Engineering Project II module (EG12007)

Engineers work together in a team environment and need to be highly communicative to create prototypes, test products, analyse data and deliver solutions. You will develop your practical and verbal skills during two practical engineering design projects by working in small groups.

Project 1 will develop your Computer Aided Design (CAD) knowledge and 3D printing skills. You will use CAD, 3D printing software, and a range of 3D printers to develop your own unique prototypes and present your design solutions.

Project 2 is based on developing your knowledge of programming and using various sensors (touch, light, colour, ultrasonic, gyro, infrared) to control a robot motors (rotation) using Lego Mindstorm kits.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• demonstrate basic design skills in CAD
• understand how CAD is used throughout a design process by designing individual parts and functional products
• setup and use a 3D printer and problem solve common 3D printing errors
• create coding flow diagrams and learn how they are used to develop programming
• select different sensors to be integrated into a robot and how they are used for feedback
• build an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorm, which is designed to pick and place objects 

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand different engineering roles, responsibilities and how to work together to be an effective team member
• use CAD and 3D printers to design and create solutions to solve problems
• understand the key skills to become a successful engineer

Assignments / assessment

• Coursework - 2 Reports based on Lego Robotics Programming and a Robotics CAD Challenge (MAB001) - (80%)
• Completion of a fundamental CAD exercises (MAB 002) - (10%)
• 3D printing models (MAB 003) - (10%)

Note that to pass the module you must achieve the following:

• minimum of 30% in each individual component
• minimum of 40% when all components are combined

This module has no final exam

Teaching methods / timetable

EG12007 is a 20 credit module which corresponds to 200 hours of student time. Since there are approx. 60 hours of contact time (campus seminars, IT labs and practical design workshops and related learning materials), this leaves you with roughly 140 hours for personal private study which should include recommended reading, annotation of your lecture notes, and preparation of assessments.

This is a practical module, where you will learn to work together as engineers in groups through design classes:

• in the 1st project you will be based in workshop using dedicated Lego Mindstorm equipment to build your electronics and programme skills.
• the 2nd project is based in an IT suite to learn how to use software to create computer aided design models.

then you will be based in a design suite to use a range of 3D printers and the relevant software to create a range of different products and prototypes.