Engineering Design Workshop : Engineering Design Workshop Quality Design Projects
for Engineering Fairs
Sponsored by
Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association for educators
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING : SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
Engineering Design Process : Engineering Design Process Define a need
Establish criteria and constraints
Research, evaluate alternatives, test plan
Construct a prototype
Test against established criteria
Failure analysis, tweak, and re-test
Final documentation
Step #1 (Beginning) & #7 (End) Generate a Project Book : Step #1 (Beginning) & #7 (End) Generate a Project Book Project data book A complete record
All key decisions
Good drawings
Test plans
Results
Conclusions
Things learned
Step #1: DEFINE A NEED : Step #1: DEFINE A NEED Have a need, a customer for the project
Often stated as bigger, cheaper, faster, lighter
Engineering Goal template: The design and construction of a (engineering project) for (user) to do (some function).
Project MUST have technical content
Helpful Links to Stimulate Project Ideas : Helpful Links to Stimulate Project Ideas SCVSEFA website. Event dates and guidelines. Links to helpful sites. http://www.science-fair.org/
Science Buddies Pick Your Topic. Like aptitude test. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_topic.shtml
Samples of ISEF Projects. Some prize winning engineering designs and scientific experiments. http://www.intel.com/education/isef/projects.htm
Science Club Kids' Science Projects. Simple, medium, and advanced science projects. Tweak to become an engineering project! http://scienceclub.org/kidproj1.html
HowStuffWorks Science Channel. Good topics and research. http://science.howstuffworks.com/
The design and construction of a (project) for (user) to (function). : The design and construction of a (project) for (user) to (function). Project: solar powered scooter
User: children (like himself)
Function: zip around the block
Technical Content:
solar energy, energy storage, motor torque,
mechanical gear ratios, electronics
The design and construction of a (project) for (user) to (function). : The design and construction of a (project) for (user) to (function). Project: wireless ear pods
User: music or radio listeners
Function: avoid tangled wires
Technical Content:
Analog electronics, wireless communications
Step #2: Criteria & Constraints : Step #2: Criteria & Constraints “Design criteria are requirements you specify for your design that will be used to make decisions about how to build the product” Size
Appearance
Physical Features
Performance
Use Environment
Some Design Constraints : Some Design Constraints
Cost
Time
Criteria & Constraints for Solar Powered Scooter : Criteria & Constraints for Solar Powered Scooter Criteria:
Transport up to 35 kg rider
Speed of at least 8 kph on level surfaces
Travels through 10 meters of shade
Constraints:
Material cost
Testing completed by Feb 28
Criteria & Constraints for Wireless Earpods : Criteria & Constraints for Wireless Earpods Criteria:
Transmits 10 meter radius
Receiver weighs < 75 grams
No dropouts, ‘good fidelity’
Constraints:
Material cost
Testing completed by Feb 28
Step #3: List Alternatives : Step #3: List Alternatives Research reveals what has been done
Likely to find good alternatives for cheapest, fastest, or lightest
Select best alternatives that meet the design criteria and constraints
Create a test plan based on the design criteria from Step #2
Web Researched Alternatives : Web Researched Alternatives Electrically powered scooters Wireless earphones
Solar Powered Scooter Test Plan : Solar Powered Scooter Test Plan Transport up to 35 kg rider
Test Plan: Transport a 35kg load
Speed of at least 8 kph on level surfaces
Test Plan: 100m distance should take less than 45 seconds
Travels through 10 meters of shade
Test Plan: Charge up battery. With 35kg rider, ride through 10m of shade
Wireless Earpod Test Plan : Wireless Earpod Test Plan Transmits 10 meter radius
Test Plan: Walk receiver in a 10m radius around transmitter
Receiver weighs < 75 grams
Test Plan: Weigh completed assembly
No dropouts, ‘good fidelity’
Test Plan: Survey student peers, likely customers
Mail in Your Application : Mail in Your Application Attachments should include:
the Engineering Goal Statement with the technical component
the design criteria and constraints
the basic test plan for the design criteria
construction diagrams including electrical circuits
Step #4: Construct Prototype : Step #4: Construct Prototype Prototype is implementation of chosen design alternative
It is a proof of design, production and suitability
Project Construction : Project Construction
Step #5: Test it Well : Step #5: Test it Well Execute the developed Test Plan
Learn beyond minimum requirements! Characterize the limits of your project.
Solar Powered Scooter Testing : Solar Powered Scooter Testing Transport 35 kg rider. Exceeds Test Plan: Maximum mass transported
Speed. Exceeds Test Plan: Measure and plot speed vs. rider mass.
Travels through shade. Exceeds Test Plan: Measure and plot distance in shade travel vs. rider mass.
Extra Knowledge: solar energy, storing energy, electric motor torque, gears
Wireless Earpod Testing : Wireless Earpod Testing Transmits 10 meter. Exceeds Test Plan: Measure maximum transmission distance.
Receiver weight. Exceeds Test Plan: Know the weight of each component and alternatives.
No dropouts, ‘good fidelity.’ Exceeds Test Plan: Higher number of surveys.
Extra Knowledge: capacitors, inductors, antenna, ordering free samples, soldering
Step #6: Failure Analysis and Tweak/Redesign Iterations : Step #6: Failure Analysis and Tweak/Redesign Iterations Evaluate the test results. Do they satisfy design criteria?
If not, can you tweak the process as opposed to a complete redesign?
This is the longest step….
Failure Analysis and Tweak/Redesign Examples : Failure Analysis and Tweak/Redesign Examples Solar scooter: Cannot move 35kg ….
Add more solar cells, bigger motor, higher gear ratio, reduce scooter weight
Wireless earpods: Range only 4m ….
Increase transmitter voltage
Lowering shelf: Shelf tilt up to 15°….
Add stabilizing guides
Step #7: Complete the Project Book (Started at project definition) : Step #7: Complete the Project Book (Started at project definition) Project data book A complete record
All key decisions
Good drawings
Test plans
Results
Conclusions
Things learned
Draw a Good Picture : Draw a Good Picture Drawings for project notebook, application, display
Photos, sketches, CAD 2-D or 3-D
Show assembly, components, materials
Design Features : Design Features Meets a need, has a “customer”
Design criteria and constraints
Evaluate alternatives and generate test plan
Build prototype
Test/evaluate against test plans
Analyze, “tweak” (), redesign (), retest
Project book: record, analyses, decisions, specs
Slide28 : Best of Luck
Engineering is exciting!
Use creative problem solving!
Ignite your students’ passion!