Introduction to Engineering Design

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Introduction to Engineering Design

• Tools Tactics of Design
• Presented by Prof. Tim Johnson
• Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Senior Design

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Why do we take Senior Design?

• To demonstrate that you have an ability to
  identify, formulate and solve engineering
  problems.
• To provide a forum for you to learn how to
  function on a multi-disciplinary team.
• We expect that you will make decisions that have
  consequences, manage a project, communicate with
  team members and others, and collaborate.
• We take Senior Design to learn by experience and
  study the Design Process.

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The 4 Step Design Process(the phases described
starting on page 5 in the text)

• Defining the Problem
• Formulating Solutions
• Developing Models and Prototypes
• Presenting and Implementing

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Step 1 Defining the Problem

• Students have now had about 2 or 3 weeks in the
  class.
• Some student projects have started to come
  together. Some havent.
• Whats expected at this point?
• By submitting the proposal, the students will
  have completed the 1st step in the design process.

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The 1st Step consists of(from Fig.1-4, page 6)

• Forming the problem statement
• You have to be solving a particular need
• Identifying the functional requirements
• Start your Block Diagram
• Recognizing constraints and limitations
• You are undergraduates
• Defining a Schedule and forming a team
• Become familiar with MSProject

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Have you recognized a Need?

• Anything worth doing will involve a risk of
  failure.
• If it was easy, itd be solved all ready.
• If you are not pushing the limits of your
  learning, youre not trying.
• What is it that youd want to be remembered for?

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Getting ready for the Preliminary Proposal

• Define the project in 25 words or less.
• Give it a catchy name.
• Begin scoping out what the project needs to make
  it work so you can answer some easy questions.
• Float this idea with the Professor.
• You are negotiating what it is that you will be
  working on, the functionality of the design, and
  justification for your team.

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Steps to the Proposal1. Goal Setting

• Revamp your preliminary proposal into an
  abstract.
• Add a history by describing current solutions.
• Illustrate how they fall short of consumer needs.
• Point out how your design will satisfy these
  needs.

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Steps to the Proposal2.Identifying the Objectives

• The objectives are the functional requirements of
  the design.
• These are found by defining the inputs and
  outputs to the block diagrams.
• The initial inputs are the conditions that you
  seek to change. The final outputs is your
  solution. You are doing a Functional Analysis of
  your project.
• Telling what you expect this project will do (in
  the abstract) when finished helps identify the
  objectives.

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Steps to the Proposal3. Recognizing Constrains

• As you visualize the project, there should be
  some constraints or limits on what it is that you
  are able to design.
• Some constrains are obvious but need to be
  stated.
• Where needed, use COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf)
  products and add functionality.
• Aim high.

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Steps to the Proposal4(a). TEAM Building

• Tackle the problem
• The problem is big enough to occupy more than one
  persons time.
• Evaluate the problem
• Divide the problem up in time slices
• Set up concurrent and sequential components
• Assign the problem
• Match up the team members skill set to the
  problems difficulty
• Measure the problem
• Make your team results driven

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Steps to the Proposal4(b). Scheduling

• The project, if it requires a team should have
  various components.
• Team members can ( should) work independently on
  these components.
• You become a team when everything fits together
  at the end.
• You force yourself into the team mode by
  scheduling.

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Steps to the Proposal4(c). Schedule Components

• Block Diagram
• Functional Analysis
• Schematic Design
• Model simulation
• Parts Ordering
• Prototype Assembly
• Communicating the Design

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Steps to the Proposal4(d). Learning Components

• Web site building
• Power Point presentations
• MSProject
• Other items unique to your project
• Research
• Technical skills
• Public speaking
• assistance available in various forms at my web
  site

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Steps to the Proposal4(e). Reading

• Text references
• Read Chapter 1 through 3
• Of special importance are
• Figure 1.4, page 6
• Figure 1.7, page 19
• Figure 3.4, page 63
• Journal suggestions
• Figure 3.3, page 58
• Project Scheduling, page 99ff.
• Writing Proposals, page 108ff.

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If you know where you are going

• You wont get lost
• Or bogged down
• Or hung up waiting

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This Concludes the Presentation

• You can review this presentation again at the
  professors web site.
• Before we move to the next subject, are there any
  questions?