Fall 2008 Courses

Engineering Science Courses

ES7 - Thermodynamics

A course stressing the concepts and laws of classical thermodynamics.  Topics include definition of thermodynamic functions, first law, second law, properties of pure substance, irreversibility and availability. Emphasis will be placed on teaching the student how to apply the thermodynamic mode of reasoning. 

ES8 - Fluid Mechanics

This course is an introduction to statics and dynamics of fluids. In particular, we will examine fluid motion in terms of conservation of mass, momentum and energy. We will cover applications of Bernoulli's equation both theoretically and in in-class experiments. We also introduce flow through ducts, boundary layers and compressible flows.  Grading is based on weekly tests, homework, a final exam and a project.

Prerequisite: Statics ES 5, Mathematics 13

All students in ES 8 must register for a ME 25L section. If a student is taking both ES 8 and ME 25, he or she needs to register for only one ME 25L section since the lab sections for the two courses are concurrent

ES95 - Electronic Musical Instrument Design

We will examine non-standard electronic musical instruments, or "controllers", which work by incorporating sensors that respond to touch, position, movement, finger pressure, wind pressure, and other human factors, and translating them into musical sounds. Examples of these are the theremin, woodwind simulators, drum pads, and positional sensors.  We will then design and construct original instruments and performance systems using mechanical, electronic, and sensing components. The instruments will rely on MIDI, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface protocol; Max, an object-oriented language for processing MIDI and audio data; and Reason, a MIDI-controlled software-based synthesizer and sound processor.

Students from a wide variety of majors are encouraged, to provide each other with complementary skills. Students will work in teams on a variety of projects.

Prerequisites: Experience in one, and preferably two or more, of the following: electronic music, electrical engineering and prototyping, mechanical engineering and model building, audio production, computer programming with real-time systems.

ES101 - Numerical Methods

Numerical methods are studied and applied to the solution of problems in engineering and applied science. Interpolation, approximation, numerical linear algebra including system solution and eigenvalue problems, solution of nonlinear equations, numerical differentiation and integration, ordinary differential equation algorithms, and finite-difference solution of partial differential equations. The course is also designed to develop the students' ability to select and apply these techniques using spreadsheets and mathematical analysis software.

This course can be counted as either a concentration or a math/science elective.

Prerequisites: Differential Equations MTH 38 and the ability to perform computer-based algorithmic calculations.

Mechanical Engineering Courses

ME1 - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Labs:  ME 1A students take ME 1LA, ME 1LB, or ME 1LC

ME 1B students take ME 1LD, ME 1LE, or ME 1LF

ME 1 is an introductory course required for all mechanical engineers. The course is divided into two parts: fabrication techniques and experimental methods. Section A will begin with fabrication for the first half of the semester and experimentation for the second; Section B will follow the reverse pattern. The main goal of the experimentation portion of the course is to introduce measurement, data acquisition and presentation methods. 

 The course will emphasize basic LabVIEW skills for computerized data acquisition including an introduction to statistical data analysis. The fabrication portion of the course focuses on manual machines and CNC machines through classroom lectures and a hands-on project. Students will work with both metallic and non-metallic materials. The fabrication techniques include an introduction to other machining practices, such as welding, casting, and forming.

 Note that the required weekly lab sections are coordinated with the two sections of the course. This lab period is primarily for executing the assigned weekly work. Grades will be based on homework assignments, tests and project scores.

 Prerequisites: Sophomore standing in Mechanical Engineering

ME11 - Applied Thermodynamics

In this course, the Thermodynamics concepts learned in ES 7, such as the First and Second Law, properties and state, are applied to several systems typical of mechanical engineering problems. These applications include power cycles for electricity generation and transportation vehicles, refrigeration cycles, combustion of fossil fuels and basic concepts of compressible flow including nozzle flows and shock waves. A review of ES 7 material is included with emphasis on system level analysis of closed and steady state, steady flow problems. Methods for analyzing mixtures including multi-component (humidity, solid-solid alloys) and multi-phase (liquid-solid-vapor) substances are introduced.

Prerequisite: Thermodynamics ES 7

ME16 - Heat Transfer

This course is intended to provide an introduction to heat transfer for mechanical engineering juniors. It has two goals. First, it is designed to impart the ability to apply the subject matter to analyze practical applications. Second, the student is prepared for more advanced work in thermal-fluid sciences. Subjects to be studied include steady state and transient conduction in solids; numerical solution of conduction problems; radioactive heat transfer; forced and natural convective heat transfer; introduction to boiling and condensation; and heat exchanger analysis. The use of MathCAD is integrated into the homework assignments.

Prerequisites: ES 7 (Thermodynamics), ES 8 (Fluid Mechanics) and Math 38 (Differential Equations)

ME19 - Project Laboratory

An independent or small group project laboratory course that builds on the background and experiences of the sophomore and junior laboratory program. Although students will be allowed as much freedom as possible in working out problems involved, they will be supervised by and responsible to a designated mechanical engineering faculty member. All projects will abide by common grading and reporting requirements. An organizational meeting to describe the project options and the course requirements will be held at the beginning of the Fall term.

Note that no incompletes are allowed in ME 19.

Prerequisites: Senior standing or consent.

ME25 - Engineering Materials

A study of the relationships between structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials used in engineering materials; the course covers the internal structure of both perfect and imperfect materials and the principles and techniques by which this structure can be controlled. The relationship of physical properties to structure is studied and the influence of these properties on material performance is covered.

Prerequisites: Introductory courses in physics and chemistry are expected.

All students in ME 25 must register for a ME 25L section. If a student is taking both ES 8 and ME 25, he or she needs to register for only one ME 25L section since the lab sections for the two courses are concurrent.

ME25L - Lab/Recitation for ES8/ME25

All students registered in either section of ES 8 (A or B) or ME 25 (A or B) are required to register for one section of ME 25L. These scheduled laboratory and curriculum support periods are part of an integrated laboratory program for junior BSME students. This coordinated program will involve either experiments from ES 8 or ME 25, demonstrations both experimental and computational, and problem solving recitations.  Their purpose is to provide students with a scheduled opportunity to integrate the theory and analysis presented in the lecture portions of the core mechanical engineering courses. A comprehensive weekly schedule will be provided at the beginning of the term to all ES 8 and ME 25 students. Participation in these meetings is a requirement of the respective courses. Students who are enrolled in only one of the courses will not be required to attend sessions devoted to the other subject. This integrated laboratory session model will be duplicated in the spring term with ME 16L, which will support ME 16 (Heat Transfer) and ME37 (Dynamics).

ME37 - Dynamics & Vibrations

This course has been modified to make it compatible with the changes that were incorporated in ES 5 starting in 2004.  The new version will include more material on vibration.  Kinematics, geometric description of the motion of particles.  Kinetics, the relation of force to prediction of the motion of particles using: work-energy; conservation of energy; impulse-momentum principles. Kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies in plane motion.  Free and forced vibration of single-degree of freedom systems.

Prerequisites: Statics and Dynamics ES 5, Strength of Materials ES 9, and Differential Equations MTH 38.

ME38 - Mechanical Vibrations

Single degree-of-freedom vibrating systems: undamped free vibration, Rayleigh’s method, damped free vibration, forced response to harmonic excitation including resonance, base excitation, rotating unbalance, and vibration measuring devices, general forced response including impulse response, shock spectra, and random inputs. Two degrees-of-freedom vibrating systems: natural frequencies and natural mode shapes, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, modal analysis, Lagrange’s equations, case histories illustrating how to design for vibration control using isolation, dynamic vibration absorbers, and viscoelastic damping treatments.

Pre-requisites: ES6 Dynamics or ME37 Dynamics and Vibrations, or consent of the instructor.

ME41 - Machine Design I                 

This course deals with the fundamentals of machine design. This includes a review of mechanics and strengths of materials and also serves to extend this background to include elastic and plastic deformation, theories of failure, impact, and fatigue of machine elements. The design of machines is approached through selected design problems that are integrated throughout the course.

Prerequisites: ES 5 (Statics) and ES 9 (Strength of Materials).

ME42 - Machine Design II

Continuation of ME 41.  Advanced topics used in the design and analysis of real systems. Design and selection of individual machine elements, including gears, bearings, springs, fasteners, brakes, motors, fluid actuators etc. Design projects that relate to these topics are assigned with emphasis placed on the application of fundamental engineering concepts as well as establishing the validity and practicality of the solution. 

Prerequisite:   ME 41 (Machine Design I)

ME43 - Senior Design Project

This is a project course focused on the execution of a full-blown design. Students may work individually or in groups (maximum of 8 members), depending on the scope of the specific project. The projects can involve the design of a machine, device or system which performs a task – often a manufacturing or measurement task. The outcome will be a complete design package and a possible working prototype. All senior design projects are done within the department guidelines which include submission of specific report documents according to a schedule set at the beginning of the term, and an oral presentation, open to the public at the conclusion of the semester.

The design projects will be client-based; that is, either industry sponsors or faculty within the Mechanical Engineering Department will act as the client for the student design team. Client-based projects tend to have a focused goal related to active product lines or related to active research that a faculty member is conducting. Some of these projects will fall into the general area of biomedical engineering and will fulfill the project requirement of the Biomedical Engineering Minor or Second Major. These projects will be open to other students as well.

Organization: Project selection will occur at the beginning of the semester. Initial lectures will focus on the design process, scheduling, and leadership. Remaining class time will be devoted to solving problems with the designs, critical design review, and status updating. Students will act in the role of project engineers, working individually or in groups, the instructor in the role of the mentor, and an industry sponsor or Tufts faculty member acting as the client.

Prerequisites: ME 41 (Machine Design I), ME 42 (Machine Design II), and senior standing.

ME80 - System Design

Fundamental concepts in modeling, design and control of dynamic mechanical systems. Formal analysis reduces system physics to a differential mathematical model, and studies system behavior and properties in the time and frequency domain. State-space methods, Laplace transform techniques. Use of MATLAB and SIMULINK simulation in solution process. Feedback control design techniques.

Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent

ME92/93 & ME94 - Thesis & Special Topics

ME 93 (Fall) and 94 (Spring) are independent study courses intended for undergraduate students who are pursuing an independent study project for credit under the supervision of a Mechanical Engineering faculty member. During the Fall term, ME 93 is reserved for non-laboratory based projects since ME 19 (Project Laboratory) is also offered. Students are reminded that taking ME 93/94 requires the approval, prior to the beginning of the semester, of the faculty mentor.  Students are not allowed to use both ME 19 and ME 93/94 as BSME concentration electives. Students who wish to pursue a second independent study credit are expected to register for ME 92 (undergraduate thesis) and write an undergraduate thesis on the topic.

Prerequisites:  Consent

ME99 - Mechanical Engineering Internships

A mentored pre-professional experience in Mechanical Engineering at an off-site organization. The internship must conform to all the requirements of the College of Engineering Internship Program. The Department will grant course credit for internships if all of the following conditions are met:

The student has junior or senior standing and has declared a major in Mechanical Engineering.

The student must submit a written internship proposal, which must be approved prior to the semester in which the internship will be performed. No internships with course credit will be approved once the semester of the internship has started.

A faculty mentor must have supervisory and technical control of any work that receives credit in the Department.

A written report must be submitted that is to be evaluated by the faculty advisor and the outside institutional supervisor. Work of a proprietary nature cannot be used as a basis for the granting of course credit.

Prerequisite:  Junior or Senior standing and consent

ME102 - Inventive Design

This course addresses the engineering of new products under the realities of the corporate world. In addition to the technology issues, we will look at funding, government regulation, liability, patent protection, roll out strategies and other issues, which effect the way the product is engineered. Products can range from consumer disposables (paper towels) to manufacturing capital equipment (milling machines). Medical products get a lot of attention because they contain all of the issues and we have access to a number of guest lecturers experienced in this field. 

Prerequisite:  Senior standing in Engineering

ME103 - MEMS

An introduction to Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Topics include fabrication, design, and applications of MEMS devices.

Introduction to computer-aided design techniques and tools. Course will include a laboratory component and a term project.

Prerequisites: Senior standing.

ME108 - Modern Quality Control

This course deals with principle, role, management and history of quality control in modern manufacturing and servicing organizations.  Topics covered include statistical process control, probability and statistics, Pareto diagrams, statistical design of experiments, Taguchi methods, acceptance sampling, and cost of quality.

ME112 - Advanced Heat Transfer

This course emphasizes current problems in heat transfer as they occur in modern engineering practice. It will begin with a fast paced review of the fundamental heat transfer mechanisms as applied to complex systems. The course will then focus on multidimensional transient conduction and moving boundary problems, fundamentals of convection analysis including differential, integral and scale analyses, and two-phase heat transfer in liquid-vapor two-phase systems will be covered. The course will include with elementary mass transfer and simultaneous heat and mass transfer with an emphasis on gaseous systems. Students will use analytical solutions, MathCAD and third party software.

Prerequisite: ME 16 (Heat Transfer)

ME116 - Phase Transformation

This course is designed for students interested in thermal, fluid and mass transport aspects of materials processing.  Topics include heat treatment, continuum diffusion, atomistics of diffusion, oxidation, evaporation, and solidification. 

A wide range of practical examples and applications is drawn upon, and class work and readings are supplemented by in-class presentations and small projects. 

Homework, term project, mid-term, and final exam.

Prerequisites:  Heat Transfer, ME16 or consent

ME118 - Data Acquisition

In this class you will learn to do advanced signal processing.  In particular we will look at audio and video processing.  We will cover spectral analysis as well as image processing.  Projects from previous years include active tracking of the face (allowing people who cannot use their hands to move a mouse by moving their head) and having robots use the camera as eyes to drive through a field of rocks. 

Grades are based on project performance, in-class participation, homework, and tests.

Prerequisite: LabVIEW experience, differential equations, experience in engineering design.

ME121 - Biomaterials

The course presents topics relevant to the materials used for implantable medical devices: elementary solid mechanics; aspects of material science applied to metals, polymers, ceramics, and biological tissues; the biological responses to implanted materials; and FDA requirements for biomaterials and medical devices. These topics are presented in the context of specific medical devices in clinical use, e.g., hip replacement implants, vascular prostheses, and tissue engineered skin. A literature review and oral presentation covering a medical device is assigned.

ME122 - Advanced Strength of Materials

Strains and stresses. Basics of elastic stress analysis. Selected topics of structural mechanics. Deformation beyond elastic limit. 

Prerequisite: Strength of Materials ES9 or equivalent

(Cross-listed as Civil and Environmental Engineering 122)

ME125 - Manufacturing Procedures and Material Techniques

A study of traditional and nontraditional manufacturing processes related to processing of metals, ceramics, and polymers, including computer-aided manufacturing.  Topics include properties and behavior of materials, selection of materials and processes subject to surface finish, tolerance, design, and economic constraints. 

Prerequisite:  ME 25 (Engineering Materials)

ME126 - Computer Integrated Engineering

This is a project-oriented course which introduces students to the concept of integrated engineering consisting of design, analysis, optimization and manufacturing.  Microcomputer-based commercial software packages will be used to design and optimize a mechanical component or an assembly.  Engineering constraints such as cost, material selection, and manufacturing techniques will be discussed.  The students will then use a CNC machining center to produce their optimized design.

ME127 - Polymer Material and Processing

This class will provide students with advanced knowledge of polymer materials and the science of manufacturing  Course  focus will be on the latest modern techniques of integrating design, materials and manufacturing, and will provide the fundamental science and engineering information in each area. The topics that will be covered in detail in this class include: design processes for developing plastic parts, physical properties of engineering polymers, environmental properties of plastics, important rheological properties, electrical properties, material selection methods, moldfilling simulation techniques for plastics, mechanics of polymer processing, mold design techniques, secondary assembly techniques,  secondary plastic part processing (coatings, etc), agency considerations (UL, CSA, etc), and economics.  In addition case studies of industrial applications will be presented along with the latest areas of polymer research. 

Prerequisites include ME 25 and knowledge of computer aided design (CAD) techniques.

ME128 - Structural Mechanics

This course emphasizes energy methods.  Basic concepts of stress, deformation, equilibrium, elastic stability and failure theories are considered in terms of specific structural elements such as beams, rings, plates, shells and pressure vessels. 

Prerequisite: ES 9 Strength of Materials (cross-listed as Civil and Environmental Engineering 128)

ME129 - Finite Element Methods in Engineering

This course covers the formulation and application of the displacement finite element method. One dimensional structural elements are examined to establish the fundamental principles and techniques.  These concepts are generalized by extension to plane, two dimensional continuum problems.  Element types and their implementation in general purpose codes are considered.  Applications include structural, fluid and thermal systems.

Prerequisites: Statics ES 5 and Strength of Materials ES 9

ME137 - Advanced Vibrations

Extension and generalization of single and two-degree-of freedom systems to discrete systems with many degrees of freedom, using Lagrange's equations and matrix theory. Numerical integration methods with computer application. Introduction to continuous systems and random vibration.  Introduction to the finite element technique for vibratory problems.  Applications to problems of current engineering importance.

Prerequisite: ME 37 (Dynamics and Vibrations)

ME138 - Advanced Dynamics

This course emphasizes particle and rigid body motion in three dimensions.  It begins with a review on Newtonian techniques and introduces the concepts of Analytical Mechanics such as generalized coordinates and Lagrange equations.

Prerequisite: Dynamics and Vibrations ME 37 or Dynamics ES6

ME149 - Special Topics – Biomechanics

Biomechanics is the application of classical mechanics techniques to biological systems.  This course will provide an overview of musculoskeletal anatomy, mechanical properties and structural behavior of biological tissues and bio-dynamics.  Topics to be covered include: anthropometry, stress, strain, mechanical properties of muscle, force-velocity relationship, force-length relationship, activation of muscles, kinematics and dynamics of joints, analysis of forces in human function and movement, energy and power in human activity, etc.  Application areas are human movement analysis (e.g., walking, running, jumping, reaching and grasping, etc.) and tool design. 

Prerequisites: Statics; ES 5, ES 9, senior standing. 

Open to seniors and graduate students only.

ME149 - Special Topics – Sustainable Engineering

This course will discuss sustainable development through the eyes of an engineering professional.  By nature, it is interdisciplinary in content and will include topics such as selection of culturally appropriate technology, economic sustainability, green manufacturing, gender issues, community needs assessment and implementation strategies.

ME149 - Special Topics - Mechanical Behavior of Materials

This course introduces basic concepts of modern mechanics of materials. Various modes of mechanical behavior will be discussed, such as: Elasticity; Anisotropy; Large deformation of soft materials; Plasticity; Fracture; Time-dependent behavior (creep and viscoelasticity); Overall properties of composites and heterogeneous materials.

These topics are relevant for a broad range of materials, including, but not limited to, metals; bio-materials–both soft tissues and hard tissues (bones); concrete and composites.

Prerequisite: Strength of materials (ES-9) or equivalent.

ME150 - Advanced Mathematics for Engineers

Short overview of convergence and Taylor’s series.  Harmonic analysis and Fourier Series.  Review of ordinary differential equations.  Partial differential equations and their applications to fluid mechanics, heat transfer, vibration and wave propagation.

Prerequisites: Differential Equations MTH 38 or equivalent

(Cross-listed as Mathematics 151)

ME165 - Advanced Fluid Mechanics

This course draws from everyday to modern examples and exposes students to physical and mathematical principles of various topics, emphasizing the connections with other branches of sciences and engineering.  Topics that will be covered include: viscosity and surface tension; molecular hydrodynamics; the syringe problem – Mach and Reynolds numbers; water jets, sheets and bells; smoke rings – the Magnus effect; surface waves – from ripples to solitary waves; laminar viscous flows and lubrication; vorticity – understanding tealeaves; instability – supernovas; turbulence – organized chaos; non-Newtonian fluids.

ME180 - Computer Control Systems

In this class, we will look at fundamental concepts and modern techniques for the design of real-time computer-controlled systems. Automatic control systems have been rapidly increasing in application in all fields of engineering with the availability of the           modern digital computer. We will review modeling methods for multiple mechanical engineering domains, and introduce closed-loop control principles in continuous and           sampled systems. The necessary hardware and software for computer control applications is also presented, together with implementation issues.  Design of linear and non-linear computer control of real systems, is taught with industry standard software Mathlab® and Simulink®. 

Prerequisites: ME 80 or consent.

ME184 - Robotics

In this course, we will cover the basics of robotics, starting with basic electronics and construction hints.  After that we will introduce control theory to make the robot think.  We will end with looking at distributed intelligence, how to make a lot of robots work together to solve a problem.  We will use a number of different sensors, students will learn how to integrate their own sensors into a robot and we will introduce image processing to turn a camera into a sensor.  We will start with LEGO-based robots and end up making robots with other processors.  This class will team with a computer science class and a child development class to form multidisciplinary teams to solve robotics-based problems. 

Grade will be based on homework, two term examinations and a final project.

Prerequisites: Mathematics 38, Dynamics and Vibrations ME 37, Dynamics ES 6, or consent.

ME186 - Electromechanical System Design

Lectures deal with automated actuation and control of mechanical systems and mechanisms. Fundamentals of electromechanical design of mechanical drive systems are discussed with the objective of sizing and selection of actuation and sensing components; optimal design of EM systems is put forth, serving power efficiency and performance objectives of the overall system. Basic strategies for control of EM systems are also developed for advanced and interested students. Introduction to matlab Modeling of EM Systems.

Prior knowledge of kinematics and dynamics, and principles of simple mechanisms is required. Knowledge of Classical Control Theory is a plus.

Prerequisites: ME1, ME80, or equivalents.

ME265 - Flow of Real Viscous Fluids  

This course draws from everyday to modern examples and exposes students to physical and mathematical principles of various topics, emphasizing the connections with other branches of sciences and engineering.  Topics that will be covered include: viscosity and surface tension; molecular hydrodynamics; the syringe problem – Mach and Reynolds numbers; water jets, sheets and bells; smoke rings – the Magnus effect; surface waves – from ripples to solitary waves; laminar viscous flows and lubrication; vorticity – understanding tealeaves; instability – supernovas; turbulence – organized chaos; non-Newtonian fluids.

ME291 & ME292 - Graduate Seminar

The Department sponsors weekly seminars featuring outside experts in engineering and related fields, faculty discussing their own scholarly activities and students involved in research. These seminars are an important part of the Department’s intellectual life. All full-time graduate students who are registered for thesis or thesis continuation credit are required to register for ME291 (fall) and ME292 (spring) and attend at least 60% of the seminars. Undergraduates are encouraged to attend these seminars and use them as a way to learn more about their chosen field of study.

Engineering Psychology Courses

ENP61 - Introduction to Human Factors & Ergonomics

An introduction to general principles of human factors and ergonomics in safe and effective workplace design.  Topics to be covered include biomechanics, anthropometry, workspace design, work physiology, human sensory processes, information processing, displays and control, safety and human error. 

ENP120 - Project Study in Human Systems

A project design course for the Engineering Psychology program emphasizing Human Factors design problems. It is presented and sponsored by industries such as MOTOROLA, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, GTE, LOTUS, MATHWORKS, NASA, EASTMAN KODAK, etc.  Students work in small teams (typically 4 to 5), directly with the sponsors.  Each team chooses a different project to work on for the semester.  Work product for the course includes a proposal, a midway report and a final report and a formal presentation to the sponsors and outside experts.  Professional level work is required through the course.  Past students have been hired by the sponsoring industries based on their performance on the project.  Past projects have included "Human-computer" interface type problems and product design problems.

Prerequisites: ENP 161 Human Factors in Product & Systems Design, & ENP 162 Human-Machine Systems Design, PSY 31 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences,  PSY 32 Experimental Psychology, PSY 130 Advanced Engineering Psychology, and senior standing in Engineering Psychology or consent. 

(Cross-listed as Psychology 120.)

ENP149 - Analytical Methods in Human Factors Research         

This is a graduate level seminar course designed for students who are interested in learning about research methods in the field of Human Factors and Ergonomics.  Topics to be covered will range from field studies to controlled lab experiments.  Students will also get exposure to the different analytical techniques in Human Factors research.

Topics to be covered are related to the acquiring, recording and analyzing of empirical data. 

Pre-requisites: Graduate standing.

ENP149 - Human Factors in Medical Instrumentation

This is a graduate level seminar course designed for students who are interested in the accessibility and usability of medical instrumentation and devices.  This course will approach the design and implementation of medical instrumentation and devices from the human factors perspective.

Topics to be covered will range from design guideline considerations, tools for usability and accessibility analysis, and emerging trends and technologies.  Grading is based on 3 projects, in-class seminar discussion, and one class presentation of a selected topic.  There will be no final exam.

Pre-requisites: Graduate standing.

ENP149 - Ecological Interface Design

This project-based course will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on how to design computer-based interfaces for complex human-machine systems, such as power plant control rooms or emergency response dispatch centers. An ecological approach will be adopted, pointing to the importance of understanding the structure of the work environment and then trying to present that information in a way that takes advantage of human perceptual systems. Various design techniques for enhancing the informativeness of interfaces will be used within the context of several design applications. Course evaluation will be based on group design projects, exam, an in-class oral presentation, and a final conference/journal-style paper.

Pre-Requisites: Graduate student standing, or senior standing with ENP 161 or equivalent.

ENP161 - Human Factors in Product Design    

Systematic design techniques for designing tasks, tools, products and systems from a user-centered design perspective.  Topics to be covered include: function and task analysis, usability analysis, prototyping and evaluation, user interaction styles, interface design guidelines and standards.  Techniques include: patents, product liability, safety, focus groups, interviews time/motion study, morphological techniques, questionnaires, etc. 

Prerequisites:  ENP 61 (Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics), Junior standing in engineering college or in the Engineering Psychology program or consent.

ENP162 - Man-Machine System Design

Many problems people have with "technology" are attributable to cognitive mismatches with it because system or product designers were not aware of fundamental and uniquely human cognitive limitations.  As a result, not enough time and/or information is available to make correct decisions or operations with the result that errors occur, safety is compromised or in general the overall system or product performance is much less than "optimal."  In this course, the human is treated as a system component with its own set of cognitive design characteristics.  The material is put in a design framework so that ready application of it may be made.

Prerequisites: ENP 161, PSY 31, PSY 32, PSY 53

ENP166 - Applied Design of Software User-Interfaces

This course introduces students to the software user interface development process, which includes user research, conceptual modeling, user interface structure and screen design, rapid prototyping, and usability  testing. Once-a-week classes typically include a design lecture by the professor or an invited guest from industry, a design critique session, and a hands-on design exercise. Weekly projects range from evaluating a set of competing retailers' websites to designing an embedded software user interface for a digital media vending machine to designing an information kiosk for public spaces. Ultimately, the course prepares students to help software development teams set and achieve a vision of safe, effective, and satisfying interactions with software-based technology.

Prerequisites:    EN 1 Introduction to Computer Engineering and EN 2 Engineering Graphics, Junior standing in engineering college or in the Engineering Psychology Program or consent.

First Year Electives

EN10ME - Prototyping Home Robots        

The main goal of this course will be to give you an opportunity to make your own robots - learning how to design and program autonomous creations.  You will use the LEGO RCX and LEGO bricks to construct your robots for robotic competitions: navigating a maze, and ramp climbing.  You will also use the materials to work on collaborative and artistic projects such as building a robotic animal, and prototyping robotic toys for young children.  Throughout the course, you will be introduced to modern control theory and design skills - explaining how best to make these robots think and move.  Unfortunately, due to material requirements, the class size limit will be strictly enforced.

EN11ME - New Product Design  

The proliferation of typical consumer products marketed to serve our needs gives good and bad examples of what design is all about. The process of engineering is central to the creation of any new product or device that must ultimately serve human needs. This course will use the medium of marketable products that further some societal good. This course will develop the process of engineering design from ideation through prototype development for a selected area in the realm of consumer products. Working mostly in groups, students will investigate areas of need, develop alternative solutions, research materials and production.

EN15ME - Usability Engineering

Most areas of engineering exclude the human user or worker when designing systems and products, be it hardware or software.  A new area of engineering design has emerged and continues to develop in which the human user is CENTRAL to the design.  Design in this new area is complicated by the fact that the designer has no control over, and often very little information about, the user but yet must still produce a design, which is functional, safe, competitive and satisfying.  This half-course will set out some of the basic concerns, problems and principles of usability engineering, with focus on methodology in product usability testing.  The student will practice the course materials on short design projects.

EN34ME - Biomedical Implant Technologies

Everyday surgeons successfully replace damaged or diseased hips, blood vessels, heart valves, teeth, skin, and other tissues of the body with engineered, man-made  equivalents.  In this half-course, a survey of such medical devices will be presented highlighting the unique biomechanical and material challenges that need to be addressed when designing implants for the human body.  Lectures on specific clinical problems, the medical implants used to correct them, and related biomechanical and material principles will be supplemented with practical demonstrations.

EN42ME - Computational Engineering

This course will examine the role of numerical modeling and computer graphics as tools in engineering analysis and design.  Traditionally, engineers have used techniques based on experiment and theory.  Now that digital computers have developed sufficient processor speed, numerical modeling has become a partner to traditional engineering methods.  Numerical modeling allows us to simulate the behavior of complex engineering systems such as vehicles and manufacturing processes.  The ability to visualize the result of computation, which has in turn been facilitated by progress in computer graphics, has dramatically expanded industrial use of such techniques.  This course will emphasize the display and animation of simulation results on desktop engineering workstations.  Examples will be drawn from models of motion and temperature.  Team projects will involve using commercial software to conduct numerical experiments.

EN43ME - Gourmet Engineering

A great number of events and activities in our everyday life are direct applications of science and engineering principles. One of the most basic activities is eating, which in most cases involves prior cooking and processing. Exploring the art and science of cooking and what makes the kitchen, the most complex room of any household, work offers an exciting way to study a myriad of fundamental principles of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and materials processing. This course studies the modes of heat transfer associated with various cooking techniques. The relationship between conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer and their association with food preparation will be examined theoretically, computationally, and experimentally using state-of-the-art equipment. Fluid mechanics and material processing phenomena and their effects on cooking activities will also be studied. In addition, associated devices, such as refrigerators and kitchen heating systems will be explored. No prior cooking experience is required, but willingness to eat the experiments is preferred.

See all Tufts University offered courses here: http://webcenter.studentservices.tufts.edu/courses/main.asp

For the convenience of current students, paper booklets of upcoming course offerings--with a reminder of deadlines and requirements--are made available in the department office in time for fall and spring pre-registration. Students are encouraged to discuss their program of study with their faculty advisor. Questions regarding a specific course may also be directed to the instructor of that course.

The Office of the A&S Registrar provides current and upcoming semester course information including closed courses, classroom listings, and final exam schedules. The registrar also has a Top 10 Questions list, printable copy of the block schedule, and information on requesting a transcript by mail or in person. Its faculty resources include directions on reserving classrooms, course evaluations, and grading. SIS (Student Information System) Online provides a way for students to look up grades and view transcripts and schedules.

The Bulletin of Tufts University includes the academic calendar. Its section on Mechanical Engineering includes a complete listing of courses offered by the department.

The Summer Session office provides information about summer programs and courses.

Course materials are often held on reserve at the Engineering Project Development Center and online at its Virtual Reserve Desk, with pages for Mechanical Engineering, Human Factors/Engineering Psychology, and EN courses, plus a plug-in page giving information about additional plug-ins and viewers required to view some documents.