Engineering DesignProjects
Engineering Design includes projects that create a solution toa problem or a need. Topics include designing, building, analyzing, modeling,or improving a device. Testing and creating materials is also engineeringdesign. An engineering design project will follow theengineering design process. It will include an identified need, requirementsthat include materials, creative solutions, building of a prototype, testingthe prototype and collecting data, and communicating results through aconclusion.
Engineering DesignProcess:
1. Define theproblem. After narrowing down yourinterests to one problem, explain the problem.
2. Learn aboutthe problem. Do background researchabout the problem, gathering possible solutions and existing solutions tosimilar problems.
3. Specifyrequirements/criteria/constraints.Your problem’s solution must do or perform certain ways. List these asperformance items; how well will your solution work? how will you know if it issuccessful?
4. Define potentialsolutions. Brainstorm at least three differentways to solve your problem.
5. Select a solution and build a prototype. Evaluate your solutions from Step 4 based on yourcriteria defined in step 3. Choose theone that best solves your problem and build a model/prototype. Create sketches/diagrams to help define yourprototype and list the materials necessary to build it.
6. Test andredesign as necessary. Test andevaluate your prototype. If necessary,change and retest to get a better result. Keep in mind your requirements fromStep 3.
7. Construct adisplay. You need to communicate yourresults. Did the solution meet therequirements? What would youchange/modify if it was not successful? See below for a suggested diagram ofthe display.
Example of an EngineeringDesign Project:
An engineering design projectshould solve a problem; the work should create a solution for a specific need.Your project may include using the scientific method while best solving theproblem. The following problem definition is a typical example:
Title: Stop the Water!
ProjectDefinition
Define the Problem: What is the best material to put in a sandbag to blockwater during a flashflood?
Background Research: What is typically used for sandbags (inside as well atoutside) and its effectiveness, other possible materials, absorption, etc.
Requirements/Criteria/Constraints:Sandbag must block/deflect 1gallon of water per minute for 8 hours, weigh less than 20 pounds and be safefor the environment as well.
Designand Methodology
Solutions: From the research, possible materials and shape ofsandbag are considered as well as how to test.
Prototype Description: Discussion of the material(s)/design chosen (why isone material better than the others?).
Execution:Construction, Testing and Evaluation
Testing: Testingprotocols defined. How will you test it? How many times? Do you need totest under multiple conditions?
Results: How did the material(s) hold up? What was discoveredduring testing? Did other variables become apparent?
Conclusion: This is a detailed discussion of the student’sfindings as it relates to the problem. The student should use evidence from theprototype testing to support their findings. The student should state whetherthe problem was solved. Then reflect on what they learned. What might the nextsteps be?
Project Suggestions
· Tennisball thrower for your dog
· Builda fort out of recycled materials
· Candysafe with alarm
· Computerprogram/app
· Waterfilter for hiking
· Rubberband shooter
· Ultimatepaper airplane design
· Lowwater sensor for Christmas tree
· Eggdrop survival (parachute and/or packaging design)
· Designa building to survive an earthquake (using legos, popsicle sticks, etc)
· Mechanicalhand for picking up trash
· Bridgefor toy cars
· Wateror wind powered crane
· Rubberband powered car/boat
· Designa city of the future
Problem/Needs
· Mysister keeps stealing my candy
· Myhands get slimy when I throw the ball for my dog
· Ilike to read in bed but I don’t want to get out from under the covers to turnoff the light
· Ialways lose when I have a rubber band/snowball fight with my brother
· Idon’t like to crawl under the Christmas tree to check the water level every daybecause I get covered in pine needles
· Idon’t want to get my hands dirty when picking up garbage
· Mylego buildings always fall down when they get above 12 inches
· Mypaper airplanes never fly straight/far
ge content here.