GEEN 1400
ENGINEERING PROJECTS

Instructor: Bernard Amadei Civil, Environmental and Architectural Eng.
ECOT 546
303-492-7734
Bernard.Amadei {at} colorado(.)edu
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9-11 a.m.

Course web site: http://www.colorado.edu/geen1400/

TA: Ellen Hardy – ellen.hardy {at} colorado(.)edu
OHs: Mon. and Wed. 9-10 a.m.

TA: Steven Pfau – PPfau85191 {at} aol(.)com
OHs: Mon. 11-12 pm.; Wed. 4-5 p.m.

Course Description (3 credit hours): The purpose of this course is to provide you an introduction to engineering through a series of small projects done in interdisciplinary teams. You will learn in a hands on way valuable engineering skills including communication skills, how to function in teams, the basic steps in engineering design process, and a variety of computer tools as appropriate to your projects, such as spreadsheets, dynamic modeling software, or computer aided design (CAD). The theme of section 020 is appropriate technology and its use in solving water, sanitation, energy and health problems in developing countries.

Grading: The course grade will be based on a combination of group work and individual accomplishment:

Group work:
Introductory project, report
Design project presentations, report

Individual accomplishments:
Oral presentation participation
Design journals
Individual writing assignments
Peer evaluations

The final grade will be calculated as follows: 50% (Design project), 20% (Intro project), 30% (homework assignments).

COURSE ELEMENTS

• Introductory Project: Design, Construction and Testing of a Solar Cooking Oven

• Team Dynamics Exercises: fun, moderately physical activities and problem solving games in which we work together to solve a variety of interesting challenges.
• Design Projects: The main emphasis of the various design projects will be on appropriate technology and its use in solving water, sanitation, energy and health problems in developing countries. Appropriate technology is characterized as being small scale, energy efficient, environmentally sound, labor-intensive and controlled by the local community. It must be simple enough to be maintained by the people using it. It must match the user and the need in complexity and scale. It is designed to foster self reliance, cooperation and responsibility, must benefit most people, and provide goods, services and jobs.

  The course will give you an understanding of some of the most common and important technologies being introduced in small scale community developments. You will be asked to create, design and construct small appropriate technological systems, processes and devices for a variety of settings associated with the developing world. Of equal importance, special emphasis will be placed on the societal impact and implications of appropriate technological systems.

• A Design Expo will be held on Saturday, December 7th, allowing you an opportunity to showcase your functioning prototype to the public. External judges will evaluate each project and provide written feedback.
• Guest Lectures throughout the course will be presented by faculty members and outside guest speakers from a sampling of engineering departments and industry. They will describe to you a research and/or design project they are working on to give you a flavor of the various engineering disciplines.
• Several workshops throughout the semester will introduce you to some of the hands on skills you will need to work on your projects, such as CAD, basic electrical circuits and safety and use of tools.

INTRODUCTORY PROJECT

Objective: to discover the different phases in the iterative process of engineering design:
(1) design objectives and constraints; (2) development; (3) documentation and analysis of design ideas; (4) building; and (5) testing. This is a team project.

Problem Statement:
Design a Solar Cooking Oven to be used to cook food during the summer months (June September) in Boulder, CO. The oven must be able to reach temperatures exceeding 300' F (150' C).

Remark:
To help you, I strongly recommend that you consider the system described in http://www.exoticbiades.com/tamara/soI cook/. However, you are not limited to that system; this is just for you to get started.

Deadline: The project must be completed, tested, and reported by September 19, 2002.

Requirements:

1. Your final report must document the different phases of the design process your team went through. You may want to read Chapter 3 in Introductory Engineering Design: A Projects Based Approach. The book is available for purchase for $20 in ITLL I B40 and available on line: http://www.colorado.edu/geen 1400/index.section =Textbook

2. Your final report must address the science of solar cooking. What physics principles are behind this? Why does it work?

3. Your report must provide a brief review of existing solar cooking ovens available on the market today (cost, limitations, advantages, disadvantages), Are any of them patented?

4. Your report must include a detailed description of

• supplies and equipment used (cost included)
• data collected and analyzed
• instructions and steps for construction
• tips for using the oven
• recommendations for improvement

5. Each student should not spend more than $25 towards supplies and expenses for this introductory project.

Your grade will be based on several criteria:

1. How closely you followed the design loop discussed in Chapter 3

2. The reporting of the different phases of the design process

3. How closely you met the aforementioned requirements

4. The performance of your system (higher temperature, lower cost)

5. The quality and taste of the food cooked with your oven

Recommended web sites on solar cooking:

www.sunoven.com (Sun Ovens International)
www.tufts.edu/as/tampl/en43 (Gourmet engineering course at Tufts)

DESIGN PROJECT

Background:
The objective of this design project is for you to explore further the different phases in the iterative process of engineering design. This is your major semester project that will count for 50% of your final grade.

Before proceeding with this project, you are asked to read first, by Monday September 30, Chapter 7: Design Process in Introductory Engineering Design: A Projects Based Approach. The chapter is available on-line at http://www.colorado.edu/geen_1400/index.cfm?fuseaction=Textbook.
Explore this chapter carefully as the different stages of the design process outlined in the chapter will have to be documented in your final report.

The main emphasis of the design projects in GEEN 1400 020 is on appropriate and sustainable technology and its use in solving water, sanitation, energy, and health problems in developing communities. Appropriate technology is characterized as being small scale, energy efficient, environmentally sound, labor intensive and controlled by the local community. It must be simple enough to be maintained by the people using it. It must match the user and the need in complexity and scale. It is designed to foster self reliance, cooperation and responsibility.

Problem Statement:
You are asked to create, design, construct, and test a product or technology that could be used by a developing community to fulfill some of its year around needs with clean water, sanitation, energy, or shelter. The product or technology must be functional, efficient, durable (sustainable), appropriate, reliable, affordable, attractive (somewhat), and most importantly, must satisfy the needs of the community it serves. It must also show potential for creating jobs in the community through micro enterprises.

Schedule:
Design Selection Presentation: Thursday, October 3
Preliminary Design Review: Tuesday, October 15
Critical Design Review: Tuesday, November 5
Project Demonstrations: Tuesday, December 3
Design Expo: Saturday, December 7

Requirements:

1. Your final report must document in depth the different phases of the design process your team went through. The nines steps described in Chapter 7 must be clearly identified and documented. The seven principles of universal design described in Chapter 7 (pp. 76) must be adopted. All steps must be documented in your group design journal which will have to be turned in upon completion of this project

2. Your final report must address the science behind your product or technology. What physics principles are behind this? Why does it work?

3. Your final report should describe how appropriate and sustainable your product/ technology is.

4. Your final report must describe how your product/technology will improve the life of those in needs in the developing world and what potential the technology has in creating community jobs through micro enterprises.

5. Your report must include a detailed description of

o supplies and equipment used (cost included)
o data collected and analyzed
o instructions and steps for construction
o tips for using your product or technology (user's manual)
o recommendations for improvement

6. Each group should not spend more than $250 on materials and supplies (does not include donated equipment).

Your design project grade will be based on several key criteria:

1. How closely you followed the design loop and nine steps discussed in Chapter 7
2. The reporting of the different phases of the design process
3. How closely you met the aforementioned requirements
4. The performance of your system
5. How your system addresses more specifically the needs of the developing world.

GUIDELINES FOR PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW

The Preliminary Design Review session is scheduled for Tuesday October 15, 2002.
Each group will be given 15 min. for presentation (12 min. for presentation, 3 min. for feedback, questions and answers).

Your presentation must include the following components on separate slides:

1. Concise Problem Statement describe in one sentence the customer problem your product/technology will solve.

2. Functional Requirements describe what your product must do

3. Quantitative Requirements (size, weight, cost, etc.)

4. Qualitative Requirements (safety, color, portability, etc.)

5. Your Customers

a. Who are they?

b. Forecast their demographics (age, gender, socio economics, where they live, etc.)

c. Why would they buy your product/technology?

d. How would they adopt your product/technology in their way of life?

e. How would their lives be any better with your product/technology now, five years from now, ten years from now?

f. Is there a potential for developing micro enterprises?

6. Establish Product Benchmarks

a. Present photos/graphics of potentially competing products/technology

b. Explain other ways your objectives could be accomplished

7. Alternative Design Concepts Explored

a. Provide simple sketches of markedly different approaches your team has explored

b. Share the results of your team brainstorming sessions on alternative designs

8. Reflections on your Team Strengths and Challenges

CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW

The Critical Design Review session is scheduled for Tuesday November 5, 2002. Each group will be given 15 min. for presentation (12 min. for presentation, 3 min. for feedback, questions and answers). All presentations must be done in PowerPoint.

Your presentation should build on what you presented on October 15, 2002. At this stage of the project I expect you to know: (1) what problem you are solving, (2) what your product will do, (3) the product qualitative and quantitative requirements, and (4) who your customers are. Furthermore, several alternative design concepts must have been explored and documented. You should also know what are your team strengths and challenges. All team members must participate in the presentations. The presentations will be graded for content and quality.

Your final presentation should discuss:

1. The most promising concept that you have selected (functionality, qualitative and quantitative requirements) and how you arrived at that concept
(including cost)

2. How you are communicating the design (drawings, parts, assembly of parts)

3. What your final product will look like

4. What is being done to reach that objective and implementing the design

5. What steps you are planning to take over the next few weeks to meet the objective (planning, scheduling, and management)

6. What testing program you have outlined for the next four weeks.

Project demonstrations and final reports are due in class on Tuesday December 3, 2002.