Enhancement of Mechanical Engineering Curriculum to Introduce Manufacturing Techniques and Principles for Bio-Inspired Product Development

Abstract

Bio-inspired products and devices take their inspiration from nature [Gold00]. Current mechanical engineering curricula do not cover manufacturing techniques and principles needed to develop such products and devices. We have been enhancing the mechanical engineering undergraduate curriculum by integrating recent advances in the manufacturing of bio-inspired products and devices through the following activities: 1. Insert a new sequence of instructional materials on bio-inspired concepts into the mechanical engineering curriculum. 2. Disseminate the materials developed for the new modules and course notes through a dedicated web site. As a result of the curriculum enhancement, a new generation of mechanical engineers will acquire the knowledge necessary to develop products and conduct research for a wide variety of applications utilizing bio-inspired concepts. The project (1) integrates emerging manufacturing technologies based on biological principles into the Mechanical Engineering curriculum, (2) utilizes multi-media technology for disseminating course content, and (3) trains graduate students and faculty participating in its implementation in an emerging technology and thereby contribute to faculty development. Specifically, curriculum is being developed that discusses the following manufacturing technologies and principles: 1. Concurrent Fabrication and Assembly: Manufacturing techniques and principles, such as solid freeform fabrication, compliant mechanisms, and multi-stage molding, that can eliminate the manufacturing and assembly of individual components as is the case for almost all natural systems. 2. Self Assembly: Principles for manufacturing a variety of products from a few building blocks using bio-inspired techniques such as templating and supramolecular chemistry. 3. Functionally Graded Materials: Bio-inspired development of new products through the gradual variation of material properties at multiple length scales through manufacturing processes such as sputtering and powder processing. The curriculum development effort makes two significant contributions to mechanical engineering education: (a) integration of a new research on bio-inspired products and devices into the mechanical engineering curriculum through new courses and revision of existing courses, (b) development of new instructional material for mechanical engineering education based on bio-inspired concepts. There are also broader impacts in the following areas: (a) undergraduate students who might not otherwise puruse studies in mechanical engineering will be attracted to the multidisciplinary area of bio-inspired products, (b) dissemination of the curriculum enhancement through conference presentations, a workshop, and dedicated web site, and (c) a biologically-oriented pedagogical approach to mechanical engineering education that ensures broader access to the knowledge needed to enhance the interest and skills of future engineers and researchers educated through this research program.