Unit 8: Engineering Design Challenge
Apply the engineering design process to develop, prototype, test, and optimize air quality improvement solutions, from portable air cleaners to smart ventilation systems.
Unit Overview
This unit integrates scientific understanding with engineering practice. Students work through the complete design cycle to create functional air quality improvement devices. The unit emphasizes iterative design, quantitative testing, cost-effectiveness analysis, and the tradeoffs inherent in real engineering decisions.
Lessons
The Engineering Design Process
Define problems, research constraints, and develop design specifications for IAQ solutions
EngageAir Cleaning Technologies
Analyze filtration, UV, ionization, and photocatalytic air cleaning approaches
ExploreVentilation System Design
Apply principles of airflow, heat recovery, and demand-controlled ventilation
ExplainPrototyping and Testing
Build functional prototypes and develop testing protocols for performance evaluation
ElaborateDesign Competition
Present optimized designs with performance data and cost-effectiveness analysis
Evaluate