Abstract
This paper presents a multidisciplinary open-ended capstone design project where students designed, built, and test drove a Formula Society of Automatic Engineers (FSAE) electric vehicle. The capstone team included students from computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs. Each student worked in on a subteam, namely, mechanical design, drivetrain, supervisory control and data acquisition, and battery management system. A thorough description of each subsystem is provided herein. Software architecture, system integration, and field test results are also reviewed. Team organization, faculty and industry involvement, and assessment of student outcomes are provided. This paper details the approach of building a bridge between academia and engineering practices. This paper also documents a process where undergraduate students research and master multiple technology areas and then apply them to the project’s focus. ABET student outcomes 1–7 were used to design and assess the course. Peer-to-peer rating and ranking are presented as an assessment tool for the multidisciplinary nature of the project.
Highlights
Students exercise project management skills and use the skills of electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering in an interdisciplinary manner. e same projects may continue for several years allowing for new students to iterate on the prior year’s design
Faculty from computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering, and computer science are assigned to directly support various capstone projects. e faculty role is as a Education Research International mentor or senior advisor, but not as a traditional instructor. e descriptions of the capstone instructor role are mentioned in the previous literature as mentor, facilitator, advisor, and coach but not as an instructor [4,5,6,7,8,9]. ere are no faculty lectures in the capstone project. e students are expected to provide project leadership, establish objectives and deadlines, and report to the faculty in the form of weekly presentations and faculty-established milestones. erefore, all engineering faculty are “on call” to provide technical support in their specialty area for students who need assistance or resources
Assessment Process e engineering degree programs at the York College of Pennsylvania follow a 3-year cycle for assessing and evaluating all student outcomes. is allowed for a heavier emphasis on careful evaluation of the data in order to identify less severe problems in the program. In addition to this preplanned set of student outcomes targeted for assessment, additional student outcomes were reassessed based on problems that were previously identified and corrective action taken. is ensures that any corrective action will result in a reassessment in order to close the assessment loop and to ensure that the corrective action was effective
Summary
Fundamental of computer engineering, design and analysis of analog circuit, and introduction to signal processing. Is allowed for a heavier emphasis on careful evaluation of the data in order to identify less severe problems in the program In addition to this preplanned set of student outcomes targeted for assessment, additional student outcomes were reassessed based on problems that were previously identified and corrective action taken. Performance indicators of student outcome 6 are provided here as an example: SO 6: an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions. E ECE faculty meet for an all-day assessment retreat each August and January to evaluate the assessment data, discuss areas that indicate problems in student outcomes, and develop a list of action items to make program and process improvements. Action items from the assessment retreats are worked on throughout the year as time and resources permit In this way, the program undergoes a regular process of data collection, evaluation, corrective action, and reassessment. Mechanical Design. e mechanical engineering subteam was challenged with the following tasks: design and build the main battery box, battery packs, cooling loop, suspension in rear, steering, drivetrain mount, and cooling
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