Transcript Science Fair - Glendale Community College

Engineering
and Science
Purpose and Nature
Science is the search for
knowledge and understanding
Technology is the application of
knowledge to satisfy human
needs
They are both creative problem
solving methods!
Engineering is...
“… the profession in which a knowledge
of mathematics and natural sciences
gained by study, experience, and practice
is applied with judgment to develop
ways to utilize, economically, the
materials and forces of nature for the
benefit of mankind." (ABET)
Processes Compared
Why?
Need
Scientific Method
Engineering Design
Knowledge
Thing
Process
Specification
The Rest of Engineering
Research
Product
Product
Production Technical Field
Manufacturing
Design Development
Testing
Sales
Service
Engineers Drive Trains!
The distinctions among science and
engineering and technology are often
arbitrary
Engineering design, product testing,
engineering analysis, scientific method are
all creative, problem solving processes
However, schools teach Engineering using
the scientific process with very little handson or applied learning activities
Students are often left wondering what
Engineers really do
Engineering
Design
Process
Description
Engineering Design Defined
The crux of the design
process is creating a
satisfactory solution to a
need
Harrisberger
The Engineering Design
Process?
Customer Need
or Opportunity
Problem Definition/
Specifications
Data & Information
Collection
Development of
Alternative Designs
Evaluation of Designs/
Selection of Optimal Design
Implementation of
Optimal Design
Source: Accrediting Board For Engineering and Technology
Engineering Design
Define a need
Develop design criteria
Search literature to see what has been
done
Prepare preliminary designs
Build and test a prototype
Redesign and retest as necessary
Source: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/index
Dissecting the
Engineering
Design Process
Need
Have a need, have a customer
External vs internal; Implied vs explicit
Often stated as functional requirement
Often stated as bigger, cheaper, faster, lighter
Boilerplate purpose: The design and
construction of a (better____something)_____
for (kids, manufacturing, medicine) to do
__________.
Criteria & Constraints
“Design criteria are requirements you specify for your design that
will be used to make decisions about how to build the product”
Aesthetics
Geometry
Physical Features
Performance
Inputs-Outputs
Use Environment
Usability
Reliability
Some Design Constraints
Cost
Time
Knowledge
Legal, ethical
Physical: size, weight, power, durability
Natural, topography, climate, resources
Company practices
Evaluate Alternatives
Needs best stated as function, not form
Likely to find good alternatives for
cheapest, fastest, lightest, and encourage
discovery
Research should reveal what has been
done
Improve on what has been done
Play alternatives off criteria and
constraints
Brainstorming helps
Simulation
Best Design
Choose best design that meets criteria
Demonstrate tradeoff analyses (among
criteria and constraints) is high quality
Cost (lifecycle) is always consideration
Resist overbuilding; drives complexity,
cost, time, resources
A quality design meets customers expectations!
Prototype
Prototype is implementation of chosen
design alternative
It is a proof of design, production and
suitability
Prototypes are often cost prohibitive:
Models and simulations may suffice
Quality design does not include
redesigning a lot of prototypes
Prototype
Prototype
picture of 747
Test it Well
Test and optimize design against
constraints and customer expectations.
Create a test plan showing how to test
Test in the conditions of use
Good test plan shows what test, expected
results how to test, and what analyses will
be. It relates to specification requirements
Test and Redesign
Test Results
Successful Test:
Satisfying
Test Failure:
Priceless
Project book
Project data book
A complete record
All key decisions
Good drawings
Test plans
Results
Conclusions
Things learned
Draw a Good Picture
• Drawings for project notebook, application, display
• Photos, sketches, CAD 2-D or 3-D
• Show assembly, components, materials
Product Sketches
Other Drawings
Model Abstract
Engineering goal ~ purpose ~ need

Design and construction of gum-repelling
shoe
Design and evaluation criteria
Procedures and equipment

Alternatives, solution, prototype features
Test plan ~ test results
Conclusions

Met need? Why not? Changes? Knowledge?
Summary
Processes Compared
Hypothesis
Experiment
Conclude
“The crux of the design
process is creating a
satisfactory solution to a
need”
Need
Criteria, constraints
Alternatives
Build prototype
Test, modify, retest
Specification
Design Features
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Meets a need, has a “customer”
Design criteria and constraints
Evaluate alternatives (systems or components)
Build prototype (figuratively)
Test/evaluate against test plans (criteria)
Analyze, “tweak” (), redesign (), retest
Project book: record, analyses, decisions,
specifications
Summary: A Superior Project
A clear and relevant need from customer
Research what’s been done before: don’t
make theories out of facts
Enough criteria to develop alternative
designs and perform design trades
Prototype built after best design chosen
Test prototype as it will be used
Comprehensive project book, good specs
Avoid These Pitfalls
No need, no end product
Analysis as a product
Turning facts into questions with hypotheses
Reverse engineering the process
Ah ha!, gadgetry, kits
Demonstrations, product testing
Testing without asking the user
No analysis of prototype test results
Key Terms
Define in context and summarize here..
Prototype
Model
Simulation
Hypothesis
Design criteria
Design constraints
Activity: Design Criteria
What should I test about a light bulb?
Production assembly-time-demonstration
Robustness-vibration,
temperature-test article
Life-hours-statistical sample
Duty cycle-count
on/off-prototype
Brightness-lumens-measure
Packaging-drop test-do last
Base fit-yes/no-first article demo
Activity
Teams define test requirements
for a familiar thing such as MP3
Player, Cell phone, or clothing
and report out to class
About the
Scientific
Method
Scientific Method(s)
Be curious
Research
Hypothesis
Experiment, data
Reach Conclusions
Prepare report and
exhibit
Source: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/index
Observe
Do research
Formulate hypothesis
Design experiment
Stop. Do application
Conduct experiments
Evaluate, conclusions
Prep paper & exhibit
Prepare abstract
Source: SCVSEFA Handbook
Hypothesis
An educated guess
Prediction of outcome
That which can be measured and tested
Cause and effect
Example: if x is true, then y will happen
To help answer “Why”?