

Add enough damping that the device settles (velocity ≈ 0) at the target — and correctly read the two-part settle verdict.

Reading the settle verdict is exactly how the M5 capstone judges whether your designed device actually works under load.

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