Students in this course will work in groups to learn creative approaches through the experience of planning, designing, and manufacturing mechanical systems that conform to user needs. Students will form groups of 10 to essentially design and develop a "usable machine", as a new and original mechanical system. To that end, students will investigate users and the environment and actual conditions in which it will be used, and generate ideas. Next, students will create a prototype that gives shape to the ideas, extract points of concern in the design through the evaluation of the prototype by others, and repeat processes to improve, thus creating a highly thorough design proposal. Students will increase the sophistication of mechanical systems by working in groups to repeatedly brainstorm ideas produced by each group member at the planning and design stage. Students will develop the ability to lead the proposal and execution of concrete projects through this experience. As a result, students will add to the basic skills on machine design centered on design, drawing, and processing from before this course, learning in a practical manner creative approaches to achieve the required functions.
Through presentations using this prototype, students will also acquire the skills to accurately communicate the content to evaluators.
Students will learn the following skills from taking this course.
1) Be able to draw up a plan, design, and think creatively in order to design an actual mechanical system.
2) Be able to think creatively for realizing required functions
3) Learn a type of design called design thinking for developing a "usable machine" from the user perspective
4) Be able to accurately communicate one's ideas to others through presentations
Planning・Designing, Creativity, Design thinking, Prototype, Group working, Processing technique, Control technology, Total Scholastic Ability
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The course is centered on group work in groups of 10 people. Each group will propose a concept, manufacture a prototype, and give a presentation. Please work on concept proposal and prototype manufacturing assignments both during class and as homework. Students will manufacture the actual mechanical system in Creative Design Project of Mechanical Systems (MEC.Q311.A).
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Grouping and Introduction - Checking tools and devices, Safety instruction, Announcement of Theme | Propose a method to solve a problem every group. Investigate the existing items |
Class 2 | Team building activity | Build up teamwork mind |
Class 3 | Proposal of Concept - Ethnographical research and users observations in real life | Draft a concept to solve a problem. Investigate real users and their life. |
Class 4 | Sketching - sketches, storyboards | Visualize the effect of advantage for the users. |
Class 5 | Quick and dirty prototyping | Make mock-up with paper and old junk |
Class 6 | Poster preparation | Prepare Poster preparation |
Class 7 | 3 idea presentation | Poster presentation |
Class 8 | Summerizing 3 idea presentation, Selecting 1 idea per section3 Note for function/specification/modules | Summarizing 3 idea presentation, Selecting 1 idea per section3, Note for function/specification/modules |
Class 9 | Introduction to mechanisms and machines Prototyping -Made of wood and plastics | Note for mechanisms. Build a prototype. |
Class 10 | Materials, Fastening and joining parts Prototyping -Made of wood and plastics | Note for materials and binding. Build a prototype. |
Class 11 | Actuators Prototyping -Made of wood and plastics | Note for actuators. Build a prototype. |
Class 12 | Pitch | Present the current ideas and obtain feedback |
Class 13 | Bearings, couplers, gears, screws, and springs Prototyping -Made of wood and plastics | Build a prototype. |
Class 14 | Design most critical module Prototyping -Made of wood and plastics | Obrtain feedback from audience. |
Class 15 | Desing review #1 and clean-up | 12 teams, discussion at table |
Not specified. (The lecture materials will be distributed at beginning of this Course or can be downloaded on the web site of OCW.)
Hoshino, Tadashi, Hassouhou Nyumon, Nikkei Bunko , ISBN-13: 978-4532110772,(Japanese)
Dustyn Roberts, Making Things Move DIY Mechanisms for Inventors, Hobbyists, and Artists, ISBN-13: 978-0071741675,
Matsuoka et.al., M Method Design thinking on Multispace, Kindaino Kagakusha, ISBN-13: 978-4764904446,(Japanese)
Karl Ulrich, Steven Eppinger, Product Design and Development, McGraw Hill Higher Education; 5th Revised Ed, ISBN-13: 978-0072296471
Students' knowledge of Creative Design of Mechanical Systems and their ability to apply them to problems will be assessed.
Notebook and/or home work and Final Presentation.
Students are required to have taken Mechanical Engineering Literacy (GRD.R101, GRD.R102, GRD.R103, GRD.R104) and Introduction to Mechanical Systems (MEC.Q201.R), or have equivalent knowledge. As the number of practical training devices is limited, priority will be given to students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering if capacity is exceeded.