ME 6102: Designing Open Engineering
Systems
Offered Every Spring
| Credit
Hours: |
3-0-3 |
| Prerequisites:
|
Graduate
standing in engineering or related discipline |
| Catalog
Description: |
Decision-based
integrated product and process development; meta-design
and decision support problems; mathematical modeling
of decisions involving ambiguity and uncertainty; critical
thinking and analysis; verification and validation; research issues |
| Textbook:
|
No
textbook required |
| Instructor:
|
Farrokh
Mistree (Spring 2004) |
| References:
|
Articles
to be specified |
Goals:
To provide a
scientific foundation for the development of design models (Decision-Based
Design) and methods (Decision Support Problem Technique) and design support
tools (Decision Support Problems). This covers two of three areas that
were deemed to be crucial to reforming the practice and teaching of engineering
design.1 Specifically,
provide an opportunity for students to learn how
- to negotiate
solutions to open problems. Open problems are characterized as those which
are open to the environment, for which there may be multiple solutions
or for which no solution may exist;
- to use mathematical
models in design (make connection between engineering science and engineering
design);
- to design the
specifications and configure an engineering system using available assets
(existing components or modules);
- identify, model,
solve decision problems.
Desired Student
Outcomes
- Learn how to
negotiate design open systems from a decision-based perspectve.
- Develop an appreciation
for the scientific foundations that are required for developing a decision-based
approach for designing open engineering systems.
- Develop an appreciation
of the state-of-the-art in decision-based design and Concurrent Design
research and practice.
- Develop the
ability to critically evaluate literature and use this analysis to identify
research issues worth investigating.
Prerequisites
by topics:
Topics:
Open engineering
systems
- Identification,
characteristics, metrics (robustness, modularity, adaptability,
mutability), research issues.
Decision-Based
Integrated Product and Process Development
- Meta-design:
Designing design processes.
- Designing with
decision support problems.
- Design examples
and open issues.
Design Support
Tools
- Attention Directing
Tools
- Planning Tools
- Decision Support
Problems
- Selection: Structure;
mathematical form; designing scales; quantifying
qualitative information; personal construct theory.
- Compromise:
Structure; mathematical form; solution of multiobjective,
real-world problems; post-solution sensitivity analysis and
crafting recommendations.
- Coupled: Structure;
mathematical form; example.
Mathematical
modeling of Decision Support Problems
- Modeling the
design equation for integrated product and process development.
- Modeling openness:
robustness, modularity, adaptability, mutability.
- Modeling design
freedom.
- Modeling quality
and affordability.
- Modeling ambiguity
and uncertainty.
Nature of critical
thinking and analysis
- Deep reading:
Critical Thinkers.
- On critical
evaluation including the posing of questions.
- Verification
and validation.
Computer tools
- Phase Event
and Information
- Attention Directing
- Partitioner
- Decision Support
Problems
- Delivery mode
(%):
- Discussion
- Seminar
- Independent
Study
- Demonstration
- Grading Scheme
(%):
- Mini Project
|
- 10%
|
- Assignments
|
- 10%
|
- Project
|
- 65%
|
- Critical evaluation
of accomplishments and learning 10%
- Class participation
5%
- __________________________
1 See C.W.
Hoover, J.B. Jones, et al. Improving Engineering Design: Designing for Competitive
Advantage, National Research Council Report, National Academy Press, Washington
DC, 1991.
__________________________
Revised June 2004