**ENGR 17: Introduction to Engineering Design** **Fall 2024** **[Matt Zucker](https://mzucker.github.io/swarthmore)** **[Carr Everbach](https://www.swarthmore.edu/engineering/e-carr-everbach)** **Quick link to [course schedule](#schedule)** # Instructor Information | Prof. Matt Zucker | Prof. Carr Everbach | |-------------------|---------------------| | Office: Singer 235 | Office: Singer 113 | | Student hours: Thursday 9:30AM-11AM | Student hours: Monday 9AM-11AM | Rather than email, we encourage you to contact us via the course [Edstem discussion forum](https://edstem.org/us/courses/62276/). You may use it to ask questions privately to the instructors, or visibly to all students. # Support Staff * Peter Barkley '27 * Ian Forehand '27 * Justin Gonzalez '25 * Matt Gutow '25 * Kiran Mahurkar '27 * Bryan Rosario '25 * Katherine Wang '27 # Logistics ## Prerequisites None ## Meeting times | Lecture | Lab | |---------|-----| | 11:20am – 12:35pm Tue/Thu | 1:15pm-2:30pm OR 2:45-4:00 Tue OR Wed | | Science Center 101 (Chang Hou lecture hall) | Singer 221 | You will receive an email before lab on Tuesday September 3 to assign lab groups. ## Moodle All course handouts, homework, solutions, and projects will be posted on the [course Moodle page](https://moodle.swarthmore.edu/course/view.php?id=26524). ## Discussion Forum We will use [this edstem.org forum](https://edstem.org/us/courses/62276) throughout the semester to communicate course announcements and answer questions. Please use the online forum (instead of just emailing us) for all course-related communications — this allows students to see common problems and to engage in discussions about course material. If you’re not sure whether a question would reveal too much about the solution for an assignment, feel free to post privately. ## Textbook No textbook is required for this course. If interested, you may look at [*Exploring Arduino* by Jeremy Blum](https://tripod.swarthmore.edu/permalink/01TRI_INST/ba5lsr/alma991018854746804921), available free through the libraries online. You must be on campus or logged in over VPN to access. There may also be additional materials assigned that are of no cost to you and will be posted in the syllabus and/or on Moodle accordingly. ## Laptops We will be using laptops for every lab meeting and, less frequently, in class. It is not necessary for all members of a lab group to bring laptops; one should be sufficient. We will announce in advance when laptops will be used in class. If you do not have a laptop readily available for in-class use, please contact Prof. Zucker and we will work something out. ## Wizard Sessions Wizards will host weekly help sessions on **Tuesdays from 7 to 9 pm in Singer 222**. Wizard sessions are not a substitute for attending class. You should look at your assignments and attempt to complete them before going to the wizard sessions. The sessions are most effective when you arrive having attempted the work and with specific questions. Do not contact wizards by email with questions. # Learning Outcomes Students will be able to: * Apply an engineering design process in which they can: * Identify alternatives and select among them * Prototype and iterate to improve designs * Manage complexity by decomposing designs into functional units * Assess the effectiveness of designs by collecting data and analyzing its statistics * Properly consider physical quantities and units * Appropriately use common SI prefixes * Approximate quantities to within an order of magnitude * Check results of calculations by ensuring units are correct * Understand general physical quantities (distance, time, frequency, power, work, energy) * Understand basic electrical quantities (voltage, current, resistance, Ohm’s law) * Understand basic mechanical quantities (force, torque, Hooke’s law) * Design and fabricate simple parts using CAD tools and 3D printers * Perform basic integration of microcontrollers and embedded systems * Be comfortable compiling and modifying code * Solder components and wires as needed to connect sensors, actuators, LEDs, etc. * Debug and troubleshoot engineered systems * Use mechanical measurement tools – ruler, caliper, etc. * Use multimeters * Isolate variables and analyze subsystems independently * Analyze the impacts of engineered systems in terms of social, environmental, ethical, and economic considerations * Communicate technical information orally and present it visually including appropriate graphics * Work effectively on teams and actively reflect on how to improve as a team member * Enumerate the major subfields of Engineering available for study at Swarthmore and the faculty and courses where they are studied # Assignments ## Quizzes We will use quizzes on Moodle to assess your understanding of concepts from class. If you get above 50% on the quiz, you will retroactively get full marks for that quiz. You have 2 attempts each quiz, but you will only see the answers after the second attempt. Quizzes may not be completed after the deadline. If you anticipate not being able to complete a quiz on time, please request an extension beforehand (see below). ## Homeworks There will be occasional homework assignments related to material from lecture. Homework will be graded on a ✓−, ✓, ✓+ basis. Homework must be submitted to Moodle in PDF format, and must be typed (rather than handwritten). Any necessary diagrams may be hand-drawn but should be neatly scanned and included in the homework PDF. There will be a 3 hour grace period for homeworks; after that, late work will be deducted by 20% per twenty-four hour period that elapses after the grace period. If circumstances prevent you from completing an assignment on time, please request an extension before the assignment deadline (see “Extensions”, below). ## Quiz and Homework Extensions We will be liberal in awarding extensions for quizzes and homeworks ***when they are requested in advance***. You do not need a reason for an extension, but you need to give us a date when you expect the work to be completed, and this date should be no more than 3 days after the assignment is due. If you need more time than that, please give us some information justifying the request and we can discuss it. ## Projects Students will complete two major projects in the course, each subdivided into three milestones. Projects will be completed in groups of two or three students, assigned by the instructors. At the conclusion of each milestone, groups will submit a lab notebook containing descriptions of the work process, photos, diagrams, and other visual documentation of completed results, and answers to any questions provided in the project assignments. Because we have a strict schedule of milestones to adhere to, we will not accept late project submissions except under extraordinary circumstances and when discussed in advance. ## Video Assignment Around the middle of the semester, each student will be tasked with producing a brief (45-60 second) video clip on the topic of ethics in Engineering. All videos will be screened in class. ## Final Presentation Students will work together in groups to complete a final presentation about an engineering subdiscipline of their choosing. Presentations will be scheduled during finals week; ***please ensure you confirm the date of your final presentation before scheduling your winter break travel***. In line with the Swarthmore final exam policy, you are expected to be available for your final presentation slot and winter travel is not an acceptable reason for an absence. # Course Policies ## Collaboration You are encouraged to discuss homework and projects with your classmates; however, the designs and solutions you submit must be your own work. ***Explicit copying or sharing is not allowed.*** This includes but is not limited to: looking at another group’s answers, or having a person outside your group send you complete or partial solutions. Acceptable collaboration includes: asking another group to look at your work and give you suggestions, or asking a Wizard or professor for help. When offering input to other students about conceptual topics (and not, say, when the assignment is due), try to keep your comments high level and support learning of other students; don’t just give them the answers. Please list any collaborators and any references (including online resources) other than the assigned course material that you accessed at the top of your homeworks and lab notebooks. ***No collaboration of any kind is permitted on quizzes.*** Students are not allowed to discuss quiz answers with each other until after the solutions are posted on Moodle. Note that a violation of the collaboration policy may be considered an example of academic misconduct and could result in penalties including failed assignments and failing the course. ***Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in our [campus policies](https://www.swarthmore.edu/student-handbook/academic-policies#academic_misconduct).*** We are happy to answer any clarifying questions about collaboration on assignments or other concerns. ## Attendance and Excused Absences Attendance in lecture and lab is expected and will count as part of your participation grade. If you have an illness or extenuating circumstance, please be in touch as soon as possible with Prof. Zucker and/or Prof. Everbach and we will evaluate it on a case by case basis. In general, “I had too much work to do” is not an acceptable excuse for missing class, but athletics events, family emergencies, illnesses, etc. will be considered. Please give us as much notice as possible, especially for situations where you know you will be missing lecture/lab or an assignment in advance. ## Grading Grading will follow approximately the divisions shown below: * Project 1: 30% * Project 2: 30% * Video Assignment: 10% * Final Presentation: 10% * Other quizzes/homeworks: 15% * Participation: 5% ## Academic Misconduct In this course, there will be no tolerance for plagiarism or cheating on assignments. If more than one incident of academic misconduct occurs on an assignment, the student will automatically fail the course. Please refer to [Swarthmore's policies on academic misconduct](https://www.swarthmore.edu/student-handbook/academic-policies#academic_misconduct) for the full process of reviewing these cases and [student conduct policies and procedures](https://www.swarthmore.edu/student-handbook/student-conduct-policies-and-procedures) for more details and potential consequences. # Accommodations If you believe you need accommodations for a disability or a chronic medical condition, please visit the [Student Disability Services website](https://www.swarthmore.edu/office-academic-success/accommodations-process-students) for details about the accommodations process. Since accommodations require early planning and are not retroactive, contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. You are also welcome to contact Prof. Zucker and/or Prof. Everbach privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged, in advance, through Student Disability Services. ***Even outside the context of accommodations for disabilities, if there is something we can do to facilitate your learning, please do not hesitate to contact us.*** # Schedule !!! WARNING **This is a living document!** Check back here frequently as the course website is updated through the semester. Clicking a link on the calendar below will take you to a detailed description of activities on that date. September 3, 2024: Introduction Topics: * Welcome and syllabus review * What is engineering design * Need identification * Constraints and requirements Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a_5wVp7p6_ed9m5xj-pipidXJsFVKffEsA7xdcbHXOA/edit?usp=sharing) * [E17 intake form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwuzwuDHez8zgfS7BlXOGQ2Gxq-bwg-LWBGjO12dbLZgSUiQ/viewform?usp=sf_link) * [Project 0: Project teardown](project0.html) assignment. September 5, 2024: Embedded systems basics Topics: * Basic circuits and electrical prototyping Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-SfqGBtvZW7d0nGxPvnHC7DOV6phV7w0Zj1uUcWKlfw/edit?usp=sharing) September 10, 2024: Project 1.1 kick-off Topics: * Project 1.1 pre-lab Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JQsWJ8MaJ28ut27kUrZc459JYzH3cDu2OGsuOCznpPM/edit?usp=sharing) * [Project 1](project1.html) * [Week 1: Prototyping a Basic Pump Control Circuit](project1_week1.html) September 12, 2024: Units, quantities, and estimation Topics: * SI units and prefixes * Fermi estimation * Meet the ENGR faculty: Zucker/Everbach Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HZbnmizcl5SA0_C_CU7f7RygCDu3wJCn95wPJWgEh9A/edit?usp=sharing) * Meet the ENGR Faculty: [Everbach](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qVotZ2bEeSF0Iudr1GfTkKjiNMihxPnPinzH0rG7ssU/edit#slide=id.g260be3db5d9_0_6), [Zucker](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LtMgiJq3F3rx16yQS12s_Tgh8-ayGlfoGC0qnkT9vao/edit#slide=id.g260be3db5d9_0_6) * [Homework 1](https://moodle.swarthmore.edu/mod/assign/view.php?id=696711) September 17, 2024: Impacts: civil engineering; engineering & the military Topics: * Project 1.1 pre-lab (week 2) * Civil engineering lessons learned * Engineering and the military Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1j_Xi4EtKDLYrPEvej2b9nwlje6qDG4JkRzrgMA-7ZmI/edit?usp=sharing) * [Project 1](project1.html) * [Week 2: Soldering and Interfacing](project1_week2.html) September 19, 2024: Basic CAD in Autodesk Fusion (***laptop day***) Topics: * Autodesk Fusion tutorial Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1u087SeMrmzHncAr4jpx21G9vVZ2kegcA9R5yhIbaVVw/edit?usp=sharing) September 24, 2024: Project 1.2 kick-off Topics: * Project 1.2 pre-lab * Meet the ENGR faculty: Delano/Moser Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XIqB3HTH52Smaj6PAVgpeKPmWkmoBdK9f_LZllnup6E/edit?usp=sharing) * [Project 1](project1.html) * [Week 3: Mechanical prototyping](project1_week3.html) * Meet the ENGR Faculty: * [Delano](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16H4f4AisfZFKgck4bRPoObhT8vRfFY4D5UMOk0MYZH0/edit?usp=drive_link) * [Moser](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lgDpGvEfUw77oqhN0GzbZ7hIeDeff08u/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=100966303527427024675&rtpof=true&sd=true) September 26, 2024: Systems Topics: * Functional units and subsystems * Systems integration Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1U4xh_1U8i_zySZHpTe4S9NAGlUk61AgXf91xlCYCG-w/edit#slide=id.p) * [Homework on ethics (due Thursday October 3)](https://moodle.swarthmore.edu/mod/questionnaire/view.php?id=698794) October 1, 2024: Project 1 week 4 Pre-lab Topics: * Decomposition into functional units * Additional Fusion 360 tutorial Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jTwq5ZHFtbL1WaDCv3is2W16g1NyDl3MA6FLwpnYlK8/edit?usp=sharing) * [Project 1](project1.html) * [Week 4: Electrical layout and enclosure design](project1_week4.html) October 3, 2024: Visual and oral communications Topics: * Effective communications strategies * Video Assignment Introduction Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Yqd6gzcmlE7s3nxqs1fzq_tggc56B8UlT2A1_TiZTm8/edit?usp=sharing) * [Video assignment](video_assignment.html) October 8, 2024: Project 1.3 kick-off Topics: * Project 1.3 pre-lab * Meet the ENGR faculty: O'Donnell/Towles Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1X85nMJVAZ9M2Xkzkde8EvtUj3fiIaVymQqZOWJOCfkk/edit?usp=sharing) * Meet the ENGR Faculty: * [O'Donnell](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QG5K0Vr48YnkW-CF4UzR1qkr5kUK0U2IpNKWaTm08YI/edit?usp=sharing) * [Towles](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XrWDBFdyNiWgzUboPJhmTt0OuuY0i1Wn/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108870129567810391560&rtpof=true&sd=true) * [Project 1](project1.html) * [Week 5: Soldering and CAD](project1_week5.html) October 10, 2024: Quiz 1 review session Topics: * Electrical units * Resistor IV curve * Potentiometers * Breadboarding * Functional units * Design constraints and requirements * Fusion 360 constraints Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1r6_QWFbFdWjjIIGVbVwsE_hCJR3dhpDTWNDt46PCk7U/edit#slide=id.p) (October 15, 2024): Fall break (October 17, 2024): Fall break October 22, 2024: Impacts: software-defined functionality I; SAGE & ENGR clubs Topics: * VW emissions scandal * SAGE * ENGR student clubs Assignments/resources: * [Lecture slides from today](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NZCV7NeqL9uSoKtmuRzYP1V7OuT5hovpW3ZAqQfASk8/edit?usp=sharing) * [SAGE / ENGR club slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13nxITz3yhKXTpEUG8WPXQsFrO4V0wGMLu5w3pTpOfW8/edit?usp=sharing) * [Project 1](project1.html) * [Week 6: Finalizing And Testing Your Design](project1_week6.html) October 24, 2024: Impacts: racial bias in medicine Topics: * Racial bias in kidney transplant evaluation * Racial bias in pulse oximetry October 29, 2024: Project 2.1 kick-off Topics: * Project 2.1 pre-lab * Meet the ENGR faculty: Masroor/Adeleke October 31, 2024: Design for manufacturability Topics: * Design rules * Injection molding * PCB layout * Standardized components * Fasteners * O-Rings (November 5, 2024): No lecture - election day November 7, 2024: Video assignment screening November 12, 2024: Project 2.2 Kickoff Topics: * Project 2.2 Kickoff * Meet the ENGR faculty: Piovoso/Molter November 14, 2024: Project 1 postmortem discussion Topics: * Project 1 postmortem discussion November 19, 2024: Project 1 postmortem review; Quiz 2 review Topics: * Project 1 postmortem review * Quiz 2, topics TBA November 21, 2024: Final presentations; Impacts: software-defined functionality II Topics: * Final presentations * Oral communication skills * Boeing 737 Max disaster (November 26, 2024): No lab this week (November 27, 2024): No lab this week (November 28, 2024): Thanksgiving November 26, 2024: Experimental design and statistics Topics: * Experiment Design * Mean and standard deviation * Hypothesis testing December 3, 2024: Project 2.3 kickoff Topics: * Experiment Design and Statistics, cont'd. * Project 2.3 kickoff December 5, 2024: Shop Panel Topics: * Learn about the makerspace and engineering machine shop December 10, 2024: Wrap-up Topics: * Final data analysis * Wrap up (December 12, 2024): No class December 16, 2024: Final presentations December 17, 2024: Final presentations December 18, 2024: Final presentations