Student portfolio
ENG2513 Multidisciplinary Engineering Design
2) Current course:
4) Personal Mission:
When building the ChemE Car, we used system thinking to conceive ideas for our project.
We chose system thinking because we had multiple members of the same discipline in our group.
Everyone will understand what is the goal they need to achieve and hence generate ideas after
doing their individual research. For example, Khai Jiet and Sze Hui who are from Chemical
Engineering will have to generate ideas on how to stop the car at specific time using iodine clock.
Wai Loon from Electrical Engineering and Artyom from Mechanical Engineering will have to
generate idea on the propulsion system of the car using chemicals and motors. As for Derek and
I who are both from Electrical Engineering as well, had to generate ideas on how to make the
iodine clock stop the motor automatically without using the Arduino Board. Appendix 1.1 shows
the system thinking charts done by Sze Hui, Khai Jiet, Derek and I respectively on how to stop
the car using the iodine clock in terms of chemical and electrical. Appendix 1.2 shows the
system thinking charts done by Wai Loon and Artyom on the propulsion system of the car.
Appendix 1.3 shows the final system thinking generated by all of us for our ChemE Car. Finally,
we chose system thinking to conceive ideas for our project is because system thinking allows us
to have multiple legit solutions in tackling a challenge. If one fails, there is always another that
works. All we need was to choose the best and most convenient idea to us.
To reduce the cost of our project when manufacturing it, we used SolidWorks to help us
draw out the design of the chassis including its dimensions as shown in Appendix 2.1 so that we
can prevent cutting the materials used (Perspex, aluminium metal bar and insulation foam)
wrongly. Besides that, precise procedure with precise type and amount of chemicals for each
reaction was clearly listed out as shown in Appendix 2.2 to reduce the time of manufacturing
the iodine clock and to prevent chemicals wastage. On top of that, a time against concentration
of starch graph as shown in Appendix 2.4 was plotted so that we can find out the exact
concentration of starch required for a certain time needed for the iodine clock reaction to
complete without going through multiple tests again. Furthermore, the circuit connecting the
thermoelectric generators, motor and light sensing circuit was draw and simulated in Multisim
as shown in Appendix 2.4 to ensure the circuit is workable so that cost of components and time
on building the circuit can be reduced.
Besides that, our project uses motors, electrical components and chemicals that are in
scale and suffices the car. The motors used are two 3V motor for we do not need motors
with too much power for a small car. The electrical circuit was designed for a 5-6V input
only to prevent wastage of components because the thermoelectric generators can only
generate approximately 5-6V as shown in Appendix 2.6. As for the amount of chemicals
used, we only use approximately 125ml of chemicals in total for each iodine chemical
reaction and 100ml of ethanol for each run of the car as shown in Appendix 2.7 and
Appendix 2.8 respectively. In short, no chemicals or electrical components were wasted
for everything was used based on the amount needed. The car is not over powered as well
because the motors are not overly powerful.
Based on the first code of ethics, our project took the safety, health and welfare of the
public into consideration. We chose chemical reactions that do not emit harmful gas to
the environment when the public uses it as well as not too hazardous chemicals so it will
not harm the users even there is contact. For example, despite hydrogen peroxide is a
good catalyst for the iodine clock, we chose to use 15ml 3% hydrogen peroxide instead of
higher concentrations .
Finally, our group members all conducted ourselves responsibly, ethically and
lawfully to obey code five. We will be responsible of our actions when conducting
engineering projects and also obey the rules of Taylor’s University Lab’s Rules and
Regulations as well as The School of Engineering ethics to enhance the honor, reputation
and usefulness of the profession in Taylor’s University
Reflection
In this module, the most important thing that I have learnt is that when doing a project time
management and equalized priorities is most important. During this semester, I was packed with
many due dates and assignments thus I was unable to fully lead the team into completing the task.
We procrastinated for almost two weeks after the submission of the proposal as I was busy with
other modules’ submissions and I was unable to gather my teammates to start the project.
Procrastination had cost me the operation of the project for it was not able to move during the
artifact presentation. This reminded me that proper time management and prioritizing all
assignments equally are truly important to someone as busy as us engineers. We have to make sure
that all assignments were given ample time and focus to be completed so that we do not sway off
track when nearing the due dates.
Besides that, this semesters group mates were mostly chosen by our own. I
thought by choosing trustable friends who can communicate easily would smoothen the
project but I was very wrong. Only truly trustworthy friends will enhance the smoothness of
the project progress for they are the ones who are truly efficient. Friends who can
communicate well but are not efficient when it comes to work are harder to work with
compared to new fresh people. They are the ones who are always the free loaders of the
group and requires extra attention and effort to get time going. Nevertheless, I had an
international student in my group this semester. This is the first time working with a foreign
student so it was not easy as we have language barriers. I learnt from this semester that I will
need to spend more time communicating with foreign students to have them understand the
project, their role and to keep them constantly involved. Foreign students have very unique
ideas as compared to ours because of their background but they are unable to convey it well
because of the language barrier. Patience when communicating with them, will make them
very productive and efficient.
Furthermore, my group found many online complete reports and journals
regarding our project. We were confident that as long we modified and rescale some of their
designs to suite our requirements, we would be able to succeed the project easily because
every details needed is found in the report. This is also one of the reason that everyone
decided to neglect the project and focus on other modules’ assignments. But the cold harsh
truth is that it is never that easy. We then slowly found out that although many details were
found, we were not able to produce the exact same results. We panicked and rush as we draw
near to the artifact assessment dateline but we were not able to make it work in the end. I
learnt that we should not take things for granted when it comes to engineering based projects
for anything can go wrong. Therefore, despite having online reports and journals, it is always
better to start our own works and tests to ensure the project succeeds
Acknowledgements
There are few lecturers which I would like to thank them for helping me in project. Without
them, the project’s sub-systems might not even run individually. I would like to thank Dr.
Chew Wei Jen and Mr. Mohammad Taghi for helping me out with my light sensing circuit.
They provided me with recommendations for sample circuits to refer to and different
electrical components for different outcomes. On top of that, I would like to thank Mr. Ng
Kun Yong for helping me decide the material that is most suitable as the chassis of the car.
He provided me many information from his past work experiences with different type of
materials. He recommended thin Perspex as the chassis and Aluminum metal for the reaction
tank. He even provided me with links to search for materials with complete data sheet. These
lecturers have spent time out of their work time and work compound to help me with my
project. Thus for that I am truly grateful to them. Finally, I would like to thank Ms.
Nurhazwani Ismail and Ms. Fadilah as well as Ms. Lithnes for helping me purchase and store
the chemicals that I need for my project.
Appendix
Appendix 1.1 System thinking on stopping system by Sze Hui, Khai Jiet, Derek and I
Appendix 1.2 System thinking on propulsion system by Wai Loon and Artyom
Appendix 2.2 Precise procedure with precise type and amount of chemicals for iodine clock
Aluminium
Perspex
Metal
100ml of ethanol
Appendix 3.2 Electrical Engineering students working with circuit and Multisim
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