Mechatronics as a Capstone Design Course

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Murray ◽  
Joseph L. Garbini
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
University Of Washington ◽  
High Regard ◽  
The University ◽  
Capstone Design Courses ◽  
Capstone Design

Abstract Capstone design courses in engineering, which provide students the opportunity to tackle open-ended, real-world projects, are generally held in high regard as learning experiences. A relatively new and increasingly important component of engineering is the area of mechatronics. In this paper, we review the goals of capstone design courses and examine how well suited mechatronics projects are for use as projects in capstone design courses. Our experiences in using mechatronics projects in the senior-level capstone design course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington are presented. From these experiences, we demonstrate that mechatronics projects are particulary well suited for use in capstone design.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CROSS DISCIPLINE CAPSTONE DESIGN EXPERIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.C.D. DeGagne ◽  
Paul Labossiere
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Real World ◽  
Capstone Course ◽  
Engineering Program ◽  
Engineering Discipline ◽  
Respective Discipline ◽  
University Of Manitoba ◽  
The University ◽  
Capstone Design Courses ◽  
Capstone Design

One of the most effective and efficient ways for an engineering program to facilitate compliance with the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) accreditation criteria is through capstone design projects and courses. Currently, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Engineering has several capstone design courses; however, each is independently focused on its own respective discipline. The resulting educational experience for students, though rigorous and challenging, is maintained within the boundaries of the students’ engineering discipline, thereby neglecting to provide the opportunity for students to work with people from multiple disciplines and across multiple fields. This style/mode of education, where students work in silos, arguably does not reflect real world engineering. Program representatives from the Faculty of Engineering agree. An interdisciplinary capstone course would provide a more rounded engineering education for students. Exposing students to other disciplines and facilitating their learning of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to work in a multidisciplinary capacity will more effectively prepare students for the real world. Thus, to better comply with CEAB requirements and to increase the breadth and depth of students’ engineering education, an interdisciplinary capstone pilot course will be launched at the University of Manitoba.This paper explains how this multidisciplinary capstone pilot program has been developed, and touches on the early stages of its initiation and implementation.

scholarly journals FROM MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CAPSTONE DESIGN TO DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Dumond ◽  
Eric Lanteigne
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Capstone Course ◽  
Capstone Courses ◽  
Engineering Theory ◽  
Teaching Design ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Capstone Design

Traditionally, mechanical engineering capstone courses focused on teaching students the application of fundamental engineering theory to complex mechanical designs. Recently, there has been a transition towards experiential learning initiatives, such as prototyping, in engineering design. This paper looks at the relationship between the mechanical engineering design capstone course and a course in product design and development, which provides students with the opportunity to build prototypes of their designs, at the University of Ottawa. The importance of the traditional capstone course is considered and the implications of implementing these designs are examined. Many capstone design projects would require extensive work so that they could be implemented. A large hurdle appears to exist between analytical design and design implementation, and the term time constraints limit the complexity of designs intended for prototyping. In fact, students require many design iterations before they can build full-scale functional prototypes of their design. Therefore, we have observed that simple products work best for teaching design implementation.

scholarly journals Designing rigorous and relevant learning experiences for future teachers

2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 13002
Author(s):  
Daniela-Maria Creţu
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Preschool Education ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Future Teachers ◽  
Application Analysis ◽  
The University ◽  
Real World Problems

Teaching and learning at the university should help students develop complex thinking about the issues they are dealing with and practice skills needed to solve real-world problems. The Rigor/Relevance Framework, developed by the staff of the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE), is a useful tool for designing learning experiences that increase the rigor and the relevance of the curriculum. This model integrates Bloom’s taxonomy with its six levels (remembering, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) with the Application Model, which has five levels (knowledge in one discipline, apply in discipline, apply across disciplines, apply to real-world predictable situations and apply to real-world unpredictable situations). The combination of these two dimensions results in four quadrants: Acquisition, Application, Assimilation, Adaptation, in which learning experiences can be designed to raise the rigor and relevance of instruction. The aim of this study is to exemplify the use of the Rigor/Relevance Framework in designing the learning experiences offered during two courses for future teachers for primary and preschool education. The implications of selecting appropriate instructional strategies and student assessment methods are discussed.

Blackboard as a Tool for Peer Learning and Interaction for Engineering Students

2011 ◽  
Vol 367 ◽  
pp. 591-599
Author(s):  
Jacek Uziak ◽  
M.T. Oladiran
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Peer Learning ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
Mode Of Instruction ◽  
Instruction Delivery ◽  
The University ◽  
Engineering Programme

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the learning experiences of mechanical engineering students who used Blackboard technology at the University of Botswana. The results presented are based on the application of the technology in two courses offered to Year 3 students. As the results of this study were encouraging it is recommended that more courses in the mechanical engineering programme should migrate to blended mode of instruction delivery.

Experience of Designing and Manufacturing a BattleBot to Compete

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Dong ◽  
Janak Dave
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Weight Class ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Business World ◽  
Design Project ◽  
National Competition ◽  
University Of Cincinnati ◽  
Complex Project ◽  
The University ◽  
Capstone Design

Students working toward a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at the University of Cincinnati are required to complete a “Design, Manufacturing, and Test” senior capstone design project. One of these capstone design projects was to design and manufacture a battle robot to participate in the BotsIQ national competition. This robot was built to meet the BotsIQ 120 lb weight class specifications. A BattleBot is a robot which possesses fighting capabilities and competes against other BattleBots with the intent to disable them. The weapon is the main component of the BattleBots. BattleBots compete one on one and the winner is determined by the amount of damaged inflicted to the other using the weapon. In the 2007–2008 academic year, a team of four Mechanical Engineering Technology students at the University of Cincinnati built a BattleBot as their senior capstone design project. As with all capstone projects, expertise and knowledge acquired from their coursework and co-op were utilized. This project gave them an opportunity to showcase their abilities as well as develop additional skills needed to be successful in a team oriented business world. This team also enjoyed the personal satisfaction of working on a technically complex project from concept-to-design, manufacture, test, and compete against other university participants in the competition. This paper will describe students’ experiences in designing, manufacturing, and competing their robot in the national competition and team experience of the participants.

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