The specific type of research information that is required will vary according to the different design problems. The following though are usually considered to be important:

• market research is often carried out by designers to find out as much as possible about the end users of the proposed product, including their likes, dislikes and lifestyle
  
  
• ergonomic and anthropometric data – this looks at how people use products to make sure they are efficient and easy to use, for example, if it's a chair is it comfortable to sit in!
  
  
• legal/health and safety requirements – in the United Kingdom the British Standards Institution (BSI) produces many useful sets of standards for designers
  
  
• product analysis is the study of similar products to understand how they work and if they could be made better, for example, designers often take apart or dismantle competitors' products so they can better understand their strengths and weaknesses
  
  
• technical information - designers need to know technical information on all materials or processes asked for by the client
  
  
• new technologies – designers also need to be aware of any new technology, such as so-called 'smart materials' which can respond to levels of heat and light in the environment
  
  
• aesthetic and sensory information - for example, colour trends and styles are very important in fashion design
  
  
• environmental aspects especially in relation to manufacturing processes and recycling considerations

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It is important that this research is both relevant to the task in hand and is planned and collected in the most efficient manner as time is very important to the final design costs. It does not always have to be complicated. You could just ask friends or classmates for their views on something. The following are all important sources of research information:

• reference texts
• specialist magazines
• data tables
• the internet
• statistical information
• direct observation
• interviews
• testing
• looking at products from other times and cultures.

The results of this focussed research enable the designer to construct a detailed specification which can be discussed and agreed with the client. It also importantly helps to stimulate creative ideas and points the designer in appropriate directions.

The designers of the robot toy would certainly have investigated appropriate control technologies and the interests of today's youngsters before they started to generate design ideas. Later they would have needed to research manufacturing processes to give them the required component accuracy.

No robots can exist without the development of computer systems and control technology.

Computers and control technology developed along with energetic studies were made during the World War. All these developments can be said to have laid the foundation of present-day robot technology and were part of the project investigation process.

Today any advance in technology very quickly becomes part of new toys hitting the market.

Computers and control technology were developed during the Second World War. All these developments can be said to have laid the foundation of present-day robot technology and were part of the project investigation process.

Today any advance in technology is very quickly adopted for use by the toy industry.