1. Proposed Course: ENG450: Multidisciplinary Design Bob Dennis

2. Vision To establish a multidisciplinary major design experience that provides systems engineering training for undergraduate students, with additional opportunities: - to span more than one term. - hands on prototyping experience. - include students from many levels.

3. Objectives Offer Pilot course Winter 2004 & 2005 Transform into a permanent course Expand on the basis of student demand Offer year round (Fall & Winter) Identify additional project sponsors Track students into projects…jobs Work with departments to encourage counting as senior design credit

4. Interested Faculty 14 “design” faculty from most of the engineering departments expressed strong interest and attended our initial meetings in August & September.

5. Core Faculty: Pilot Course Robert DennisMechanical & Biomedical Engineering Nilton RennoAtmospheric, Oceanic & Space Sci. Sridhar Kota Mechanical Engineering Thomas ZurbuchenAOSS & Space Phys Res Lab

6. Additional faculty Identify faculty “Design Mission Mentors” Commitment for 2-3 years for each Mission Wide range of knowledge domains: - electromechanical systems - spacecraft design - materials & design - extra-terrestrial environments - CAD/CAM - dynamics & controls - software - many others….

7. Pilot Course Structure 20-30 enrolled students Lectures: Modern Design Process Domain specific lectures Design Mission: NASA Mars Robot Base Open-ended Conceptual Design Guest lectures (external & internal) Leverage existing departmental resources Offer Winter 2004 & 2005

8. Modern Design Process Template: ME450 & BME450 Problem definition: quantitative definition of the engineering problem or opportunity Design specification: definition of quantitative figures of merit (FoM) for performance Concept generation: collect and categorize a large number of design concepts Concept evaluation: quantitatively evaluate each design concept Convergence: reduce the number of concepts by merging the best attributes of each Concept selection: identify the best concept(s) for detailed engineering design & analysis Detailed design & analysis: utilize engineering design and analysis tools Alpha prototype construction: sub-system prototyping, demonstrate “proof of concept” Alpha prototype evaluation: evaluate on the basis of the FoM from the Specification Re-design: evaluate failures and identify opportunities to improve performance Beta prototype construction: focus on system integration Beta prototype evaluation: evaluate system level performance Project Wrap-up/Transition: document the design in detail for future students

9. Credit & Prerequisites Pilot: Senior capstone design Enrolled students: seniors… Participating students: any interested! Credit toward degree set by negotiation with individual departments: Senior Design Requirement Technical Elective Free Elective (default)

10. Systems Focus Design mission: open-ended Projects span multiple terms Focus on system integration System level design & testing specification Continuous re-evaluation of design objectives System-level integration: prototype Evaluation of function: Figures of Merit

11. Sponsors External: NASA (Pilot: Mars autonomous base) Biomedical Automotive Defense Foundation support Corporate Relations: very involved in sponsor identification & continuity. CoE-wide sponsor identification & sorting. Fee structure to support infrastructure & FTE in corporate relations for project marketing. Internal (in support of major research efforts): Medical school Engineering

12. Multidisciplinary Design: ABET Impact Engineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates have: A- An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering B- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data C- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs D- An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams E- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems F- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility G- An ability to communicate effectively H- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context I- A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning J- A knowledge of contemporary issues K- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

13. Additional Skills & Professional Development Leadership & organization skills Project management Research & independent learning Engagement in long-term complex project Communication - cross disciplines - with sponsors - between teams (system integration) - backward & forward in time (documentation)

14. Future Development Identify excellent sponsors Add carefully selected Design Missions Expand student enrollment Develop pool of involved faculty “mentors” Incorporate departmental input at all levels Develop infrastructure (rapid prototyping, CAD, testing, shared resources, …) Expand to a full 1-year course? Link with sponsors: internships, site visits… Open to students outside CoE (business, basic sciences, art & architecture)