NDLI: A Freshman Design-Build-Launch Experience

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Cary, A. Fisher
Copyright Year	2005
Abstract	This paper will describe an “Introduction to Engineering Systems” course taught to ALL freshmen students at the Air Force Academy. Not your normal freshman mechanical engineering course, Engineering 100 (ENGR100) is a web-based, hands-on systems design course where student teams design, analyze, build and fly a rocket-powered, controllable boost-glide “concept demonstrator.” Along the way they learn (in just-in-time fashion) the fundamentals of mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, astronautical, civil and environmental engineering. The course begins with a one-lesson design exercise, followed by a discussion of the “Engineering Method” and how it compares to (and differs from) the scientific method. Next, each team is given a Statement of Work (SOW), requiring them “to design, build, and test a concept demonstrator system...to represent the configuration, launch facilities, and mission profile of a Hypersonic Orbital Global Strike System (HOGSS).” The Statement of Work is somewhat daunting to most students, so we help them proceed as engineers do: break the big problem into smaller, more manageable projects. Students learn a bit about ballistics, drag, and the power of an interactive spreadsheet, before building and launching their model rockets on our parade field to verify their predictions. On-line tutorials help them understand the importance of paying attention to balsa wood grain alignment prior to glider launch day from the field house balcony. They see the importance of servo arm and control rod placement for best mechanical advantage using in-class models and videos. They verify the stability and control of their boost glider design, both on the spreadsheet and in our “homemade” wind tunnel. On launch day they experience the thrill of victory as well as the opportunity for redesign! Each lesson is peppered with both instructional and motivational videos keyed to the daily reading assignment. Class time is used for additional demonstrations, team meetings, reinforcement of the more challenging concepts, and plenty of lab design-build-test-redesign opportunities. Student teams document their progress in a structured “Team Binder,” and present their results in several formal briefings. This course has been taught to over 3000 students the past six semesters with impressive results, validated by various imbedded assessment methods.
Sponsorship	Mechanical Engineering Education
Starting Page	339
Ending Page	345
Page Count	7
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0791842320
DOI	10.1115/IMECE2005-81611
e-ISBN	0791837696
Volume Number	Innovations in Engineering Education: Mechanical Engineering Education, Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2005 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
Language	English
Publisher Date	2005-11-05
Publisher Place	Orlando, Florida, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Design education Stability Wind tunnels Binders (materials) Drag (fluid dynamics) Mechanical engineering Engineering systems and industry applications Environmental engineering Design Rockets Undergraduate students Students Teams Ballistics Air force Balsa wood Engineers Servomechanisms
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

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