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SSilicon ilicon PPrairie rairie IInitiative on nitiative on RRobotics in obotics in IInformation nformation TTechnologyechnology

The The Engineering Engineering

ProcessProcess

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ReferencesReferences Definition of the Engineering Method;

Billy Vaughn Koen; American Society for Engineering Education; 1985;

ISBN: 0-87823-101-3 Discussion of The Method; Billy

Vaughn Koen; Oxford University Press; 2003; ISBN: 0-19-515599-8

Strategies for Creative Problem Solving; H. Scot Fogler and Steven E. LeBlanc; Prentice-Hall; 1995; ISBN: 0-13-179318-7

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Engineers and ScientistsEngineers and Scientists

Science and mathematics is about understanding and describing the world.

Engineering is about using this understanding to create new objects and devices for the practical benefit of humans and society.

Science uses the “scientific method” Engineering uses the “design process”

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Engineers and ScientistsEngineers and Scientists The Scientific Method

Observe some aspect of the universeFormulate a hypothesis consistent

with observationUse the hypothesis to make

predictionsTest the predictions with experiments

Modify the hypothesis in light of results Repeat testing until no discrepancies

between theory and experiment

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Engineers and ScientistsEngineers and Scientists Engineering Design Process

Identify the problem or design objective Define goals and identify constraints Research and gather information Create potential solutions Analyze the viability of the solutions Choose the most appropriate solution Implement the solution Test and evaluate the design Repeat ALL steps as necessary

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HeuristicsHeuristics A heuristic is anything that provides

a plausible aid or direction in the solution of a problem.

Heuristics are usually unjustified and potentially fallible.

Engineering design isis the use of heuristics.

Heuristics are used to cause the best change in a poorly understood situation within the available resources.

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Engineering Design ProcessEngineering Design Process

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Conceptual Design5. Establish design specifications6. Generate alternatives

Client Statement(Need)

Preliminary Design7. Model or analyze design8. Test and evaluate design

Detailed Design9. Refine and optimize design

Final Design(Fabrication Specs& Documentation)

Problem Definition1. Clarify objectives2. Establish user requirements3. Identify constraints4. Establish functions

Design Communication10. Document design

Design Process

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Convergent (left brain) and Divergent (right brain) Thinking

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Problem DefinitionProblem Definition Methods

Objective Tree Pairwise Comparison

Chart Weighted Objectives

Tree Function-Means

Tree Functional Analysis Requirements Matrix

Means Literature Review Brainstorming User Surveys and

Questionnaires Structured Interviews

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Building an Objectives TreeBuilding an Objectives Tree

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Building an Objectives TreeBuilding an Objectives Tree

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Functional AnalysisFunctional Analysis What does the design DO? What functions must be performed to

realize the objectives? Put the language of the client and users

into the language of the engineer. Put things into terminology that helps to

find ways to meet objectives. Use terminology that can be used to

measure how well the objectives have been met.

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What are Functions?What are Functions? A relationship between independent

variables (inputs) and response or dependent variables. (outputs)

Mathematics:

Business Management Theory:

xfy

services

products

ylogtechno

materials

laborTransformation function

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Black and Glass BoxesBlack and Glass Boxes Like the mathematical and management

models - relate the inputs to the outputs

All ins and outs must be specified What happens to each input? Where does the output come from?

Remove the cover to see what's going on inside.

Black Box

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Black Box of a RadioBlack Box of a Radio

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Radio Glass BoxRadio Glass Box(the cover has been removed)(the cover has been removed)

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Function-Means TreeFunction-Means Tree A graphical representation of the design's

basic and secondary functions Alternating levels of function and means Begins the process of association of what

must be done and how we might do it. Can be used to separate and sort

secondary functions associated with the design.

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HeuristicsHeuristics A heuristic is anything that provides

a plausible aid or direction in the solution of a problem.

Heuristics are usually unjustified and potentially fallible.

Engineering design isis the use of heuristics.

Heuristics are used to cause the best change in a poorly understood situation within the available resources.

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Conceptual Design: Conceptual Design: Finding a Feasible Concept.Finding a Feasible Concept.

Break down the overall problem into subproblems. Find solutions to each subproblem Combine the subproblem solutions.

The aim is to start with the project definition and generate as many ways as possible of solving the problem.

Then select the most promising ideas that meet the design specification.

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Conceptual DesignConceptual Design Methods

Performance Specification Method

Quality Function Deployment (QFD)

Morphological Chart

Means Brainstorming Synectics and

Analogies Benchmarking Reverse Engineering

(Dissection)

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Convergent (left brain) and Divergent (right brain) Thinking