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Unit outline_

AMME9401: Industrial and Product Design Engineering

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

AMME9401 Industrial and Product Design is a multidisciplinary project-based unit where students use their existing engineering knowledge and analytical skills to design and prototype a product for human use using the AMME Makerspace/Fablab facilities. Students will use elements of human centred and industrial design theory and techniques to develop skills in industrial and product design and apply these skills in a design studio setting in the context of new/improved product development.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
AMME4401
Assumed knowledge
? 

Engineering design and fundamental knowledge from previous years engineering study

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rod Fiford, rod.fiford@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Rod Fiford, rod.fiford@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Existing product critique report
Written report critiquing existing product design.
20% Week 04
Due date: 25 Aug 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 25 Jul 2024
3000 word limit.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Design Journal 1
See Canvas for details - journal task, text and sketches
5% Week 06
Due date: 04 Sep 2024 at 10:00

Closing date: 18 Sep 2024
Two entries, 2 pages each.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7
Assignment hurdle task group assignment Major project preliminary report
Written report
15% Week 07
Due date: 13 Sep 2024 at 17:00

Closing date: 27 Sep 2024
Max 3k words not including appendices
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Human factors report
Written report related to human factors and product design.
10% Week 09
Due date: 29 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 13 Oct 2024
2500 word limit.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO7 LO8
Assignment Design journal 2
See Canvas for details - journal task, text and sketches
5% Week 10
Due date: 09 Oct 2024 at 10:00

Closing date: 23 Oct 2024
Two entries, 2 pages each.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7
Assignment hurdle task group assignment Major project - final report
Written report for major design project
25% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 17:00

Closing date: 15 Nov 2024
Max 10k words not including appendices
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Prototype
Virtual (CAD) & physical prototypes
10% Week 13
Due date: 29 Oct 2024 at 10:00

Closing date: 29 Oct 2024
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5
Presentation group assignment Video and talk
Video and presentation
10% Week 13
Due date: 28 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 28 Oct 2024
2min video, 8min talk + Q&A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Note that Sparkplus will be used for self and peer assessment for all group work activities and individual student marks may be adjusted according to Sparkplus results.

All major project tasks are hurdle ‘must pass’ tasks and must be completed to a satisfactory standard.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per University policy. Note late penalty for video & talk is 100%.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Ongoing Student independent research & study - 4 hours per week Individual study (52 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Out of class group-work and collaboration Independent study (30 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 01 Introduction to unit. Review of engineering design cycle, problem definition, user and engineering requirements. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO5 LO7
Week 02 Design thinking, creativity and Human Centred Design (HCD) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5 LO7
Week 03 Industrial & product design engineering Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 04 Prototyping techniques Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5 LO8
Week 05 Human factors engineering 1 (anthropometric factors) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Human factors engineering 2 (cognitive factors) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 07 Safety in design Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO5 LO8
Week 08 Task analysis, human & product/machine interface design Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Testing and design verification Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 10 Materials and manufacturing considerations. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 11 Industrial and product design case studies Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Major project work Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 13 Presentations Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance and participation is required for all lectorials and studio/workshop sessions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Improve a variety of communication skills (oral, verbal, written, other)
  • LO2. Improve project management skills through complex design projects
  • LO3. Work effectively with others in a professional manner, considering ethical implications of decisions and actions
  • LO4. Develop interdisciplinary skills through complex, inclusive team design projects
  • LO5. To gain high level experience of the engineering design process/cycle by developing and prototyping solutions to complex industrial/product design problems
  • LO6. Application and further development of engineering knowledge and skills in complex open-ended design projects.
  • LO7. Develop and improve problem solving, ideation and inventiveness skills through complex open ended design projects
  • LO8. Ability to use existing mathematical and scientific methods and tools in applied design problems

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Final report moved to week 13, less sketches required.

Work, health and safety

Use of AMME Makerspace requires adherance to all relevant WHS requirements.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.