PO 3: Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate solutions for complex engineering challenges that meet specified requirements with appropriate consideration for public health and safety, cultural, societal, environmental and economical considerations.
PO3 Attainment: 90/100
Self-Assessment: 5/5
Appendix C – PO3
C1: Mechanical Engineering Group Project 1 & 2 (MEGP)
C2: Engineering Design and Communication
This programme outcome (PO) required students to be able to apply the fundamental engineering concept of Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate (CDIO) to solve complex engineering challenges that meet certain requirements. One module that can be connected to this PO is the Mechanical Engineering Group Project 1 & 2 (MEGP). MEGP can be considered as 1 large module which is split into 2 parts over 2 semesters, MEGP 1 and MEGP 2. The MEGP project required students to work with industrial partners to solve their respective complex engineering issue. My team and I decided to work with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to try and solve their issue which is to build an autonomous solar panel cleaning robot. The concept of CDIO played a major factor in the team’s decision making. In the first part of the project (MEGP 1), the Conceive stage was used to research on current designs of both autonomous and manual solar panel cleaning systems, the background of TNB and solar energy in general. Moving on to the Design stage, multiple ideas were drafted out to come up with the best design for an autonomous solar panel cleaning robot. The designs were narrowed down to 3 and a decision matrix system was then used to determine the optimum final design. In MEGP 2, the Implement stage was first used to purchase the required materials needed to build our prototype. The prices of the components were surveyed first before buying them in order to follow the budget plan made. With a final design chosen, we then proceeded to build our autonomous solar panel cleaning robot prototype. In the Operate stage, an instruction manual was constructed to help end-users properly utilise our prototype’s functions and prevent any unwanted injuries or damage from happening. Our prototype was not only fully functional but also managed to get us 1st place in the Taylor’s Capstone Awards. Attached in Appendix C1 are parts of the module’s final report, Scheme of Work (SOW), assignment instructions and team/ product pictures.
Furthermore, the Engineering Design and Communication module can also be related to this PO. The group project of this module required students to build an autonomous smart firefighting robot which would navigate itself to the fire source and extinguish the fire by mixing two chemicals together in the shortest amount of time possible. Therefore, my team and I applied the Conceive stage to generate ideas on the type of robot that we wanted to build and the chemicals that we were going to combine to extinguish the fire. The Design stage saw us coming up with a Robocar design that is able to move itself to the fire source by using heat sensors while being able to sustain the weight of the chemicals. In the Implement stage, we started building the Robocar and testing it out before the final evaluation day. Modifications were made to further improve the performance of our Robocar. Lastly in the Operate stage, we competed in the Engineering Fair to see which team was able to put out the fire at the quickest time possible. Attached in Appendix C2 are parts of the module’s final report, student handbook, assignment instructions and team/ product pictures.
PO 5: Create, select and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools, including prediction and modelling, to complex engineering activities, with an awareness of the accompanying assumptions and limitations.
PO5 Attainment: 65/100
Self-Assessment: 2/5
Appendix E – PO5
E1: Computer Aided Engineering and Geometric Modelling
E2: Computer Applications for Engineers
E3: Numerical Analysis for Engineers with Applications using ANSYS
In this programme outcome (PO), students were required to use modern engineering and IT software to solve complex engineering problems. One module that can be linked to this PO is Computer Aided Engineering and Geometric Modelling. This module uses the Solidworks software for students to draw and model designs virtually. The assignments for this module were both group and individual work. For the group project, my team and I were required to design a foldable scooter for the elderly based on dimensions of a travel suitcase given. So, we used the Solidworks software to digitally design and build a foldable scooter based on the dimensions given. Our scooter was fully functional and able to be assembled/ dissembled easily. The material, nuts and bolts used for our scooter was also determined using the software. As for the individual assignment, I had to combine 5 different single parts into one assembly model using the Solidworks software. The assembly model was a robotic gripper. After combining the parts, I had to install suitable bolts and nuts into my assembly using the software. Next, I had to ensure that the gripper was able to be assembled/ dissembled easily. Attached in Appendix E1 are parts of the Solidworks Engineering Drawing, Scheme of Work (SOW), assignment instructions and team/ product pictures.
The next module that can be related to this PO is Computer Applications for Engineers. This module mainly revolved around the MATLAB software which can be used by students to solve mathematical, programming and coding problems. The individual assignment for this module required students to use the MATLAB software to write a code that is able to read vehicle plate numbers, separate them based on violation of rules given per day and display the violating plate numbers on a screen. The knowledge gained from this module enabled me to successfully write a fully functioning code that met the assignment’s requirements. Attached in Appendix E2 are parts of the MATLAB coding script, Scheme of Work (SOW), assignment instructions and product pictures.
In addition, the Numerical Analysis for Engineers with Applications using ANSYS module can also be connected to this PO. The ANSYS software was the main platform used in this module. Both assignments in this module were individual work. In the first assignment, I had to analyse a plastic bracket for a bookshelf using ANSYS. I had to analyse the amount of stress that the bracket could withstand and come up with an improved design of the bracket using the Solidworks software. In Assignment 2, I had to analyse the maximum amount of stress that a component from my Engineering Design project could withstand. After conducting the analysis, I had to suggest design improvements. All the findings from both assignments were documented in a report. Criteria such as boundary conditions, mesh area and stress/ strain load on component had to be taken into consideration when conducting the analysis. Attached in Appendix E3 are parts of the ANSYS report, Scheme of Work (SOW), assignment instructions and product pictures.
