Senior Mechanical Engineering Design I

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Inés Romero (Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
• Email: iromero@university.alkimi.ai
• Office: Rowan Engineering Center 226
• Office Hours:
  • Wednesday & Thursday: 1:00–2:30 p.m. (In person, Rowan Engineering Center 226)
  • Friday: 3:00–4:00 p.m. (Virtual via Zoom; link posted in Canvas)
  • Also available by appointment.

Course Description

First semester of the capstone design sequence: client needs, specifications, concept generation and selection, engineering analysis, and a preliminary design review. ME 490 is the first half of the mechanical engineering senior capstone design sequence, transitioning students from theoretical coursework into professional engineering practice. Working in multidisciplinary teams sponsored by industrial clients or research partners, students identify user needs, establish target specifications, generate and screen concepts, and conduct comprehensive engineering analyses. The course culminates in a formal Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and comprehensive engineering design package that sets the foundation for detailed fabrication, testing, and display at the spring Senior Design Showcase in ME 491.

Prerequisites

ME 340, ME 350, and senior standing.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ME 490, students will be able to:

1. Translate Client Needs to Specifications: Elicit customer requirements, construct House of Quality matrices, and establish measurable, defensible engineering target specifications with realistic constraints.
2. Execute Concept Generation and Selection: Apply functional decomposition and systematic ideation techniques, evaluating competing design concepts using structured Pugh selection matrices.
3. Conduct Rigorous Engineering Analysis: Perform first-principles mechanical, thermal, and dynamic calculations supported by computer-aided engineering tools (CAD, FEA, MATLAB) to validate preliminary feasibility.
4. Integrate Standards and Safety Codes: Incorporate relevant professional standards (ASME, ASTM, ISO), regulatory guidelines, and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) into the mechanical system architecture.
5. Present Professional Design Reviews: Deliver oral preliminary design review presentations and comprehensive written engineering reports according to professional industry standards.

Required Course Materials & Approximate Costs

1. Ulrich, Karl T., Steven D. Eppinger, and Maria C. Yang. Product Design and Development. 7th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2020. Approx. $70 digital rental ($175 purchase; reserve copies available in Alkimi Library).
2. SolidWorks and ANSYS Student Software Suites (available on university lab workstations and student download). Free educational access provided by Alkimi University.
3. Total estimated cost: Approx. $0 (library reserve & campus software) to $70 (digital rental).

Generative AI Policy (AI Level 2: AI Permitted with Disclosure for Specified Tasks)

In accordance with Alkimi University Academic Policies (Student Handbook §5.8), ME 490 operates under AI Level 2.

• What is permitted: Students may use generative AI tools to assist in drafting documentation outlines, formatting tables, refining technical prose, and brainstorming broad concept variations during divergent design phases.
• What is prohibited: AI tools must not be used to fabricate engineering calculations, generate finite element or kinematic simulation results, or draft client requirements without direct stakeholder consultation. Submitting AI-generated engineering designs without rigorous mechanical analysis violates course ethics.
• Disclosure: All submitted project reports and design portfolios must include an AI disclosure statement identifying any tools used, specific prompts submitted, and the technical validation methods used to verify engineering calculations.

Grading Components and Weights

• Team Charter & Project Scoping Document: 10% (Due Friday, September 11 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Customer Needs & Engineering Specifications Document: 15% (Due Friday, October 2 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Concept Generation & Selection Report: 15% (Due Friday, October 23 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Presentation: 20% (In class, Thursday, December 3)
• Team Standups, Client Engagement & Peer Evaluation: 15% (Assessed via biweekly client updates, team meeting logs, and peer evaluations across the term)
• Preliminary Design Package & Comprehensive Technical Report: 25% (Due by the end of the final exam period, Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 1:30–3:30 p.m.)

Grading Scale (Alkimi University Standard)

• A: 93–100% | A-: 90–92%
• B+: 87–89% | B: 83–86% | B-: 80–82%
• C+: 77–79% | C: 73–76% | C-: 70–72%
• D+: 67–69% | D: 60–66% | F: Below 60%
• Extra credit: No extra credit assignments are offered in ME 490.

Course Schedule (Fall 2026)

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Attendance at all senior design seminar sessions, team coordination meetings, and sponsor briefings is mandatory. Engineering design is inherently collaborative; unexcused absences directly impede team progress and reflect unprofessional conduct. If an absence is unavoidable due to illness or approved job interview travel, notify Dr. Romero and your team members in advance. Students who miss the first two class meetings without notifying the instructor may be dropped. Students may miss class for religious observance without penalty if they notify the instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester (by Wednesday, September 9, 2026). Absences for university-sponsored activities (athletics, performances, conferences) are excused with a letter from the sponsoring office at least one week in advance.

Late Work Policy

Design milestones must be delivered on schedule to protect team momentum. Late team submissions will receive a 10% penalty per 24 hours up to 48 hours late, after which submissions are not accepted without prior approval. Preliminary Design Review presentations must occur during scheduled class slots and cannot be rescheduled.

Final Exam Policy

ME 490 has no final examination. The preliminary design package & comprehensive technical report takes its place. Nothing is due on Reading Day (Thursday, December 10, 2026).