first-year design experience: assembling the “big picture” through innovative product design
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ASEE 2009 Annual Conference Austin, TX Session 1125. College of Engineering and Science. First-Year Design Experience: Assembling the “Big Picture” Through Innovative Product Design. Kelly Crittenden – Louisiana Tech David Hall – Louisiana Tech Mark Barker – Louisiana Tech - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
First-Year Design Experience: Assembling the “Big Picture” Through
Innovative Product Design
Kelly Crittenden – Louisiana TechDavid Hall – Louisiana Tech
Mark Barker – Louisiana TechPatricia Brackin – Rose-Hullman
College of Engineering and Science
ASEE 2009 Annual ConferenceAustin, TX Session 1125
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMCollege of Engineering and Science
ASEE 2009 Annual ConferenceAustin, TX Session 1125
Ruston, LA 20,000 peopleLouisiana Tech 11,000 studentsSeven Engineering Programs 1,100 studentsScience and Technology 440 students
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Fall Winter Spring
Course Semester Credits
Course Semester Credits
Course Semester Credits
ENGR 120 2 ENGR 121 2 ENGR 122 2
MATH 240 3 MATH 241 3 MATH 242 3
CHEM 100 2 CHEM 101 / 103
2 / 1 PHYSICS 201* 3
College of Engineering and Science
Freshman Curriculum – all engineering freshmen
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Living with the Lab• Each student owns their own “lab” consisting of
– a laptop– tools (multimeter, dial caliper, wire strippers, . . .) $80– software (Mathcad, SolidWorks, MS Office)– a microcontroller (the Boe-Bot) to provide a personal “lab” $100
• Student owned labs provide a way to boost hands-on learning beyond what is possible using traditional university laboratories
College of Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMCollege of Engineering and Science
Freshman ProjectsLaboratory
Two classrooms designed to support the curriculum (40 students, 24 students)
Classrooms allow us to easily switch between lecture, laboratory and shop activities within a single 110 minute class period.
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMCollege of Engineering and Science
Engineering 122 Video
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMCollege of Engineering and Science
“Innovation” books and methods are presented
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
“Bug List” – from the Art of Innovation
College of Engineering and Science
• Individual students keep a list of “bugs”
• At least one new bug for each class period
• At least seven total bugs per student
• Teams of four students combine lists
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Electronic Design Journal
College of Engineering and Science
• Teams keep an e-journal of their progress
• Many class assignments included in the journal
• Attempt to guide students through the recording process
• Journals turned in at end of quarter
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Mind Maps – How to think like Leonardo da Vinci
College of Engineering and Science
• Mind Maps and Concept Maps are demonstrated
• Students are given time in class to construct a mind map of their bug as a team
• No right or wrong, just get the ideas flowing and communicate as a team
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Nightline Video – “The Deep Dive”
College of Engineering and Science
• 20 minute video showing the major creative processes used by IDEO
• Still interesting to students, even after 10 years
• Not very heavy on the actual design though
• Very good brainstorming examples
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Pugh Method – decision making
College of Engineering and Science
• Pugh charts are used to rank the team’s top ideas
• Simple, begin learning a logical decision making process
• Content is delivered online – supports life-long learning
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Prototyping – Fail early to Succeed sooner
College of Engineering and Science
• Three main prototyping stages are assigned as homework Spatial – represent components and connections Functional – demonstrate operation Final – ready to take to venture capitalist
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Freshman Design Expo
College of Engineering and Science
• Teams demonstrate their prototypes to judges and spectators
• Various awards are distributed – DaVinci, Rolex, Shoot the Moon, Can-do, 1st, 2nd, 3rd . . .
• Best ideas encouraged compete in next year’s “Pick of the Litter” business plan competition
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Some Facts and Results
College of Engineering and Science
• 35 teams of 4 complete the course in the Spring• 15 teams of 4 complete the course in the Fall • 10 teams of 4 complete the course in the Winter• Total of 240 students per year complete the course
• 8 different engineering faculty teach in the ENGR12x series
• Surveys of student confidence and activity levels have been administered over a period of years, pre LWTL implementation and post implementation
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Some Facts and Results
College of Engineering and Science
• Excerpts from student confidence surveys (1 to 6 Likert):Item
OLD CourseSpring 06-07
NEW CourseSpring 07-08
Work collaboratively with one or more other students. 5.49 5.36Generate 3D models of engineering components and assemblies using SolidWorks.
4.55 4.94
Locate specifications and prices for the supplies, parts and systems used in course projects from manufacturers and on-line retailers.
5.23 5.14
Purchase supplies and parts for an innovative product. 5.23 5.05Use creative techniques to overcome at least one project difficulty. 4.92 5.03
When I set a goal, I keep going after it no matter what the obstacles. 5.15 5.20
I enjoy developing technical tools that improve the quality of life for people. 4.70 5.36
I intend to develop new products/processes during my career as an engineer. 5.14 5.23
I prefer improving products/processes that already exist instead of developing something new. 4.74 4.18
Explain the roles of the ten “Faces of Innovation” as discussed in “The Ten Faces of Innovation” by Tom Kelley. 2.50 4.47
Create a Mind Map to organize ideas around a central topic. 3.26 4.99Apply the Pugh method to evaluate concept ideas. 2.62 4.38Conceive a functional prototype of an innovative product that utilizes one or more sensors, actuators or other output devices, and the BASIC Stamp II microcontroller.
2.80 5.00
Design a functional prototype of an innovative product that utilizes one or more sensors, actuators or other output devices, and the BASIC Stamp II microcontroller.
2.82 4.85
Fabricate a functional prototype of an innovative product that utilizes one or more sensors, actuators, or other output devices, and the BASIC Stamp II microcontroller.
2.80 4.96
Test a functional prototype of an innovative product that utilizes one or more sensors, actuators, or other output devices, and the BASIC Stamp II microcontroller.
2.83 5.02
Develop a work plan to manage your time and resources to successfully produce a prototype of an innovative product. 4.31 4.79
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Some Facts and Results
College of Engineering and Science
• Frequency data reported by the students indicates an increase in how often certain hands-on tasks are performed
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Some Facts and Results
College of Engineering and Science
The project’s external evaluator commented that:
“There were 33 projects on display. A list of the projects is contained in Attachment E. Each project was assigned a table. Students from the project team displayed posters and gave explanations of their projects. The variety of projects was impressive. Among the 32 projects there were 26 distinct ideas. Students interviewed at the Expo demonstrated the ability to explain their projects clearly. Students also demonstrated pride in their prototypes and what they had learned. Students reported that the design project was difficult and rewarding.”
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Acknowledgments
• NSF CCLI Grant No. 0618288• Louisiana Tech University College of
Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMCollege of Engineering and ScienceQuestions?
www.LivingWithTheLab.com
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Seven “Threads” Define the Freshman Experience1. SYSTEMS – one major project per quarter
2. ELECTROMECHANICAL – breadboarding, sensors, control
3. FABRICATION AND ACQUISITION – shop activities; locate, specify and purchase components
4. SOFTWARE – Excel, Mathcad, SolidWorks, Programming
5. FUNDAMENTALS • electricity and DC circuits • conservation of energy • basic chemistry and electrochemistry• conservation of mass• statics • engineering economics
6. COMMUNICATION – formatting problem solutions, oral presentations, writing assignments
7. BROADENING ACTIVITES• global and societal issues• professional society meetings and student functions• teamwork and creative problem solving techniques
College of Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
WhiskerPhotoresistorsIR pairs Temperature Sensor Conductivity Sensor Hall Effect Sensor RF Keychain Transmitter and Receiver LEDs Buzzers Switchable Actuators: Pumps, motors, lights, etc. Continuous Rotation Servos
All students implement these electronics as part of class assignments.
Students can also implement these devices, depending on their chosen project.
GPS sensor
Ultrasonic Range Finder Accelerometer RF ID Tags and Reader GPS Receiver Compass Force Sensor Temperature and Humidity Sensor RF Communication Modules (Boe-Bot to Boe-Bot communication) Embedded Blue Transceiver Appmod (add Bluetooth capabilities to the Boe-Bot) Color Sensor (senses RGB colors at a point) CMUcam Vision SystemLimited Rotation Servos LCD Display Output
College of Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
CONCLUSION: We have implemented a six semester hour, technology-enabled, project-based experience that impacts over 400 first-year engineering students each year.
• Strong analytical skills• Practical ingenuity & creativity• Good communication skills• Business, management skills• High ethical standards, professionalism• Dynamic, agile, flexible & resilient• Lifelong learners• Able to put problems in their socio-
technical and operational context• Adaptive leaders
College of Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMCollege of Engineering and Science
History• In 2002 we offered a pilot robotics-centered curriculum to 30 students
• In 2006 we received $498,000 NSF CCLI grant to expand the curriculum to all engineering students
• In the fall of 2007 we implemented the curriculum for all students
Why?• We wanted freshman design to be more than mousetrap cars and straw
bridges
• We wanted to progressively build skills and competence so that freshmen could implement significant projects
• We wanted to make students more innovative
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
5. FUNDAMENTALS• electricity and DC circuits (A1)• conservation of energy (A1)• basic chemistry and electrochemistry (A1)• conservation of mass (A1)• least squares fitting to calibrate sensors (A1)• statics (A1)• engineering economics (A1)
6. COMMUNICATION• engineering format (A1,A4)• tables and graphs (A4)• oral presentations (A4)• writing assignments (A4)
7. BROADENING ACTIVITES• global and societal issues (A5,A6,A7)• professional society meetings and student functions (A7,A8,A9)• multidisciplinary teams (A4,A8)• creative problem solving techniques for product development (A3)• time and resource management for product development (A10)
A1. Strong analytical skillsA2. Practical ingenuityA3. CreativityA4. Good communication skillsA5. Lifelong learnersA6. Dynamic, agile, resilient and flexible characteristics A7. High ethical standards A8. Leadership skills A9. ProfessionalismA10. Business and management skills
Seven “Threads” define the freshman experience. The outcomes that support these threads are linked to the attributes of the Engineer of 2020 through the curriculum objectives.
1. SYSTEMS• centrifugal pump – model, fabricate and test (A1,A2,A3,A6)• “fishtank” project – control temperature and salinity of water
(A1,A2,A3,A6)• smart product – conceive, design and prototype (A1,A2,A3,A6)
2. ELECTROMECHANICAL• breadboarding skills (A1, A2)• programmable controllers (A1,A2)• multimeters for troubleshooting and measurement (A1,A2)• electromechanical component specifications (A1,A2)
3. FABRICATION AND ACQUISITION• conventional manufacturing processes (A2)• RTD (temperature sensor) – design and microfabrication (A1,A2)• materials and components – locate, specify and purchase (A2)• specify and purchase materials, supplies or components for projects
(A2)
4. SOFTWARE• Excel, Mathcad and SolidWorks (A1,A2)• computer programming for sensing and control (A1,A2)
College of Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
ENGR 120 – Sample Assignments (Engr. of 2020 Attributes)1. Systems: Develop a 3D model of a centrifugal pump
Analytical skills; ingenuity; creativity; dynamism & flexibility2. Electromechanical: Breadboard a circuit and measure currents
Analytical skills; ingenuity3. Fabrication and Acquisition: Fabricate and test a centrifugal pump
Analytical skills; ingenuity; creativity; dynamism & flexibility4. Software: Use Mathcad to calculate efficiency of a centrifugal pump
Analytical skills; ingenuity5. Fundamentals: Calculate power dissipated by a resistor in an electrical circuit
Analytical skills6. Communication: Calculate the efficiency of a centrifugal pump using engineering format
Communication7. Broadening Activities
Attend 5 professional student society meetings (high ethical standards; professionalism; dynamism)Prepare a 2-page paper on waste management and trends for the future (lifelong learning)Multidisciplinary teams (communication; leadership)Time and resource management (business and management skills)
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Application ENGR 122 (traditional curriculum)
ENGR 122H
(LWTL) Assembly 3.10 11.19 Bending 4.77 3.32 Cutting internal or external threads .55 1.62 Drilling 4.29 13.14 Implementing circuits on a breadboard
.62 21.73
Layout 2.24 10.05 Milling .09 .36 Rapid Prototyping .71 .30 Sawing 2.05 7.77 Soldering 2.17 13.83 Using a dial indicator .17 2.71 Using a lathe .06 1.17 Using a multimeter 2.28 3.55 Using a scale 3.59 2.27 Writing PBASIC programs .02 20.23
College of Engineering and Science
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITYMECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM