Engineering Design GE121 Project Proposal Problem Definition

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Engineering DesignGE121Project
ProposalProblem Definition

• Lecture 1C

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Prescriptive Design Process

• A Prescriptive Design Process outlines the steps
  necessary to progress through a design
• A basic understanding of the Problem Definition
  is required for Project Proposals

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Prescriptive Process Need / Problem Definition
Fig. 2.2 p25 of text
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Prescriptive Process Problem Definition
P24 of text
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Problem Definition Information User Data
P24 of text
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Project Proposal - Deliverables

• Cover Page (1 page Single Spaced, 12 Point
  Font)
• Concise and Descriptive Title, Group Members,
  Group Number, Lab Section
• Clients Statement (1/2 Page as above)
• The Need for the Product / Device / Process
• Briefly describe the problem that needs a
  solution
• Project Description (1 Page as above)(Details
  in next lecture, but if you want details now, see
  Chapter 2)
• Things that the product MUST do
• Things that would be nice if it does
• Properties or characteristics required (e.g.
  smaller than a bread box or packaged in a bright
  color)

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Project Proposal Deliverables(continued)

• References and Images
• Your problem probably already has one or more
  solutions.
• Include references to previous solutions
• You may want to include images of those
  solutions.
• Explain how previous solutions are not
  acceptable.
• ANY COPIED material (text OR images) MUST BE
  properly REFERENCED

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Format for Deliverables

• Project Proposals are to be submitted entirely as
  a Microsoft Word document
• Hard-copy images can be scanned and inserted into
  the document
• Scanned files may cause your Word document to be
  large. To reduce file size, right-click the
  image, select Show picture toolbar, and click
  the Compress pictures tool, accepting the
  defaults
• Scanners are available in 2B06 next to Help Desk
• See www.engr.usask.ca/faq Multimedia Scanners
• See the website for technical document
  formatting procedures for Microsoft Word

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Submission Procedure / Deadline

• Completed proposals are to be submitted
  electronically check website for further
  details later in the week
• Deadline for submission is Monday January 11th at
  1200 Noon

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Scope and Topic of Project

• The final design will be a detailed CONCEPTUAL
  design, with rough calculations and/or data where
  necessary to ensure feasibility
• Although there will be some technical help and
  advice from Instructors and Engineers in
  Residence, you will have to make yourself
  knowledgeable enough in the area to make
  intelligent design decisions
• Selecting/proposing a project with which you
  already have some familiarity is a good step in
  the right direction
• Try to steer clear of projects that you know will
  require a lot of theory or higher-end engineering
  knowledge

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Some Examples

• The following examples are given to provide a
  starting point for you to generate project
  proposal ideas
• A new emergency shelter for refugees
• New Bus Mall or Parking Design for U of S
• Composting System
• Power System for a remotely located cabin
• New or re-designed consumer product
• a warning system for a drowsy driver

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Procedure

• Dont get tunnel vision and focus on your first
  idea! Generate 5 or 6 ideas, and eventually
  narrow it down to 1
• Proposal focuses on the PROBLEM, and NOT the
  SOLUTION or your proposed DESIGN
• We have the Epsilon Computer Lab booked during
  lab periods (Follow the hallway North, near the
  end on your right), if you need Word or Internet
  access.
• Have Fun!