The aim of the module is to introduce students to the design process and the skills employed therein, within an engineering context.
SYLLABUS In the first semester there are three elements to the module and the following will be covered: Professional Skills: report writing, literature searching, presentation skills, team working; Design Process: product design specification, concept design, selection of concept designs, detail design; Drawing: sketching, engineering drawings, computer aided design.
An introduction to the patent system and intellectual property rights to provide a basic understanding of how product designs, as intellectual property, are protected, impact of ethics and sustainability.
Students will gain practise of the above through writing a technical report, producing a range of sketches and drawings and through a design project.
In the second semester the work develops themes introduced in the first semester. It consists of the following two elements:
A team design, build and test project, which includes: designing a structure, producing the engineering drawings and building the structure to the drawings.
A team design project for a topic specific application (supported by introduction sessions)*, which includes: producing a design specification, undertaking a patent search, producing a range of concept designs, selecting an appropriate concept, producing a detail design.
In the weeks allocated for post-examination courses, students will undertake discipline specific training.
Where appropriate students will undertake site visit related to their specific disciplines. (This will be dependent on facilities and resource.)
N.B: *Topic specific applications will be linked to research activities. Students on a minor pathway must undertake a projects specific to their pathway.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to related engineering disciplines, to solve engineering problems
Use creativity to establish innovative solutions
Manage the design process and evaluate outcomes
UoB Birmingham campus: Apply laboratory skills and other discipline related skills (Mechanical Engineering – Workshop; Civil Engineering – Surveying; ESEE – Software workshop. (This will be dependent on facilities and resource.)
Understand the use of technical literature and other information sources
Demonstrate an awareness of nature of intellectual property, contractual and ethical issues
Understand appropriate codes of practice and industry standards
An ability to work in teams made up from different engineering disciplines
Demonstrate a broad awareness of engineering projects as a system
Semester 2: Design and built device for testing (15%) Team Project work*, poster and presentation (35%) *patent search, design concepts, ethical and sustainability issues and engineering drawings
Post examination period (2 weeks): Discipline specific training (Mechanical Engineering – Workshop and industrial visits); (Civil Engineering – Surveying including, lectures, tutorials and field work); (EESE – software workshop) – Pass/fail based on attendance/professionalism. For UoB Dubai campus Mechanical Engineering: This will be dependent on facilities and resource..
N.B. students must successfully complete the training to pass the module.
Reassessment: Individual assignment for failure of work in Semester 1 and 2. Re-take training the following year.