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) In the 1982 Annual Report of ABET (Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology), the definition of engineering is given as: "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." A very brief, concise definition of engineering design!

Processes Compared Why? Scientific Method Knowledge Engineering Design Need Thing Specification

The Rest of Engineering

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 hands-on 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 crux of the design process is creating a satisfactory solution to a need. The need may be to improve an existing situation or to eliminate a problem. Or, the need may be to develop a use for a new discovery or concept. In any case, it is what engineering is all about—using knowledge and know-how to achieve a desired outcome. Designing is problem solving. It is creative problem solving. A change has to be created. Something different will be produced, and someone will have to decide what to do with the result.” From: Lee Harrisberger, "Engineersmanship ... The Doing of Engineering Design," 2nd Ed, Brooks/Cole Engineering Division, Monterey CA, 1982

The Engineering Design Process? Customer Need or Opportunity Problem Definition/ Specifications Data & Information Collection Development of Alternative Designs At the heart of engineering is the Engineering Design Process. This is a step-by-step method with the objective of producing a device, structure, or system that satisfies a need. Evaluation of Designs/ Selection of Optimal Design 1. These are two samples of the engineering design process seen in the literature. There are many ways to describe or depict engineering design processes, but despite the jargon, there are some basic steps common to all the descriptions…. Implementation of Optimal Design Opportunity identified by company little pieces of paper which could stick onto almost anything but could be removed easily without leaving any trace Source: Accrediting Board For Engineering and Technology 2. Need generally described by a set of specifications (specs) performance specifications (e.g. Weight, size, speed, safety, reliability) economic specifications (e.g. Cost, profit) scheduling specifications (e.g. Production & delivery dates

Source: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/index 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 Scientists try to understand how nature works; engineers create things that never were. An engineering project should state the engineering goals, the development process and the evaluation of improvements. Engineering projects may include the following steps: 1) Define a need. 2) Develop design criteria. 3) Search literature to see what has already been done. 4) Prepare preliminary designs. 5) Build and test a prototype. 6) Retest and redesign as necessary. Some differentiate between pure design and science fair design. Main difference is science fairs want an prototype and product testing. This is categorized under optimize design and convey specifications in the “Official s\definition” 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 __________. Other titles that reveal the problem and solution See resources

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 Science buddies

Some Design Constraints Cost Time Knowledge Legal, ethical Physical: size, weight, power, durability Natural, topography, climate, resources Company practices From battle bots the five constraints are cost, time, knowledge, power, weight Thses are my constraints Cost is always. Cost to design, produce, maintain, support, guarantee, be competitive Time usually always an engineering constraint. Complex project schedules, delivery dates, down-stream process, time to market Knowledge often a problem cannot be solved without discovery or new invention. Strength to weight ratios, E.g. turbine disks Legal ethical, patents, intellectual property, product liability, safety requirements. All cars must have air bag Physical. Driven by tradeoffs, other constraints, customer expectations, interfaces. Normally more weight requires more power, but more strength does not necessarily mean more weight. It may cost more, though. Aluminum, steel, titanium, graphite composites Natural. 1 constraint is building is the obstacle. How far to span drives bridge configuration. Temperature extremes very important too Company May have to use common parts, manufacturing processes There are others all these may not apply, but the design team needs to be aware of all

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 Using a simulation to do science experiment, engineering analysis, select alternatives, example, the effect of altitude on lift. Ho the higers the altitude, the less the lift for a constanmt angle of attack andat ab altitude of 1000’ Design toolExampl, how dig should my wing be to lift 20,000ild analysis. Whats the maxiumum lift I can get fro various shapes, camber testing. What race car has the least drag?

A quality design meets customers expectations! 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 1. An original model upon which something is patterned (Webster) 2. A standard or typical example. 3. A first full scale and usually functional form of a new type or design By definition represents the chosen alternative Expected in a science project. Expense may limit full-scale; often prototype components

Prototype picture of 747 Prototype Prototype 1. An original model upon which something is patterned (Webster) 2. A standard or typical example. 3. A first full scale and usually functional form of a new type or design By definition represents the chosen alternative Expected in a science project. Expense may limit full-scale; often prototype components

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 Be reasonable: e.g. live-fire testing C-17 aircraft worth $300M ( analogy and analysis worked)

Test and Redesign Example of bridge building tools, design and test tool, from West Point curriculum, file folder bridges

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 Nost improtant aspect of patent types of designs isometric projection cad tols photograph schemastic flow chart process chart Picture of satellite

Product Sketches

Other Drawings Circuit design Functional diagrams Configuration Connections Flow Charts

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? ABSTRACT After finishing research and experimentation, you need to write a (maximum) 250-word, one-page abstract. An abstract should include the (a) purpose of the experiment, (b) procedures used, © data, and (d) conclusions. It also may include any possible research applications. Only minimal reference to previous work may be included. The abstract must focus on work done since the last fair and should not include: a) acknowledgments, or b) work or procedures done by the mentor. See below for an example of an appropriately written abstract. See page 27 of the International Rules for the proper formatting of an Official Intel ISEF Abstract and Certification.

Summary

Processes Compared Hypothesis Experiment Conclude Need Criteria, constraints Alternatives Build prototype Test, modify, retest Specification Key differences. Why, cause-effect, hypothesis predict, experiment, conclusion knowledge Key similarities need, criteria and constraints, alternatives, delect, build. Test, redesn (TAAF), document thing “The crux of the design process is creating a satisfactory solution to a need”

Design Features 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 Prototype 1. An original model upon which something is patterned (Webster) 2. A standard or typical example. 3. A first full scale and usually functional form of a new type or design Hypothesis: educated guess about about what will happen, prediction on outcome in measurable terms. Statistical hypotheses often state the null. Often if-then cause and effect, usually one at a time.

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 Class interaction. Putg up a transparency with the light bulb, with no test parameters showing. Pose question what should I test about a light build? What parameter (design criteria), what to measure, and how to conduct it. Test, analysis, evaluation, demonstration Write on acetate that has picture of light bulb. Compare this chart with student answers Alternative, have students in small teams define test requirements for familiar things (MP3 Player, Cell phone, clothing) and report out to class 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 Class interaction. Putg up a transparency with the light bulb, with no test parameters showing. Pose question what should I test about a light build? What parameter (design criteria), what to measure, and how to conduct it. Test, analysis, evaluation, demonstration Write on acetate that has picture of light bulb. Compare this chart with student answers Alternative, have students in small teams define test requirements for familiar things (MP3 Player, Cell phone, clothing) and report out to class

About the Scientific Method This is

Scientific Method(s) Be curious Research Hypothesis Experiment, data Reach Conclusions Prepare report and exhibit Observe Do research Formulate hypothesis Design experiment Stop. Do application Conduct experiments Evaluate, conclusions Prep paper & exhibit Prepare abstract Good scientists, both young and old, use a process to study what they see in the world. The following six stages listed below will help you produce a good scientific experiment: 1) Be curious, choose a limited subject, ask a question; identify or originate/define a problem.* 2) Review published materials related to your problem or question. 3) Evaluate possible solutions and guess why you think it will happen (hypothesis). 4) Challenge and test your hypothesis through experimentation (data collection) and analysis. 5) Evaluate the results of your experiment and reach conclusions based on your data. 6) Prepare your report and exhibit. Source: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/index Source: SCVSEFA Handbook

Hypothesis To help answer “Why”? 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 Hypothesis: If x is true, then y will happen, not I think y will happen (scvsefa) Note: Newton made no hypothesis about the gravitational constant To help answer “Why”?