Engineering 450: Multidisciplinary Engineering Design*

ENG 450 is a new multidisciplinary capstone design course at the University of Michigan. Teams of students from engineering and science departments work together on project design and prototype fabrication. Industry experts mentor design teams and give guest lectures.

The team projects are part of larger research and development programs in government and industry. The winter 2006 course will include joint projects with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Aerospace Corporation, Astrobiology Institute, Cameron Balloons, Student Space Systems Fabrication Laboratory, Advanced Technology Center, and Lockheed Martin Space Systems.

ENG 450 is a semester course. However, students are encouraged to continue their projects through summer research or summer internships. For example: One team project will be the design and fabrication of a laboratory simulator of the thrusters of Mars Phoenix Lander. This project is part of an upcoming Mars mission and selected students will be able to continue the research after the semester is over.

The field of engineering still requires rigorous training in engineering specialties. However it also requires new engineers to jump right into complex projects working with teams from several disciplines. ENG 450 is providing Michigan students and the companies that hire them a head start on working together on multidisciplinary design projects.

*EE students must receive approval from the EECS Curriculum Committee to receive MDE credit for ENG 450. For approval, please contact Professor Fred Terry (EE Chief Program Advisor) or Professor Greg Wakefield (EECS Curriculum Committee Chair).

Winter 2011 Course Information

Schedule: Tues/Thur 1:30 - 5:30 pm
Instructor: Professor Nilton Renno
Email: nrenno@umich.edu

Previous Course Information

Winter 2006 Website

Winter 2005 Website

Winter 2004 Website

Eng 450 Project Teams –Winter 2011:

3D Hands-On Exhibit
Project Goals: To develop a museum exhibit for 3-D visualization technologies
Team Members: Brian Yost (Team Leader), Adam Hall, David Timmes, Joe Wendahl
Mentors: Mel Drumm (Director of the AAHOM), Professor Renno Nilton

Electric Field Sensor
Project Goals: To Increase the TRL of a spaceflight version of the U-M Electric Field Sensor
Team Members: Ava Dupre, Lu Huang, Vidya Sagar Reddy Avuthu (Lead)
Mentors: Nilton Renno, Steve Rogacki, NASA/GRC, NASA/Ames

Gecko Sensor Node Housing
Project Goals: To develop a housing for the Gecko sensor network.
Team Members: Emmanuel Frontini, Apoorva Bansal, Moye (Vincent) Ji
Mentors: Professors Prabal Dutta and Nilton Renno

Infrared Technology Hands-On Exhibit
Project Goals: To develop a infrared technology museum exhibit
Team Members: Jessie Kiernan, Jermaine Jackson, Brianna Jackson, Andrew Pan, Lindsay Ogard, Manan Kocher
Mentors: Mel Drumm (Director of the AAHOM), Professor Renno Nilton

Human Powered Submarine
Project Goals: To win the 2011 US Navy human powered submarine race
Team Members: Bernard Murphy (Team Leader), Efrain Camacho, Priyanka Singareddy, Phillip Bajor
Mentors: Professor Renno Nilton

Motorcycle Frame Project
Project Goals: To develop an innovative lightweight motorcycle frame
Team Members: Sean Chou (lead), Monica Date, Nathan Cheng, Charles Hwang
Mentors: Nilton Renno, Mission Motors

Solar Collector
Project Goals: To design, develop, and implement a…
Team Members: Andy Nguyen, Erica Lee, Paul Schrems
Mentors: Nilton Renno, Robb Gillespie

RASC-AL Competition Team
Project Goals: To win the 2011 RASC-AL Forum competition
Team Members: Alexander McMillan (Project Lead, ENG 455), Mike Orlowski (Assistant Lead, ENG 455), Matt Carrier (EDL, ENG 450)
Mentors: Nilton Renno,

Toy for Blind and Visually Impaired Children Project Goals: To develop a game for blind children that increases their interaction with sighted children
Team Members: Will Hilzinger (Leader), Ilya Kleyman, Daniel Cox, Nick Peters, James (Joe) Sipka
Mentor: Nilton Renno