 |
Hope
College Engineering Department
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Summer 2008
Project Summary |
| Project Title: |
Development of a Visual Vocabulary
to Facilitate Development of Functional Analysis Diagrams |
| Student Name: |
Ashley Wortelboer |
| Student's Home Institution: |
Hope College |
| Research Advisor: |
Dr. John Krupczak |
| Source of Support: |
This material is based upon work
supported by the
National Science Foundation under NSF-DUE Grant No.
CCLI-0633277. |
A goal of this research
concerns the development of methods to explain the basic principles of technological
devices to a general audience from novice engineers to design professionals.
Established methods are not adapted for the functional description of existing
products and are aimed towards experienced engineers. As such, they can be
difficult to grasp generating need for a common standard to facilitate communication
between individuals. A simplified method called a Component Function Map
was developed. To assist the novice in creating the component function map,
a visual vocabulary was developed recognizing common elements frequently
used in technological products. These functional elements effect changes
to flows of material, energy, and information and thus establish product
operation. Standardized verb-noun descriptions were developed to facilitate
communication of product operation between individuals. Examples of standardized
elements in the visual dictionary include an electric motor, resistor, and
battery.
.