SBIR Phase I: Learning Design Synthesis with a Mechatronics Kit

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发和测试一个建筑工具包玩具和配套活动的教学和学习工程设计综合。常规的工程分析可以自动化，但设计综合仍然主要是创造性和知识渊博的人的领域。 问题是设计综合的教学很差，如果有的话。积木玩具提供了一种解决这个问题的方法：它们邀请年轻人以有趣但具有智力挑战性的方式进行工程设计合成。 除了教授特定的领域知识，建筑工具包让年轻的学习者参与目标导向的实验探索，获得和实践工程设计中创造力和发明的核心技能。目前的机电一体化建设套件玩具要么太简单或有限，允许认真的设计，或者他们是强大的，但技术要求，以排除许多谁，否则可能会喜欢玩。我们的EYVO机电一体化结构套件通过功能的优雅封装和简单的物理设计进行了具体的创新？将大大降低年轻人参与工程设计综合的障碍。 该项目将开发EYVO原型和配套教材，在儿童中进行测试，并调查其商业潜力。整个二十世纪，美国在科技创新方面一直引领世界，但这种竞争优势正在稳步削弱。整个世纪，美国在科技创新方面一直引领世界，但这种竞争优势正在稳步削弱。 美国儿童在STEM知识和技能方面落后于同龄国家，这对国家至关重要？的技术领先地位和经济前景。许多年轻人对追求STEM兴趣感到气馁，因为尽管有兴趣，但早期的接触使他们相信自己的能力很差。 他们拒绝（或感到被排斥）STEM领域，是因为进入门槛似乎太高，还是因为他们认为？It’无聊或困难。与LEGO Mindstorms，VEX Robotics和Meccano等竞争产品不同，该项目中开发的EYVO建筑套件邀请年轻人立即参与？没有开场白，也不需要事先的技术熟练程度？严肃而有趣的工程设计。 通过与EYVO的游戏，他们可以学习到工程设计是有趣的，更重要的是，他们可以在其中脱颖而出。 通过使个人，学校和非正式科学机构负担得起的工具包，该项目将使工程设计综合技能具有吸引力，并可供历史上主要被排除在外或对STEM学习不感兴趣的人群使用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop and test a construction kit toy and accompanying activities for teaching and learning engineering design synthesis. Routine engineering analysis can be automated, but design synthesis still remains largely the province of creative and knowledgeable human beings. The problem is that design synthesis is taught poorly, if at all. Construction kit toys offer a way to solve this problem: they invite young people into engineering design synthesis in playful yet intellectually challenging ways. Beyond teaching specific domain knowledge, construction kits engage young learners in goal-directed experimental exploration, acquiring and practicing skills central to creativity and invention in engineering design. Current mechatronics construction kit toys are either too simple or limited to allow serious designing, or they are powerful but so technically demanding as to exclude many who otherwise might like to play. The specific innovation of our EYVO construction kit for mechatronics through elegant encapsulation of function and simplicity of physical design?will dramatically lower barriers for young people to engage significantly with engineering design synthesis. This project will develop the EYVO prototype and accompanying educational materials, test it with children, and investigate its commercial potential.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is as follows. Throughout the twentieth century the US led the world in science and technology innovation, but this competitive advantage is steadily eroding. US children lag behind peer nations in STEM knowledge and skills, crucial for the nation?s technological leadership and economic future. Many young people are discouraged from pursuing STEM interests because, despite interest, early encounters lead them to believe that they have poor aptitude. They turn away (or feel excluded) from STEM fields because the barriers to entry seem too high or because they think it?s boring or difficult. Unlike competing products such as LEGO Mindstorms, VEX Robotics, and Meccano the EYVO construction kit developed in this project invites young people to engage immediately?without prologue and without need for prior technical proficiency?in serious yet playful engineering design. Through play with EYVO they can learn that engineering design is fun, and more importantly, a domain in which they can excel. By making the kit affordable to individuals, schools, and informal science institutions, the project will make engineering design synthesis skills attractive and accessible to populations that historically have largely been excluded from, or disinterested in, STEM learning.