436-492 Major Project and Professional Practice

436-384 Design and Proecesses 1 and 436-311 Design and Processes 2, or equivalent (prior to 2005, 436-356 Design/Control 2 or 436-371 Mechatronics Design and Laboratory 4).

Upon completion, students will have developed the ability to apply the knowledge gained in other subjects to successfully investigate a substantial engineering design or research problem. Experience will be gained in collaborative project work, sourcing and collating information that may be associated with disciplines beyond the scope of prior coursework, developing hypotheses from which engineering decisions will be made, and the reporting contributions arising from project and professional practice activities.

Unit 1: Major Project:

This unit involves undertaking a major project, requiring an independent investigation and the preparation of reports on an approved topic in advanced engineering design or research. Students will present their findings in a conference podium presentation format, held at the end of the project cycle in the latter half of semester two. The emphasis of the project can be associated with either:

• a well-defined project description, often based on a task required by an external, industrial client. Students will be tutored in the synthesis of practical solutions to complex technical problems within a structured working environment, as if they were professional engineering practitioners; or

• a project description that will require an explorative approach, where students will pursue outcomes associated with new knowledge or understanding, within the mechanical science disciplines, often as an adjunct to existing academic research initiatives.

It is expected that the major project will incorporate findings associated with both well-defined professional practice and research principles.

Unit 2: Professional Practice:

Upon completion of this unit, students will have developed an appreciation of the role of technology in society, the responsibilities of engineers with respect to their fellow workers, society and the environment. Topics covered include:

• research methodologies: reviewing literature, preparing and executing a research program, peer review of findings, academic research case studies;

• design processes: conceptual design, integration of design and manufacturing; quality assessment, project management, concurrent engineering;

• engineering profession: historical, sociological and environmental factors in invention and innovation, technology forecasting, patenting, professional ethics, statutory requirements and legal responsibilities, environment considerations, and human relations.

• Synthesise solutions to both unstructured and constrained problems descriptions;

• Manage long term project work at a professional engineering level;

• Develop profesional written and verbal communications skills;

• Effective team membership and team leadership;

• Awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the professional engineer in comtemporary society.

All components of assessment must be satisfactorily completed to pass the subject.

Unit 1: Major Project (85% of overall mark).

Two interim reports, each 5%.

Continuous assessment, identifying effort, progress and contributions over the entire project cycle (10%). A professional engineering project report (Final Report) of no more than 10,000 words (40 pages), excluding appendices of supporting material that can include diagrams, tables, computations and computer output (40%). A summary of the important findings contained in the Final Report. The format of the summary will follow a specified research paper template (5%). Technical oral examination of no more than one hour duration. Technical oral examination includes a formal presentation followed by questions from an academic supervisor and academic examiner (10%).

Major Project Exhibition:

a. Lay-person oral examination of no more than 20 minutes duration (5%).

b. Static display materials (e.g. poster, computer demonstration, prototype) (5%).

Unit 2: Professional Practice (15% of overall mark). Two assignments based on lecture material (one per semester) not exceeding 1000 words per student (10%). Debate participation and public speaking (5%).