Systems Engineering Approach for a Robotic Project by Electrical and Electronics Engineering Students

Systems Engineering Approach for a Robotic Project by Electrical and Electronics Engineering Students

C. Chu, M. Al-Atabi (2010).  Systems Engineering Approach for a Robotic Project by Electrical and Electronics Engineering Students. 7.

 

This paper reports on a major student project that adopts the systems engineering approach to design and build the upper-half of a humanoid robot that senses the presence of an object directly in front of it and triggers a series of pre-programmed activities that involves a sequence of shoulder-elbow-wrist movements coupled with blinking eyes and voice messages.

Through this project, the students were given opportunity to perform product conception, production planning, cost estimation, trade-off evaluation, parts/materials selection and procurement, sub-systems design and integration, hardware-software interfacing, maintenance scheduling as well as time management. Self-motivation and team work are two major aspects of this project.

This group of eight students completed this university-financed project in 11 weeks. The final product was exhibited within our Engineering School and assessed by a team of lecturers. The students were gratify because this project provides them with valuable hands-on experience on top of precious opportunity to gain knowledge not covered in their undergraduate curriculum such as Programmable Logic Controller, pneumatics and metal fabrication.

 

Authors (New): 
Chow Seng Chu
Mushtak Al-Atabi
Pages: 
7
Affiliations: 
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Keywords: 
Systems engineering
Project based learning
Student-centered learning
Multi-Disciplinary Project
Year: 
2010
Reference: 
Lang, J.D, Cruse, S., McVey, F.D., McMaster, J., “Industry Expectations of New Engineers: A Survey to Assist Curriculum Designers”, Journal of Engineering Education, January 1999, pp 43-51. : 
Mills, E.M., Tragust, D.F., “Engineering Education – Is Problem-Based or Project-Based Learning the Answer?”, Australasian Journal of Engineering Education, online publication 200304. http://www.aaee.com.au/journal/2003/mills_treagust03.pdf : 
Crawley, E.F., “Creating The CDIO Syllabus, A Universal Template For Engineering Education”, Proceedings of 32nd ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference. Boston, November 6-9, 2002. : 
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