Engineering Design

Engineer’s have to…
"apply their scientific and engineering knowledge to the solution of technical problems, and then optimize those solutions within the requirements and constraints set by the material, technological, economic, legal, environmental and human-related considerations" (Lewis et al., 2005, p. 41).

What Makes Engineering Unique?
Design is the basic activity that differentiates engineering from science and is the one activity found in every field of engineering. TRAILS encourages students to design their own solution to solve given real-world problems.
TRAILS Practice through 3D Printing Technology
Create Mold Template
Soft Bait Casting Material
Casting Soft Baits
7 Essential Features of Engineering Design-Based Science
- Client Driven and Goal Oriented
- Authentic Context
- Includes constraints
- Materials, tools, and equipment familiar to students
- Yields a product (prototype) or process
- Yields multiple solutions
- Requires teamwork
TRAILS Design Process Model

Engineering Design Featured Lessons

D-Bait (Exemplary)

Drone Pollination

This project is supported by the National Science Foundation, award # DRL – 2148781 (Purdue University) / 2148782 (University of Hawaii). Any opinions and findings expressed in this material are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF.