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COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course will facilitate your ability to:

• -   Identify a societal need, determine the magnitude of the problem and quantify the specifications for a solution that include technical, ethical, environmental, legal and other requirements.

• -   Use engineering problem solving methods to generate a set of alternative solutions, use the matrix system to select the alternative that appears most viable, and then design a component, system, or process to implement the alternative.

• -   Apply science and mathematics to describe the problem, analyze potential solutions and evaluate the final design.

• -   Design and conduct experiments to assess the viability of a proposed solution; analyze and interpret the resulting data.

• -   Use modern engineering tools (e.g. computer-aided design) in the design process.

• -   Work effectively on a multidisciplinary team and negotiate group dynamics.

• -   Evaluate and appropriately act upon ethical issues that influence the engineering process.

• -   Communicate effectively through written and verbal reports and improve your oral presentation skills.

• -   Begin the practice of life long learning through an analysis of new technology.

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To fulfill these objectives you will be working on a nine-week design project as a member of a student team. The specific field of the project changes each time the course is taught. Your team must respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) from a fictional foundation, The Dartmouth Educational Foundation (DCEF). This spring the area of interest of the DCEF is “Cleantech.” The RFP follows.

Cleantech

The Dartmouth College Educational Foundation (DCEF) requests proposals for the design and development of ingenious and innovative systems, devices and processes that improve "operational performance, productivity, or efficiency while reducing costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste, pollution" and environmental impact. The DCEF has a broad perspective and will consider proposals in a wide variety of areas; therefore, development in the broadest context should be considered.

EXPECTATIONS

Each group will be expected to:

1.      Select a problem that addresses a need to improve efficiency and sustainability;

2.      Determine the magnitude of the problem;

3.      Determine the specifications associated with a satisfactory solution;

4.      Generate a set of potential alternative approaches;

5.      Select a novel approach and evaluate the market for the solution.

During the term, you will also be expected to:

6.      Develop a prototype;

7.      Test the prototype;

8.      Develop a venture proposal;

9.      Present the prototype and venture proposal to the Review Board.

MILESTONES, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

The DCEF has brought together a Review Board to assess and evaluate your efforts. The Review Board will meet four (4) times to listen to team presentations during the term. These presentations include: your preproposal, proposal, progress report and your final presentation. Professor William Lotko will evaluate and grade your written work for each of these reports. The schedule for the reports and presentations follows:

NOTE: ALL REPORTS ARE DUE AT NOON UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED!

Good luck! We look forward to your proposals.

DCEF REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS

William Lotko, Professor, Course Director

Kevin Baron, Director Machine Shop Design Lab, Thayer School of Engineering

Chris Levey, Professor, Thayer School of Engineering

Vicki May, Associate Director for Math, Science and Engineering, Dartmouth Center for Advancement of Learning

Peter Robbie, Professor, Thayer School of Engineering

The course director in consultation with the Review Board and Teaching Assistants assigns grades. Each group will be requires to assess its own performance; the results will be incorporated into the overall evaluation.

Professor Lotko is available in Room 217B most of the time or by appointment to answer questions on organization, presentation, content, resources, team issues, etc. throughout the duration of the course. You should avail yourself of the resources listed in the course circular entitled Project Support Services and, as appropriate, work with the main course consultants (Mr. Kevin Baron, Dr. Daniel Cullen, Mr. Terry Priestley, Prof. Chris Levey and Prof.Peter Robbie) during the term.

HONOR PRINCIPLE

You will be working as a member of a team throughout this course. You need to ensure that the written works reflect only the efforts of your team and that you reference all sources using the methods described in the Dartmouth circular, Sources: Their Uses and Acknowledgement.

GRADING

The grading will be by team, not individual, although at the conclusion of the course there will be the opportunity to reward outstanding individual performances and penalize individual negligence or laziness, based on individual effort and productivity.

The weight of grading of the course elements is as follows:

The grade on each report is based equally on oral and written work. The quality of record keeping in the lab notebook and the weekly group meetings with the TA will constitute 5% of the team grade (see below).

In addition to the team grade, and the possibility of adjusting an individual’s grade based on unusual individual performance on the team project, students can acquire individual extra credit by regularly attending and participating in class.

TEAM NOTEBOOK

Each team will be provided with a notebook to record its progress. This log will be the basis for discussion of both group and individual performance at the weekly meetings with the student advisors. The notebook must be updated at least once per week and will be reviewed and evaluated every week and at the end of the course.

ADVISOR MEETINGS

Each team will be expected to meet with its student advisor (TA) at least once a week and preferably two times. Team performance should be assessed at least once a week when the performance of individual members and the team as a whole are evaluated. The TA will sign the group notebook each week.

INSTRUCTOR MEETINGS

Each team will meet at least twice per quarter with Professor Lotko to discuss team performance and overall progress on the project.

The Couch Project Design Lab, Room M009/014 off the Atrium, has been assigned as the project space for this course. The Lab is usually staffed by a TA when it is open.