Planning of Curriculum Modules for Teaching of Fluid Power Concepts

Jorge Rodriguez; Alamgir A. Choudhury

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Conference: 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Publication Date: June 23, 2018
Start Date: June 23, 2018
End Date: July 27, 2018
Conference Session: MET and Mechatronics
Tagged Division: Engineering Technology
Page Count: 7
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--30876
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/30876
Download Count: 400

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Paper Authors

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Jorge Rodriguez P.E. Western Michigan University

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Faculty member in the Department of Engineering Design, Manufacturing, and Management Systems (EDMMS) at Western Michigan University's (WMU). Co-Director of the Center for Integrated Design (CID), and currently the college representative to the President’s University-wide Sustainability Committee at WMU. Received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Design from University of Wisconsin-Madison and received an MBA from Rutgers University. His B.S. degree was in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Monterrey Tech (ITESM-Monterrey Campus). Teaches courses in CAD/CAE, Mechanical Design, Finite Element Method and Optimization. His interest are in the area of product development, topology optimization, additive manufacturing, sustainable design, and biomechanics.

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Alamgir A. Choudhury Western Michigan University

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Alamgir A. Choudhury is an Associate Professor of Engineering Design, Manufacturing and Management Systems at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. His MS and PhD are in mechanical engineering from NMSU (Las Cruces) and BS in mechanical engineering from BUET (Dhaka). His interest includes computer applications in curriculum, MCAE, mechanics, fluid power, and instrumentation & control. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio and affiliated with ASME, ASEE, SME and TAP.

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Abstract

Hydraulic fluid power is a technical field that has gone through the cycle of being a primary option for power transmission, to having a substantial drop in its use, and now in becoming once again a preferred technology. There is no doubt that hydraulic fluid power is a mature technology, and the new applications present numerous challenges (e.g., compactness), but it is clear that there are substantial benefits. Therefore, there is a growing need to have fluid power education in many engineering and engineering technology curricula.

Unfortunately, there is the challenge that most curricula is at capacity, which becomes even a bigger issue when the trend of reducing number of credits in a bachelor’s degree is considered. Similarly, even when the technical concepts for fluid power technology are the same ones that were considered couple of decades ago, there are new approaches and factors that are utilized nowadays when utilizing this technology. Topics such as energy efficiency, systems integration, and hybrid engineering need to be considered when fluid power technology is taught.

Towards this end, curricular development is being planned in order to offer fluid power technology education in existing programs. This development has the main characteristic that is modularized, thus presenting the opportunity to be included in existing programs without the need for new courses. The modules are not introductory level material, and the development will have the overall context of systems integration, with materials on controls, mobile, and energy efficiency. Learning outcomes have been established, and at this point there input from industrial constituents is being requested in order to define specific topics, and how the modules should be defined and integrated. This report will include all the information used to define the modules, and the actual content in the proposed six modules.

It is expected that such development will address the limited exposure to fluid power subject that current students of engineering and engineering technology programs have, thus allowing them to consider careers in the hydraulic fluid power industry. The proposed development will consist of lecture and lab materials, with proper linking and integration. It is expected that initial implementation of the proposed development will take place in 2018.

Citation
Format

Rodriguez, J., & Choudhury, A. A. (2018, June), Planning of Curriculum Modules for Teaching of Fluid Power Concepts Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30876

TY - CPAPER
AB - Hydraulic fluid power is a technical field that has gone through the cycle of being a primary option for power transmission, to having a substantial drop in its use, and now in becoming once again a preferred technology. There is no doubt that hydraulic fluid power is a mature technology, and the new applications present numerous challenges (e.g., compactness), but it is clear that there are substantial benefits. Therefore, there is a growing need to have fluid power education in many engineering and engineering technology curricula.

Unfortunately, there is the challenge that most curricula is at capacity, which becomes even a bigger issue when the trend of reducing number of credits in a bachelor’s degree is considered. Similarly, even when the technical concepts for fluid power technology are the same ones that were considered couple of decades ago, there are new approaches and factors that are utilized nowadays when utilizing this technology. Topics such as energy efficiency, systems integration, and hybrid engineering need to be considered when fluid power technology is taught.

Towards this end, curricular development is being planned in order to offer fluid power technology education in existing programs. This development has the main characteristic that is modularized, thus presenting the opportunity to be included in existing programs without the need for new courses. The modules are not introductory level material, and the development will have the overall context of systems integration, with materials on controls, mobile, and energy efficiency. Learning outcomes have been established, and at this point there input from industrial constituents is being requested in order to define specific topics, and how the modules should be defined and integrated. This report will include all the information used to define the modules, and the actual content in the proposed six modules.

It is expected that such development will address the limited exposure to fluid power subject that current students of engineering and engineering technology programs have, thus allowing them to consider careers in the hydraulic fluid power industry. The proposed development will consist of lecture and lab materials, with proper linking and integration. It is expected that initial implementation of the proposed development will take place in 2018.

AU - Jorge Rodriguez P.E.
AU - Alamgir A. Choudhury
CY - Salt Lake City, Utah
DA - 2018/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Planning of Curriculum Modules for Teaching of Fluid Power Concepts
UR - https://peer.asee.org/30876
DO - 10.18260/1-2--30876
ER -