ME 418-419
SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT — SAE Section

Course Description

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Student groups design, build, and test a device that solves an open-ended mechanical engineering design problem. ME 418 focuses on background research and engineering analysis, ME 419 on prototype construction and testing. As the designated ME Writing-Intensive Course, ME 418-419 also focuses on the refinement of students' engineering communications skills and their use of writing as a critical-thinking and learning tool.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of ME 418-419, students will be able to perform the following tasks:

• Starting from a sponsor’s statements of need, work with the sponsor, perform appropriate research and analyses, and apply relevant engineering standards to develop formal requirements for a mechanical system, an industrial system, or the solution to a mechanical or industrial problem.
• Considering multiple, alternative approaches, design and implement a prototype, model, or method to meet those requirements by correctly applying appropriate engineering principles.
• Operate or implement the prototype, model, or method and evaluate the results against the requirements using objective performance measures.
• Plan and manage the project so as to use team resources efficiently and meet project requirements on time and on or under budget.
• Recognize and constructively address ethical dilemmas that may arise and potential adverse environmental, safety, health, and social impacts.
• Collaboratively produce written and oral reports that effectively communicate project information to target audiences—i.e., which are at the appropriate technical level for these audiences and follow disciplinary conventions of usage, vocabulary, format, and citation.
• Function effectively on a team, contributing to all major aspects of the design, implementation, and testing of an engineering project.