Walk around NAU and observe how nature survives and thrives in our environment.

286 – Engineering Design: The Process Spring 2016 Today’s Group assignment (required): Walk around NAU and observe how nature survives and thrives in our environment.

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You may also consider how nature works in surrounding environments around Northern Arizona (desert, mountain, forest, etc.).

Based off your observations and considerations of nature, choose an aspect that you can apply to an engineering problem or project.

This can be on a small or large scale (i.e. small scale could be a very particular aspect of an animal or plant while large scale could be how a particular ecosystem thrives).

Find one or two classmates that you have not met yet in order to work together in finding an aspect of nature and an idea for an engineering solution.

However, sketching must be done individually. By the end of the lecture today, write down the chosen aspect of Nature and sketch (with writen explanations) of how you would apply that aspect to an engineering problem. Have a TA check off your sketch by the end of lecture. Your sketch must be done in your notebook.

Example Students observed how a squirrel was balancing itself as it ran using its tail as a counterbalance.

The students applied this concept of counterbalance towards a proposed all-terrain vehicle that had an internal counterbalance under the chassis of the vehicle to prevent tipping during off-roading activities.

Due to providing this example, squirrels and counterbalancing ideas cannot be used for this assignment. INDIVIDUAL Extra Credit Opportunity (optional): Write up a memo detailing your chosen aspect of nature and the sketched solution to an engineering problem.

If you would like, you can make a new sketch or use a new aspect of nature different from the in-class activity. The memo should contain (at the very least): 1. Introduction with summary of the problem and the memo contents

2. Detailed discussion/explanation of the chosen aspect of nature – Do your research! a. This must include at least two cited references (wikipedia does not count) b. A list of references must be included at the end of the memo and references must be cited in the body of the memo text. 3. Detailed sketch of the proposed engineering solution

a. Sketch must be annotated and easy to read i. Spelling, grammar, and readable handwriting are all very important

ii. Take a picture or scan the sketch, but it must be a clear picture b. Include a description in paragraph form of the solution

c. Discuss how your proposed solution can better society 4. Conclusion stating what you learned by doing this exercise This can be worth up to 10 points of extra credit, dependant on the quality of the work.

The extra credit will be counted towards Project 2 grades. This portion is an individual writing assignment that is optional for all students.