Design Projects Database

Introduction

What is the design projects database?

This database consists of projects for use in classroom settings. All of the projects here end in some type of physical product, whether it is a tower made of index cards or a working robot. They have been collected from a variety of sources, such as university professors and students, textbooks, and journals.

Who is the database for?

This resource was created for instructors of introductory level courses in mechanical engineering design. It may also be fun for design students or anyone else interested in expanding their creative thinking skills.

In addition, many of the projects can be adapted for students as young as junior high, or as advanced as upper level undergraduates, or even graduate students. The section on how to make design projects more meaningful offers some variations.

What types of information are available?

This database divides projects into three main categories:

in class, which take an hour or less of student time
short term, which can be completed in two weeks or less
long term,which take longer than two weeks to complete

There is a separate table of contents for each project type. The table of contents is arranged in alphabetical order, and gives the name of each project along with a brief description, and a link to the comprehensive project listing.

Each listing begins with estimates for cost and instructor set up time.

This is the cost symbol. One moneybag is equivalent to $1 or less per student, two includes up to $5, three $10, four $20, and five >$20.

Some of the projects are expensive to run once, but have parts which can be reused almost indefinitely, so make sure to check the materials list before ruling out expensive projects, especially if you teach a class which is repeated every term or year.

This is the instructor time symbol. Each clock up to four represents 1 hour of set up. Five clocks correspond to 5 hours or more.

Following the cost and time estimates is a one page description which gives all the information you need to run this project with your students, including:

in depth project description
list of materials, including approximate cost and reusability. Materials will be listed per student or team unless otherwise indicated.
instructor set up information
variations
project source (and contact information, where available)

For some projects there will be extra information, such as assignment sheets, photos or video clips of completed projects, etc. In this case, there will be links to the additional information on the description page.

Introduction

What is the design projects database?

Who is the database for?

What types of information are available?

Other questions? A project to add? Want us to include a link to your page?