“Engineering Design” is a discipline aimed at improving our understanding about the development processes of novel and successful products, processes and systems in general, and at providing engineers with methodical steps for enhancing such processes. It may well be the engineering discipline more linked to the CDIO approach and to the conceive-design-implement-operate process. The benefits of applying “Engineering Design” principles are better appreciated when facing the development of complex systems. In the field of Mechanical Engineering some of the more complex systems an engineer can develop are advanced mechanical systems and machines.
In this study we present the complete development of a novel subject on “Engineering Design” for the Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering at ETSII-UPM. The subject is based on the CDIO approach, as we consider it a very remarkable way of promoting student active learning and of integrating, with impact, novel concepts into curricula evolving from more traditional methodologies. During the subject, groups of students live through the complete development process of several advanced mechanical systems and machines aimed at providing answers to unsolved problems, usually involving relevant social needs. Computer-aided engineering, rapid prototyping technologies, open-source electronic platforms and a wide set of testing facilities are used as support tools for their designs and prototypes, so as to reach the implementation and operation phases with enough time for a re-design cycle.
Main benefits, lessons learned and challenges, linked to this CDIO-based subject, are analyzed, taking into account the results from 2014-2015 academic course and comparing them with results from a previous subject, taught in the old plan of studies, more limited in time and scope due to curricular restrictions. Students from several specializations of our Industrial Engineering MSc (i.e. Mechanical Engineering, Energy, Manufacturing Technology, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Automation and Electronics, Industrial Organization…) have taken part in the subject, what has helped the groups to tackle very complex mechanical systems and machines and to implement them with success. To our knowledge it constitutes the first subject following a complete CDIO cycle in the field of Engineering Design, not directly linked to automotive engineering, in our country.
Proceedings of the 11th International CDIO Conference, Chengdu, China, June 8-11 2015