Engineering, Creativity, Collaboration – that’s Mechatronics!

In Computer Science instructor Kieren Reynolds, Mechatronics class, students are introduced to the world of creative engineering product design. Teams work through the steps of the engineering design process by completing a series of design challenges. 

This semester the class is tackling the challenge of designing a better locker for students at the middle school. They started by defining the problems with the current lockers, doing research with the users, and identifying the requirements and constraints of the project. Then they broke into teams to brainstorm alternative solutions and evaluate possible solutions. Next, individuals created and tested prototypes. 

Students then cycled through steps to improve their design before manufacturing.

According to Reynolds, the course and project strives to give students a better understanding of the all-encompassing nature of the field of engineering by presenting them with a real-world challenge. 

According to Reynolds, “Engineers need an understanding of all the contextual factors of a particular design challenge, including the need for the project, relevant social, ethical, environmental and economic conditions of the target population, system integration, and project needs and limitations.” 

Watch some of the students’ design solutions in their presentation videos here and here.