Three students are designing a winch system. As part of the design process they find existing solutions, and identify why the solutions are not adequate or appropriate. Which step of the design process are the students completing?

The three studends are completing the third step of the design process that is called "research and generate ideas".

Explanation:

During this step of the design process, the students besides finding existing solutions and identifying if the solutions are appropriate or not must continue listening to the customers solve problems and perform market research to check if there is an existant solution.