The ability to design is the distinguishing characteristic of an engineer. Recent research has increased our understanding of both the engineering design process and effective means for teaching that process to neophyte design engineers. In that spirit, a design methodology was developed at the Institute for Innovation and Design in Engineering (IIDE), Texas A&M University. At the core of this approach is a design philosophy based on the cognitive skills of Abstraction, Critical Parameter Identification, and Questioning. This philosophy along with the design process is taught in the senior undergraduate design and graduate design courses. The goal of the methodology is not only to teach the design process to novice designers but also to instill in them the design philosophy that would enable them to perform design effectively and innovatively in any area of specialty. In this dissertation the design philosophy along with its role in the design methodology is explained. The Need Analysis and the Conceptual Design stages of the IIDE methodology are elaborated. The weaknesses in these stages are identified and addressed, by developing and incorporating design methods and techniques that fit the spirit and framework of the IIDE design methodology. The Object Function Method was developed to address certain aspects at the Need Analysis stage. There was need for an effective concept searching method within the Concept Design stage of the IIDE design methodology. This is addressed by the development of new search techniques and methods for effective concept discovery during concept searching. The usage and application of these methods and techniques is explained in detail along with examples. Additionally, this dissertation contains the results of a study conducted with two groups of senior design students, those who have been through the process and those who have not, to evaluate the effectiveness of applying the IIDE design philosophy and performing the Need Analysis and Conceptual Design stages for the given design challenge. The goal of the study was to investigate the relationship, if any, between the degree to which these aspects of the design methodology were followed and the quality of the resulting design solutions produced.

This thesis presents a methodology and analysis tool to explore ship system vulnerability using a simplified modeling approach during the naval ship concept design process within the Concept and Requirements Exploration (CandRE) process used at Virginia Tech. The CandRE is based on a Multi-Objective Generic Optimization (MOGO) approach that explores a design space to produce a non-dominated set of ship design solutions comparing design effectiveness, risk, and cost. The current CandRE process evaluates ship characteristics and intact system options to determine a design Overall Measure of Effectiveness (OMOE) through the calculation of Measures of Performance (MOPs). Using the CandRE ship design process and a Preliminary Arrangement and Vulnerability (PAandV) model, an Overall Measure of Vulnerability (OMOV) is calculated for each ship design using the developed process and tools described in this thesis. The OMOV is calculated by combining the Vulnerability Measure of Performance (VMOP) scores across multiple ship mission capabilities. / Master of Science

This paper focuses on the aspects of safety for the user of a motorcycle, why and how we ride, and how one can impact the general interest in motorcycles among a younger generation in Sweden today through design and technology. Further it stands to represent my own thoughts on the matter regarding what is the key element of attraction in a motor vehicle among young people today. This paper has worked as the base for my research during my bachelors’ thesis and also includes some of my personal thoughts surrounding my design process which ultimately resulted in a motorcycle concept aimed at the younger generations.

Thermal mass can be used in buildings to reduce the need for and dependence on mechanical heating and cooling systems whilst maintaining environmental comfort. Active thermal mass strategies further enhance the performance of thermal mass through integration with the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. For the design of new buildings to include active thermal mass strategies, experience from operational projects and design guidelines are normally used by engineers. However, dynamic thermal modelling is required in most cases to accurately determine the performance of its integration with the environmental systems of the building. Design decisions made in the preliminary stages of the design of a building often determine its final thermal characteristics. At this stage, reasons for not integrating active thermal mass strategies include the lack of knowledge about the performance of previous buildings and the time and resources required to carry out detailed modelling. In this research project a commercially available dynamic building thermal program has been used to construct models for active thermal mass strategies and compare the results with monitored temperatures in buildings incorporating the strategies in the UK. Four active thermal mass strategies are considered (a) hollow core slabs (HCS), (b) floor void with mass, (FVWM) (c) earth-to-air heat exchanger (ETAHE) and (d) thermal labyrinth (TL). The operational strategies and monitoring are presented and their modelling is described in terms of geometrical configuration and input parameters. The modelling results are compared with the measured parameters successfully. Using the calibrated model, an excel based tool (TMAir) was then developed that can be used at the concept design stages of a typical office building to determine the benefits of integrating an active thermal mass strategy. Key design parameters were identified for each system. These parameters can be split into two categories; fixed parameters and user selected parameters. The fixed parameters are pre-selected for the design tool and have to be a fair representation of the projects that the tool will be used for. The user selected parameters are chosen by the user to represent the way the building will be used, and to look at the effect of key design decisions on the performance of the building. The tool has an easy-to-use interface which allows direct comparison of the different active thermal mass strategies together with the effects of changing key design parameters. Results are presented in terms of thermal comfort and energy consumption. TMAir has then been used to carry out a series of parametric analyses. These have concluded the following:  There is only a benefit in integrating a HCS strategy when night cooling is introduced  There is no benefit in integrating a FVWM strategy when only one parameter is improved  An ETAHE and TL strategy will always provide a benefit, although the benefits are greater when night cooling is introduced, solar and internal gains are reduced and when the air change rate is increased. When all of the parametric improvements are applied to the test room the results show that all of the active thermal mass strategies can provide a reduction in annual overheating hours when compared to the Standard Strategy. Only a small benefit is found for the FVWM Strategy, however around a 25% reduction is found for the HCS Strategy, over a 50% reduction for the TL Strategy and nearly a 75% reduction for the ETAHE Strategy. This demonstrates the importance of applying a low energy, passive approach when considering the application of active thermal mass strategies. The key results have shown that when comfort cooling is provided, adding a HCS or FVWM strategy always results in an increase in the annual cooling load. This is as a result of the temperature of the air being supplied into the cores or floor void being higher than that of the internal surface temperatures of the cores or void. This results in the supply air being heated, and less cooling provided to the test room per cooling energy delivered. Due to the pre cooling effect of the ETAHE and TL strategies, these strategies always result in a reduction in the annual cooling load. The key results have shown that the annual heating load is reduced by a small amount for the HCS and FVWM strategies unless the solar gains or internal gains are reduced, whereas the ETAHE and TL strategies always result in a around a 10% reduction in annual heating load as a result of the preheating effect these strategies have on the supply air.

This Master Thesis was performed within Research & Technology at GKN Aerospace, Trollhättan. GKN Aerospace is participating in the Clean Sky 2 program, delivering the ICC to the UltraFan demonstrator. On this demonstrator, the split and load paths of three components in the compressor module are similar to earlier engine configurations, but GKN wanted to investigate if there are other, more efficient ways of building this structure. The aim of this thesis was therefore to investigate if there is a more efficient architecture and design of the static components in the compressor module for the UltraFan engine. Utilizing a more efficient architecture and design GKN can, in exchange of undertaking a larger part of the engine, provide engine manufacturers a more lightweight solution. This goes accordingly with GKN’s aim to undertake a larger total share of aero engines. The approach for concept development during this thesis has been based on a five-step concept generation method. First knowledge about different engine architectures and component designs was gathered through qualitative interviews with experts. This was followed by the creating of a simplified baseline, or reference, model based on the UltraFan compressor module. A Finite Element Analysis, FEA, of the baseline was performed which generated further understanding about the current design. The knowledge gathered, both in the interviews and by evaluating the baseline, was used as a basis when generating concepts. Four concepts were evaluated using a screening matrix, where the concept that best satisfied the set requirements was further developed. The refined concept was then compared to the baseline, by analyzing stiffness and ovalization for both designs. The results from the concept evaluation indicated that possible weight savings can be made, but further investigation and refinements are required to ensure fulfillment of the set stiffness and deformation requirements. A further refined version of the baseline simulation model and associated methods could be used to evaluate how different designs affect the performance in terms of weight, stiffness and ovalization.

Detailed history of golf, golf carts and vehicles was described in analytic part of DT. Components and technical aspects of golf carts were listed in the technical part of the analysis. It also gives an overview of modern technologies available in these types of vehicles. Design part of DT maps current products on the market and their components influencing appearance of the vehicle. The final solution was chosen from three variants and brought the greatest added value. The original idea includes the way how to make handling of the vehicle easier, simplifies maintenance and reduces unnecessary preparation time of golf equipment for the game. New features have been presented in a single comprehensive and unique design.

Abstract The concept design of small handheld electronic and telecommunication devices is a creative and dynamic process. Interaction between the designers plays an important role in the creation of new products. This thesis addresses the communication between product concept designers. The aim of this thesis is to examine new ways of developing computer systems for remote collaboration. Multiple research methods have been used so as to enrich the view of the research subject. Product concept design has been studied in field studies and at co-located concept design workshops where the object of design was uncertain. Co-located workshops were organised to examine the moment to moment interaction between designers to discover how designers collaborate when designing a design object in common. By applying the concepts of activity theory, the concept of instrument is elaborated. Four types of instruments to mediate between a designer and the object of design and collaborating designers are identified. These are the instruments used to externalize an understanding of the design object, the concrete means of interaction, the future artefact and the hypothetical user activity. The latter two make up the design object which designers' strive for, and can also be instruments for scaffolding each other. A conceptual model was developed to describe the design action and the instruments for collaboration. This model was used to gain insight into the creation of computer support for remotely collaborating designers by posing questions for computer systems design. To develop computer systems to support designers in remote collaboration, an understanding of both the requirements set by the field and the technological feasibility is needed. Three application prototypes are presented as proof of the concept and as an experiment with virtual prototyping technology. The concept of design action has been defined on the basis of activity theory. Computer-supported geographically distributed workshops have been organised and analysed using the design action as an analytical tool for the research material. I conclude that, in order to support remote collaboration of concept designers, computer systems should support collaborative construction of the object of design. Instruments, such as the future artefact, its various representations and the conceptual construct of hypothetical user activity are potential instruments for computation.

Life for a hearing-impaired person can be difficult in many ways. Having a hearing lossinvolves an increased risk of loneliness and exhaustion symptoms due to bad hearing. Not being able to hear everything, while talking with colleagues and eventually missing the punch line of a joke can lead to the feeling of social exclusion and not fitting in.The only thing that helps to restore the hearing of a hearing impaired is through hearing aids. But in many cases, even hearing aids do not help to cope with everyday life and in most cases, additional aids are needed. But does today's market for hearing aids solve the problems and needs of the user? How will a product work and look like to improve the life of a hearing-impaired?This project was about understanding how the hearing disorder affects daily life andidentifying the problems and needs of a hearing-impaired person.The project is based on a general design process and includes background studies on hearing impairment, questionnaire studies, interviews with the hearing impaired, market research, creative methods and analyses, and evaluation methods of ideas and concepts.The goal was to create a product that improves the everyday life of a hearing-impaired person.

With the development of information and communication technology (ICT), car sharing becomes more and more popular. It is a short-term car rental service and Volvo entered this market in 2019. The purpose of this thesis is to design for a seamless and personalized experience for car sharing users with the smartphone. A literature overview and user interviews were performed to get a general understanding of the user groups, usage patterns of the car sharing service and their experience of connecting the smartphones to the car. Two user tests were made to iterate the design and get to know users’ opinions about the design concepts. Personas and scenarios were built up and that made the basis for the design of user interfaces on the car-sharing apps and the \ac{IVI}. As a result, a concept solution was brought up. The general process of the car sharing service was: booking a car, finding a car, getting onboard, picking up friends, and getting offboard. For drivers, they can find and unlock the car seamlessly with the phone, get onboard with all preferred settings applied, safely log into the IVI system, easily pick up friends by seeing their position, and clear personal data when they return the car. For passengers, they can see the position of the car and estimated arrival time, scan a QR code to turn their phones to a remoter of the IVI system, directly send a destination to the IVI system, and share their favorite music. Nearly all the users liked the designed functions in the tests but the adoption of the service was mainly affected by two factors. One was privacy concerns and the other was function value. Users made a choice of how important more functions were compared with sequences regarding loss of privacy. More future research needs to be done to further validate the findings of this thesis and achieve the designed experience.

This project originated from the question of “whatis the intersection between architecture andmobility in the future urban landscape? ”Mobility and architecture are two seperate fieldscontinously evolving in parallel, yet they exist ina very symbiotic relationship with one another. Mobility influences urban planning and urbanplanning influences mobility. So to understand the future of mobility, it isessential that we try to understand the future ofthe context mobility will reside in. Globally our cities are growing, the density keepsincreasing and people’s living space is becomingsmaller. To sustain the ongoing growth citieswill have to expand by focusing on dynamicarchitecture, such as pre-fabricated homes thatare smaller and quicker to set up. The aim of this project is to rethink what mobilityand especially the car as we know today can provideto us besides transportation. In recent years newtechnologies and developments have proved thatfuture of the car will go beyond explusively beinga means of transport, but also a mobile space fornew experiences and use cases. The image of thecar as we know could be redrawn.This project takes its foundation in the futureurban landscape of Copenhagen. Although afictional setting, the context is build on researchand masterplans for Copenhagen and other citiescarried out by several architecture firms. Amongthem noticeably JAJA Architects’ masterplanwhich reimagines the old “five-finger-plan” forCopenhagen where a more democratic and slowertraffic structure is implemented. Copenhagen-based studio SPACE10’s “Spaces on Wheels”and Toyota and BIG’s “Woven City” also servedas a benchmark in regards to how vehicles willbecome moving spaces as an extentions of thecity architecture.The process for the development of the projectincluded research into emerging technologieswithin mobility, a look into the future urban setting,and the complexities of living there as a youngfamily. Site visits and talks with young parents gaveinsights into the home space and the experiencesthat goes on in there.The design exploration was carried out throughanalogue and digital sketching, technicalpackaging and feasibility studies as well asscenario-mapping and brainstorm sessions. The project was strongly inspired by NIO’sdesign language and principles of Pure, Human,Progressive and Sophisticated. Also Scandinaviandesign played an important role in the designfunctionality and aesthetic. The result is NIO Homi, a fully autonomous smallfootprint car that works as an extension to thehome by providing the family with a space forwork, play and relaxation as well as a means oftransportation.