This paper presents a demonstration of how biological solutions to mobility in the desert can be used to drive new concepts for sand-traction tires. Biological inspiration is used to translate both camel hooves (shape) and Fennec Fox paw texture (material) into design concepts for tire traction that are prototyped and tested. The steps used in this are captured in a case study of bio-inspired design, with the resulting concepts compared in terms of their performance. It was found that the camel hoof inspired “concave” shaped tire improved traction that the Fennec Fox paw textured “miner’s moss” surface on tires improved traction, and that the integrated solution of the two also improved traction. The greatest improvement was seen with the Fennec Fox textured concepts. Recommendations are made for improvements to steps of bio-inspiration for ideation and future traction concepts.
The goal of this research is to understand, explore, and align the motivation and value that industry gains from sponsoring senior level mechanical engineering capstone design projects at Clemson University. This research compares the expected values of capstone projects from the perspectives of both the sponsoring companies and university faculty. If faculty understand the expected value from the sponsor, faculty could more effectively solicit and scope sponsor-based projects. Interviewing was used as the data collection method to explore faculty and company sponsor perceptions regarding the capstone design program. Interview results are linked and evaluated to extract thematic patterns in the responses. Conclusions of this work show that faculty anticipate companies continue to sponsor projects if the final products generated by the student teams are beneficial to the company. Companies tend to gain value from sponsoring capstone by providing low priority projects to garner solutions with minimal investment. Further, the realized benefit of the projects for the sponsoring companies depends on the structuring of the program, the proximity of the university, and the relationship between the company and university.
The following paper aims to create a classification method for design enablers which will later be used to measure the impact of design enablers on industry. First, a classification method for design enablers is developed based on a review of relevant literature. Second, this method is applied to a series of design enablers developed by the CEDAR lab strictly based on information published within literature. Finally, non-published documentation available for one of the reviewed design enablers will be considered further to better illustrate the classification method. In later work, additional unpublished documentation will be considered alongside interviews of design enabler developers to fully classify the remaining enablers. This research will later be used to map design enabler development to its impact in order to make recommendations for decision making for future design enabler development.
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