Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

1
Freshman Engineering Design Project in Renewable
Energy
,
,
Angelica Patiño¹, Kenneth Vélez²,
(Mentor Peter Orono, Ph.D. ¹)
¹Indiana University - Purdue University
Indianapolis ²Universidad Politécnica de Puerto
Rico
Many first-year engineering
curriculums focus on building a foundation of dry
theory and analysis, contributing to engineering
institutions low retention rates of freshman
engineering students nationwide. Introducing
engineering design projects to freshman allows
students to learn about the creative aspects of
the discipline. This exposure yields increased
student retention and instills excitement for
engineering during the freshman year. In IUPUIs
Freshman Engineering program, two projects, one
based on mechanical engineering and the other on
electrical, have been utilized for the past few
years. Eight weeks were spent investigating
projects used in recent freshman engineering
design curriculums. Currently, the team is
evaluating meticulously selected engineering
design projects for potential use, one of which
is an electricity-generating wind turbine design
project.
Through academic literature surveying
in engineering databases and major engineering
university websites, students discovered freshman
engineering design projects and methodologies
that may be of interest to IUPUIs Freshman
Engineering program. This consisted of three
research phases (1) information gathering, (2)
project selection, and (3) project
evaluation. 2.1 Information Gathering

Information gathering sessions with University
librarian
a.
Article and Conference Proceeding Evaluation
Endnote Tutorial Sessions
b.
c.
IEEE, International Journal of IEEE, ASME, FIE,
JEE, Advancement in Engineering Education, among
others
Research skills gained engineering database
analysis journal/article search
Skills gained organize the information found
Engineering Students Retention Rates
Retention rate with projects

• Key topics
• the importance of design in freshman
  engineering programs
• specific freshman engineering design projects
• the process of engineering design
• interdisciplinary team dynamics

Retention rate without projects

• OBJECTIVE
• To identify freshman-level engineering design
  projects that involve key engineering skills,
  such as multiple disciplines, creativity, past
  course knowledge, team work, and educational
  development, to include in freshman curriculum.
  One project is to be selected.

2.2 Project Selection Criteria
Freshman engineering design projects were
evaluated with a specific criteria of selection
for IUPUIs Freshman Engineering courses ENGR 196
and ENGR 195, as depicted in the following
graph 2.3
Project Evaluation Mentor held team
discussions for final selection and evaluation,
in which projects were chosen based on their
applicability to IUPUIs Freshman Engineering
criteria. The following list includes the
projects selected and performed Project
Timeline

• The wind turbine, also called the
  windmill, was deeply analyzed. This is a machine
  transforms winds kinetic energy into mechanical
  energy, which enables the machinery to rotate and
  produce electrical current. The wind causes the
  turbine shaft to rotate, since the wind is pushed
  into the open spaces and forces it to revolve.
  The following wind turbine designs were created
  (1) one design focused on electric-based
  mechanisms and (2) the other focused on the use
  of Pro-Engineer software.

• 1. Wind Turbine Structure
• Focuses on the structure of a wind t
• Urbine and electricity

Wind Turbine Renewable Energy Project
Wireless Sensor Network Project
Fly Wheel Design Project
Model Wind Turbine
As the magnet rotor passes over the wire coil,
electrical current is generated in the wire and
causes a LED to light up in an alternating
pattern.
Real Wind Turbine

• Wind Turbine Propeller
• Based on designing the propeller of a wind
  turbine
• Pro-Engineer software simplified the design
  process
• Helped students create simple drawings that
• are 3-D and display designs dimensions

Research team identified freshman-level
engineering design projects that involve key
engineering skills, such as multiple disciplines,
creativity, past course knowledge, team work, and
educational development, to include in freshman
curriculum. Wind Turbine Renewable Energy Design
Project, Wireless Sensor Network Project, and Fly
Wheel Design Project are expected to engage
first-year students in engineering and increase
engineering student retention rates. Impact of
engineering design projects on freshman students
will be observed in subsequent years,
anticipating increased interest and enthusiasm
for engineering. Projects will be adjusted for
implementation at IUPUI. The effects of these
projects will be assessed.

• References
• Dym, C. L., A. M. Agogino, et al. (2005).
  "Engineering design thinking, teaching, and
  learning." Journal of Engineering Education
  94(1) 103-119.
• Fortenberry, N. L., J. F. Sullivan, et al.
  (2007). "RETENTION Engineering Education
  Research Aids Instruction." Science 317(5842)
  1175-1176.
• P. Orono and S. Ekwaro-Osire, Impact of Student
  Selection of Design Projects on Team
  Performance, Proceedings of the 2007 ASEE Annual
  Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 2427, 2007.
• Rutar, T. and G. Mason (2005). Three freshman
  team design projects, Portland, OR, United
  States, American Society for Engineering
  Education, Chantilly, VA 20153, United States.
• The Pembina Institute, Re-energy.ca. Wind
  Energy. 2007. IUPUI Renewable Energy Lab. 7
  July 2008 lthttp//www.re-energy.ca/t-i_windbuild-1
  .shtmlgt.
• Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. Wind Turbine. 17
  July 2008. IUPUI Renewable Energy Lab. 7 July
  2008 lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbinegt.

GROUP PIC.
Wind Turbine Propeller
CIC/SROP Conference, Michigan State University,
East Lansing, Michigan, July 25-27, 2008