Enhancing Engineering Innovation through Physical Representation: Identifying the Cognitive Enhancements Provided by Representation and Creating Novel Design Methods

通过物理表征增强工程创新：识别表征提供的认知增强并创建新颖的设计方法

• 批准号: 1000954
• 负责人: Julie Linsey
• 金额: $ 36.48万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-06-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1000954&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Enhancing; Engineering; Innovation; through; Physical

The research objective of this award is to support and enhance engineering innovation through identifying the cognitive benefits of physical representations (such as prototypes) in the design process. The research on idea generation with physical models and on the use of prototypes in the design process is very limited. The benefits and limitations of physical representations to support the early phases of design will be identified. Two key hypotheses will be evaluated. The first is that physical models cause design fixation. The second is that physical models assist in overcoming inaccuracies in designers' mental models resulting in a larger number of functional, feasible ideas. These key research questions will be investigated through a combination of qualitative and quantitative studies of undergraduate mechanical and practicing engineers. Answering the key research question will provide a basis for design methods development for industry and engineering education. If successful, this research will improve the methods and tools available to engineers thus increasing their ability to solve critical design problems. The results of this research will enhance the understanding of how physical representation effect engineering cognition, provide guidelines for their use within idea generation and develop novel design approaches to support innovation. Results of the research will provide new design principles and methods of use in industry and education. Novel design methods based on the fundamental cognitive and design principles defined in this proposal will be directly integrated into undergraduate and graduate design classes. The new methods for innovation will be applied in developing sustainable, appropriate technology while working with a community service group and workshops on teaching innovation in engineering education are planned. In addition, class modules for enhancing student innovation skills will be created.

该奖项的研究目标是通过确定设计过程中物理表现形式(如原型)的认知益处来支持和加强工程创新。关于利用物理模型产生想法以及在设计过程中使用原型的研究非常有限。将确定支持设计早期阶段的物理表示的好处和局限性。我们将评估两个关键假设。首先，物理模型会引起设计上的执着。第二，物理模型有助于克服设计者心理模型中的不准确，从而产生大量实用的、可行的想法。这些关键的研究问题将通过对本科机械工程师和实习工程师的定性和定量研究相结合的方式进行调查。回答这一关键研究问题，将为工科教育设计方法的发展提供依据。如果成功，这项研究将改进工程师可用的方法和工具，从而提高他们解决关键设计问题的能力。这项研究的结果将加强对物理表征如何影响工程认知的理解，为它们在想法产生中的使用提供指导，并开发新的设计方法来支持创新。研究结果将为工业和教育提供新的设计原则和方法。基于本提案中定义的基本认知和设计原则的新颖设计方法将直接整合到本科生和研究生设计课程中。新的创新方法将应用于开发可持续的适当技术，同时与一个社区服务小组合作，并计划举办关于工程教育教学创新的讲习班。此外，还将创建增强学生创新能力的课程模块。