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: 1322335
• 负责人: Julie Linsey
• 金额: $ 14.56万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1322335&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Enhancing; Engineering; Innovation; through; Physical

The research objective of this project 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 project 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.

该项目的研究目标是通过确定设计过程中物理表征（例如原型）的认知益处来支持和增强工程创新。 通过物理模型和在设计过程中使用原型的想法产生的研究非常有限。将确定身体代表的好处和局限性支持设计的早期阶段。 将评估两个关键的假设。首先是物理模型引起设计固定。第二个是物理模型有助于克服设计师的心理模型中的不准确性，从而产生了更多的功能性，可行的想法。 这些关键的研究问题将通过对本科机械和实践工程师的定性和定量研究的结合来研究。回答关键研究问题将为工业和工程教育的设计方法开发提供基础。如果成功，这项研究将改善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。这项研究的结果将增强对物理表示如何影响工程认​​知的理解，为它们在思想产生中使用的指南提供指南，并开发新颖的设计方法来支持创新。 研究结果将提供新的设计原理和行业和教育中的使用方法。基于该项目定义的基本认知和设计原理的新型设计方法将直接集成到本科和研究生设计类中。 计划在与社区服务小组合作的同时，计划开发可持续，适当的技术，并计划在工程教育方面的教学创新讲习班时使用新的创新方法。 此外，还将创建用于增强学生创新技能的班级模块。