4.4: Introduction to Engineering Design Vocabulary
- Page ID
- 4513
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- Artifact
- An object made by a human being for a particular purpose.
- CADD
- CADD stands for computer-aided design and drafting. It is the practice of using computer software to represent the geometry of designed objects.
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- Carbon dioxide is a gas that results from burning fuels that contain carbon (e.g., coal and gasoline). Because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps solar radiation, release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels is believed to contribute to global warming.
- Characterize
- Something is characterized by discovering its distinctive features.
- Concept generation
- The process of developing ideas that may be used to create a design.
- Configuration
- An arrangement of the elements of a design in a particular form.
- Constraint
- A constraint is a limitation or condition that must be satisfied by a design. Constraints are either satisfied or they are not.
- Criterion
- A criterion is a measurable standard or attribute of a design; for example, weight and size are both criteria. Criteria are used to compare different possible designs and determine which better solve the design problem.
- Customer
- A person or organization that pays for the design either directly or through the purchase of a product.
- Decompose
- Decompose means to break down into simpler parts.
- Design architecture
- The design architecture is the assignment of the functions that the design performs to the physical building blocks of the design.
- Dimension
- A specification of height, width, depth, or length.
- Greenhouse gas
- A greenhouse gas is a gas in the atmosphere that traps solar radiation and re-radiates it as heat, leading to warming of the environment.
- Incremental design
- The incremental design process begins with an existing design that is modified.
- Infrastructure
- Infrastructure is the basic structures and organization needed for the operation of a society. For example, the automotive transportation infrastructure is the roads, bridges, traffic signals, traffic signs, etc. necessary to drive cars.
- Iterative
- An iterative process is one that may be repeated.
- Model
- A model is a purposeful abstract representation of some aspect of a design. Types of models include equations, physical representations, computer representations, and other representations.
- Photovoltaic
- Photovoltaic means that light energy is converted into electrical energy (see also solar cell).
- Problem statement
- A problem statement is a concise description of the problem or need a design will address.
- Prototype
- A prototype is a first or a preliminary model of the design or some aspect of the design. Prototypes are often physical models, but increasingly computer models are used as prototypes. Prototypes are used to evaluate designs and discover flaws and weaknesses.
- Regenerative brakes
- Brakes that slow a vehicle by converting its energy of motion into electrical energy that can be stored in a battery.
- Renewable energy
- Renewable energy is energy that comes from sources that are not permanently depleted by use. For example, solar and wind energy are renewable, while coal and oil are nonrenewable.
- Root cause analysis
- An analysis of a problem or situation to find the real cause (root cause) of the problem and deal with it; in the absence of a root cause analysis, people often deal only with the symptoms of the problem.
- Solar cell
- A solar cell is a device typically made of metal and semiconductors that converts light energy into electrical energy.
- Stakeholder
- A stakeholder is a person or organization who has a stake in (e.g. an interest in or one who may be affected by) a design project. Stakeholders often include users and customers, the design team, and the company that employs the design team.
- Sustainability
- A sustainable solution is one that can be continued without using up non-renewable resources.
- Unfeasible
- A design is unfeasible if it does not meet the constraints.
- Viable
- Viable means able to work successfully.