Engineering Design

Engineering Design Scientists Investigate that Which Already Is; Engineers Design that Which Never Has Been! - Theodore Von Karman

Engineering Design • Think of a Great Product that you use, a Structure you Admire, a Program that you Enjoy or a Vehicle you want to Drive. • All of those came about by Design – - Most probably by Engineers and/or Computer Scientists. • So…What is Engineering? • …And How does it differ from Science?

So…What is Engineering? • “Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical 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 humankind.”Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

What is Engineering Vs. Science? • Engineering is often associated with science and understandably so. Both make extensive use of mathematics, and engineering requires a solid scientific basis. Yet as any scientist or engineer will tell you, they are quite different. Science is a quest for “truth for its own sake,” for an ever more exact understanding of the natural world. It explains the change in the viscosity of a liquid as its temperature is varied, the release of heat when water vapor condenses, and the reproductive process of plants. It determines the speed of light. Engineering turns those explanations and understandings into new or improved machines, technologies, and processes – to bring the reality to ideas and to provide solutions to societal needs. - Astronaut/Engineer Neil ArmstrongA Century of Innovation: Twenty Engineering Achievements That Changed Our Lives

Engineering Design • Is Inventive, Creative • Open-ended • Iterative • Constrained • Engineers and Computer Scientists use a Process to Optimize a Design for a Client. • There can be many aspects (and much more complexity), but some procedures are common to the design process. • Methodology • Following a procedure or methodology helps speed and limit the process • Can make your work more efficient • An example process is….

Design Process Identify Need – From Client or Market Build a Bridge Define Problem Pedestrians Across River from Pt. A to B Gather Information – Criteria and Constraints How Many People? What Length? Duration? Climate? Cost? Etc.. Generate Multiple Solutions Suspension, Beam, Girder, Timber, Concrete, Steel, “Back of Envelope” Analyze and Select “Best” Alternative Perform Preliminary Design for Best Alternatives and Cost Test and Implement Alternative Select Best Alternatives, Initial Design, Take to Client Document Process Design Notebooks, Plans, Specifications Iterate Reiterate design with client and start over with best alternative Identify need/ Client or Market Documentation Define problem Communication Test / Implement Solution Gather Information Criteria / constraints Analyze / Select Solution Generate Multiple Solutions Iterative Process Model

Why Use a Process Model • Avoid typical problems • Jumping to conclusions • Relying on old assumptions • Failure to collect pertinent data/information • Working off-task • Failure to use “experts” • Failure to plan • Reminder of “critical path” • Facilitates inter-group communications

Creative Design • What can you do to have a more creative design? • The Process model steers you into innovative procedures: • Multiple Solutions • Brainstorming and Focused Creativity • Documentation to prevent “ReInventing the Wheel”

Generate Multiple Solutions: Creativity “Creativity is playing with imagination and possibilities, leading to new and meaningful connections and outcomes while interacting with ideas, people, and the environment.” Lumsdaime

Creative Ability • Curiosity and tolerance of unknown • Openness to new experiences • Willingness to take risks • Ability to observe details and see the “whole picture” • No fear of problems • Ability to concentrate and focus on the problem until it’s solved

Brainstorming • Accept everything / Do not evaluate • Welcome the outlandish • Visualize! • The mind is most creative when dealing with images. • Strive for quantity • Build / combine old ideas • Be creative / thorough • Lateral (new categories) / Vertical (new ideas in categories) Thinking • Analogies • Record everything for later evaluation Every idea is a good idea

Design notebook • Keep track of ideas/meetings • Refine concepts • Document materials • What is “free”- if it is found/thrown away • Fair market value • Purchased items

Scientific Method Observation The sky is blue Question Why is the sky blue? Hypothesis There is a bunch of blue ink in the sky Prediction Ink eradicator will turn the sky clear Experiment Ink eradicator is sprayed into the sky Analysis Photometry indicates the color didn’t change, Hypothesis Testing Decision The blue isn’t from ink Iteration Redo the experiment, new prediction, New Hypothesis Design Process Identify Need – From Client or Market Build an Accounting System Define Problem Firm wants an in-house system Gather Information – Criteria and Constraints What Language? Database? Multiple offices? Cost? Etc.. Generate Multiple Solutions Excel?, Visual Basic? C++? XML, User Level? Analyze and Select “Best” Alternative Perform Preliminary Design for Best Alternatives and Cost Test and Implement Alternative Select Best Alternatives, Initial Design, Storyboard, Take to Client Document Process Design Notebooks, Plans, Specifications Iterate Reiterate design with client and repeat with best alternative Design Process vs. Scientific Method

Engineering Design