Integration of Probabilistic Decision Making into a Junior Year Engineering Design Course

Chen, Y., Sharon, J., Esche, S. K. & Chassapis, C.
Proceedings of the 2005 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, Oregon, USA, June 12-15, 2005.

Abstract

Decision making is a very important aspect of the engineering design process. While many real-world decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty and risk, current undergraduate engineering curricula rarely include any principles of decision theory or use probabilistic modeling and computational techniques. For example, while utility theory is a crucial component of the decision making process, it is typically omitted in engineering curricula. Also, probability theory, which establishes the basic mathematical tools needed for the proper assessment of uncertainty and risk, is often not included in a learning-enhancing context such as engineering design. This situation calls for a paradigm shift in design education where practical examples of real design cases are used to illustrate the application of these scientific principles.

This paper describes our latest progress in an NSF-sponsored pilot program that aims to develop, implement and assess approaches based on stochastic modeling and simulation for the engineering design education at Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT). We have constructed a series of design scenarios by which we will implement stochastic methods into Engineering Design VI. This course is taken by mechanical engineering students in the junior year. Previously, this course was based on deterministic approaches for integrated product design, spanning the entire process from product conception to product realization, following the syllabus outlined by Ulrich and Eppinger. This paper discusses how the newly developed lecture materials based on the framework by Hazelrigg have been integrated into the existing course syllabus. Furthermore, it describes the design scenarios together with appropriate MATLAB and MS Excel analysis modules that were developed for student usage in laboratory exercises. The pilot course is currently in progress during the spring semester 2005. Upon its successful completion, student performance will be examined, the approach evaluated and revised if necessary, and implementation into the capstone design sequence in the mechanical engineering department will be planned.