MAE 540 Advanced Product Design | Spring 2017
Faculty: Max Yi Ren
Email: yiren@asu.edu
Office: GWC464
Location & Time: ECAA219, TU/TH 4:30pm-5:45pm
Office hours: TU/TH 2:00pm-4:00pm in GWC464, or by appointment
Course Website: Designinformaticslab.github.com/teaching/MAE540
Prerequisites: (All preferred not necessary) CAD and simulation experience; hands-on experience in machine shop; numerical analysis, math modeling, and familiarity with Matlab/Python
Course Overview
In this class you will learn to use advanced analytical tools to guide your design decisions. It has three main emphases: (1) design as an optimization process (design of experiments, sensitivity analysis, response surface, optimization), (2) consumer preference modeling (conjoint analysis, discrete choice analysis, Hierarchical Bayes modeling), and (3) Internet of things (Arduino ESP8266 programming). We will also talk about new material design, business modeling, and also how to launch a product on crowdfunding platforms. You are expected to solve a real-world problem with your design solution, and propose a business plan for your product.
Workload and grading
This class will be time-consuming. There are 3 homework assignments, 3 presentations, and 3 reports. We will also host two in-class design competitions.
- Homework (10%*3)
- Final report (50%)
- Design competition (10%*2)
Project
Students are expected to demonstrate the alpha-, beta-, and the final design at the three presentations, respectively. The final product needs to be functional. There will be three project reports along with the presentations. Reports are not standalone, but are meant to represent the continuous development of the project. Please read report and presentation [guidelines][report].
Design competitions
Competitions are mini challenges that test students’ ability at applying knowledge learned from the class to real design problems. Students are expected to prepare designs off the class along the completion of the homework (HW1 and HW3).
Laboratory Facilities
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Each team will be given the baseline microchips for IoT functionalities. Various sensors (see [list here][sensor]) are available for testing upon request to the instructor. Teams will purchase on their own all other materials needed for their project.
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Teams will have free access to the TechShop (contact: Info.ch@techshop.com) for prototyping, and to Qualtrics for consumer surveys.
Course schedule
| Date | Topic | Assignment | Note |
| Jan 10 (TU) | Design in a designed world | ||
| Jan 12 (TH) | TechShop Tour | Team formulation & initialize your Kickstarter project | No class due to NSF duty |
| Jan 17 (TU) | Internet of Things: Arduino & ESP8266 | HW1: Internet of Things | Finalize teams before this class |
| Jan 19 (TH) | Trouble shooting of your ESP8266 setup in GWC435 | No class due to NSF duty | |
| Jan 24 (TU) | Design methodology overview 1: | HW1 due | |
| Jan 26 (TH) | Design methodology overview 2: Design refinement and system design | ||
| Jan 31 (TU) | Team meetings | Appointments are mandatory | |
| Feb 2 (TH) | Design Concept Presentation | Preliminary report due | |
| Feb 7 (TU) | Preference learning 1: Conjoint and discrete choice analysis | HW2: Understand preference | Prepare your survey before next class |
| Feb 9 (TH) | Preference learning 2: Field study | ||
| Feb 14 (TU) | Preference learning 3: Deeper discussion | ||
| Feb 16 (TH) | Design competition 1 | ||
| Feb 21 (TU) | Analytical Design 1: Design of experiments | HW2 due, HW3: DOE & Optimization | |
| Feb 23 (TH) | Analytical Design 2: Sensitivity analysis and response surface | ||
| Feb 28 (TU) | Analytical Design 3: Design optimization | ||
| Mar 2 (TH) | New materials 1: 3D printing | ||
| Mar 7 (TU) | Spring Break | ||
| Mar 9 (TH) | Spring Break | ||
| Mar 14 (TU) | New materials 2: Soft matters | ||
| Mar 16 (TH) | Team meetings | ||
| Mar 21 (TU) | Design competition 2 | HW3 due | Appointments are mandatory |
| Mar 23 (TH) | Design for market 1: cost, demand, profit, market segmentation, and product platform | ||
| Mar 28 (TU) | Design Embodiment Presentation | Progress report due | |
| Mar 30 (TH) | Design for market 2: policy, service, and market equilibrium | ||
| Apr 4 (TU) | Startup 1: Building a business plan | ||
| Apr 6 (TU) | Startup 2: Pitching | ||
| Apr 11 (TH) | Team meetings | Appointments are mandatory | |
| Apr 13 (TU) | Guest talk: Intellectual Property | ||
| Apr 18 (TH) | Advanced topics 1 | ||
| Apr 20 (TU) | Advanced topics 2 | ||
| Apr 25 (TH) | Business Plan Presentation | ||
| Apr 27 (TU) | Final report preparation | Final report due on May 7th |
Attendance
Regular on-time attendance in this course is expected. The instructional presentations, activities and discussions that will occur during class sessions are designed to enhance your educational experience and help you achieve the identified course objectives.
Issue with Intellectual Property
The IP you develop and present during the class are NOT protected in theory. However, please note that for your product to be successful in the market, it would take much more than what you will develop during the class. ASU provides various services for student startups, see Venture Devils for product development and the Innovation Advancement Program for legal support. For complete information, please see Startup Perks
Academic Integrity
Each student has an obligation to act with honesty and integrity, and to respect the rights of others in carrying out all academic assignments. MAE 540 will follow the process defined by the Office of the Dean of Students, which states that any student who is found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct will, at a minimum, receive an E in the course. The College Policy defines the process to be used if the student wishes to appeal this action.