Communication

Logbook / Website
Monday 27 September 2010
 The Design Process
Conceive Idea /
Concept
@ 30,000 ft

Recognize Need
Define Problem

Concept 1

Concept 3
Concept 2 Iterate
Constraints:
Laws of Physics
Detailed Design
Economics
Legal Build / Test
Implement / Operate

Product
The Ground @ 0 ft ASL
 Communication throughout …
Selling the Idea. [Promotion]
Customer solicitation / patents / marketplace. [Data collection]
Team-based design. [Information control and distribution]
Detailed records of what was done. [Logbook]
Formal documentation. [Reports, simulations, models]
Present progress. [Interim Reviews]
Product launch / Design Fair. [Website, Tradeshow]

Communication is both Receiving and Broadcasting.

 Communication includes …
Strategy:
Analyze the situation (target audience).
Structure:
Logical, persuasive arguments.
Concise, crisp, precise, and clear language.
Cross-disciplinary / Cross-cultural communication.
Written Communication:
Coherence and flow.
Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Document formatting.
Informal, formal memos, reports, etc.
 Communication includes …
Electronic / Multimedia Communication:
Powerpoint (or equivalent)
Norms for e-mail, voicemail, videoconferencing
Electronic styles (Google docs, website, etc.)
Graphical Communication:
Sketching and engineering graphics.
Construction of tables, graphs, charts, etc.
Read technical drawings and renderings.
Oral Presentation:
Appropriate language, style, timing and flow.
Nonverbal (gesture, eye contact, poise).
Answering questions effectively.
 The Engineering Logbook
Personal / professional reference documenting project
evolution and learning.

Protects intellectual property, bound so that pages cannot be

inserted / removed.

Written in ink, dated, and fill consecutive pages.

In the event of an investigation, it will be reviewed by the

professional regulatory bodies and / or by the courts.
The Logbook
 The Engineering Logbook
Bound Notebook.
Write in ink.
Carry journal everywhere.
Paste / staple in items collected.
Date all journal entries.
Two witnesses sign and date new ideas.
Write in the journal daily.
 General Expectations
5-6 pages of thoughtful entries per week supporting the design process
Log of planning, communications, team meetings, lecture notes (~ 20% entries)
Project learning and product development (~ 70% of entries)
Review of individual / team / product performance (~ 10% of entries)
Organization / format for easy re-reading / reuse (self, team, mentor, instructor)
 Industry Expectations
Record the date on each page. Start each day on a new page.

Label each entry and record this in a table of contents (reserve 3-4 front pages)

Use ink, do not erase, delete entries by drawing single line through them.

Do not remove pages, do not skip pages.

Avoid backfilling. If a new idea comes, write it in and refer back to original date.

Include everything …
Sketches / doodling Customer needs / requirements
Class notes Project objectives
Meeting notes Action items
Half-baked ideas Math calculations
Work in progress Design alternatives
Vendor notes Research findings
Sources of ideas Evaluation of data / results
Design reviews Decision criteria
Design process Rationale for decisions
Project reflections Professional development
 Logbook Prompts:
A meeting:
What were the main outcomes of the meeting?
Was the meeting productive, why?
What are your personal action items before the next meeting?
Is the team heading in the correct direction?

Brainstorming:
Which ideas seem most feasible, and why?
Are there enough good ideas?
How could better ideas be developed based on this session?

Engineering Analysis:
What were the governing equations?
What are the most important findings?
What do the results mean and how should they be applied?

Visualization (sketching or CAD):

What are the major features / discoveries and why are these significant?
What was learned about the problem or solution possibilities?
What problems were resolved and what still needs to be addressed?
How does this piece integrate with the whole?
 Logbook Prompts:
Internet search:
What key information was found?
How does it help achieve the project objectives?
Are there other sources that should be pursued?
What new questions were generated?
 Project Website
Each group will maintain their own website.
We will create links from the department home page.
Links will be under the “Industry” tab.
Project Advisors / Customers will monitor your progress.
All teams will use Kompozer.
User Guide: www.kompozer.net/Community
Use template from University of Idaho:
http://seniordesign.engr.uidaho.edu/first_semester_docs/web-template.zip

Upload: SSH Secure File Transfer

http://www.ucalgary.ca/it/software/ssh/windows/install
Kompozer Interface
SSH Secure File Transfer
After Clicking Quick Connect
Browser type Interface
Local – Your Computer Remote – UofC Server
Disconnect when Done
 Course Roadmap
Team Assignments (this week)

Project Definition Document (PDD) - report

Assigned 29 Sep 10
Due 8 Oct 10
Conceptual Design Document (CDD) - report
Assigned 6 Oct 10
Due 22 Oct 10
Preliminary Design Review (PDR) - presentation
3 Nov 10 [1PM – 5PM]
Peer Review and Logbooks
 Course Roadmap - 2
Critical Design Review (CDR) - presentation
8 Dec 10 [1PM – 5PM]
Peer Review and Logbooks
Fall Final Report (FFR) - report
Due 10 Dec 10
Interim Review #1 (IR1) – presentation, informal
2 Feb 11 [1PM – 5PM]
Interim Review #2 (IR2) – presentation, informal
2 Mar 11 [1PM – 5PM]
Peer Review and Logbooks
Winter Project Review (WPR) – presentation
6 Apr 11 [1PM – 5PM]
Peer Review and Logbooks
 Course Roadmap - 3
Winter Design Fair (WDF) - tradeshow
TBD ~ Early Apr 11
Project Final Report (PFR) - report
Due 15 Apr 11