Intro to Engineering Design

1
Intro to Engineering Design

• By Jami Meteer
• 13 July 2003
• CURIE Program

2
System Examples

• Ideas
• Bridge
• City Planning (SimCity)
• Underwater Digital Camera
• Computer, cell phone, etc.

3
Design Process Overview

• Define the Problem
• Perform Background Research
• Plan the Project
• Propose Designs
• Finalize a Design

4
Define the Problem

• Specifications
• How does the system need to perform?
• What requirements does it need to meet?
• Parameters
• What parts of the system can I change?
• Where can I be creative, inventive, resourceful?
• Constraints
• What are the limits on the system?
• What do I have no control over?

5
Background Research

• Available Solutions
• What technology exists to solve this problem?
• Market Study
• Who are my competitors? What are their products?
• Feasibility
• Is it possible to design a solution to this
  problem with the current technology?
• Necessary Innovation
• What technologies need to be developed in order
  to design a solution?

6
Planning a Design Project

• Build a Team
• What expertise do I need?

• Set up a Timeline
• How long will each task take?
• What tasks can be done in parallel?

• Budget
• How much will it cost to design?

7
Propose Designs

• Determine parameters to achieve specifications
  within constraints
• Design Tools
• Estimation and Scaling
• Models and Simulations
• Prototypes
• Others?

8
Finalize a Design

• Evaluate Options
• Select a Design
• Optimize the Design
• Produce and Distribute the Product

9
Design Process Overview

• Define the Problem (Todays Next Talk)
• Perform Background Research (You!)
• Plan the Project (You!)
• Propose Designs (You!)
• Finalize a Design (A Long Term Project)