ENGSCI 773 : Capstone Project

Engineering

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Group based projects involving the application and integration of knowledge in computational engineering, data analytics and operations research for design, prototyping and performance testing of a new product. Topics include social and Te Tiriti considerations, engineering design practice, optimisation methods in robust design, material selection and structural analysis, risk management, communication skills, prototype manufacturing and design validation.

Course Overview

This project-based course involves the application and integration of knowledge students have learnt across their degrees in computational engineering, data analytics and operations research (from courses including ENGSCI 255, ENGSCI 263, ENGSCI 343, ENGSCI 344). It includes application of engineering design practice along with consideration of regulatory and ethical issues, Te Tiriti, social impact and safety and commercial risks.

The project is focused on a case-study of distributed generation of renewable energy through small scale wind-turbines. It will be undertaken in groups of 4-6 students. Students will be assigned to the groups and will assign and manage their own roles within the teams.

The teams will need to source and analyse wind/weather data for the specific case-study community and identify specific technical and wider considerations for that region. They will identify, analyse and document the implications of the distributed generation for the power grid, required performance conditions for the small-scale turbines, and regulatory, Te Tiriti, social impact aspects and ethical and other risks. They will then undertake design and prototype manufacturing of blades for the turbines to meet these conditions, which will undergo performance testing in the UoA wind-tunnel at Newmarket. The course will include industrial guest lectures to discuss topics such as industrial design practice, Te Tiriti and regulatory frameworks and IP management.

The group project is a semester-long commitment. It is expected that groups will carry out significant parts of the turbine design process during the mid-semester break.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points from non-elective courses listed in Part III of the BE(Hons) Schedule for Engineering Science, including at least 15 points from ENGSCI 344, 355 Restriction: ENGSCI 363

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop an understanding of the design process for engineered products including the role of modelling and analysis, sources of information, material selection methods, approaches to prototyping and product validation, and societal, health and safety, legal and cultural implications for design. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  2. Develop verbal and written skills for communication of design solutions. (Capability 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  3. Develop understanding of Blade Element Theory for aerodynamic design and use this to design a working wind turbine. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Develop understanding of structural analysis methods for fluid loaded structures and apply this to the design of a wind turbine. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  5. Develop understanding of the capabilities and role of CAD and numerical analysis methods and software tools for engineering design. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  6. Develop expertise in applying relevant analysis and design methods to design case study of a sustainable low-cost wind-turbine product, including application skills in relation to computer aided analysis, synthesis skills in relation to engineering design, societal, health and safety, legal and cultural implications and evaluative skills for assessing prototype performance. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  7. Understand and critically evaluate how metaheuristics can be used to solve black-box optimisation problems, and how uncertainty can be modelled. Apply appropriate optimisation methods to design problems and analyse the results. Understand how uncertainty can be considered in optimisation problems. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  8. Develop understanding of how to manage IP and risk and understand the importance of ethics, societal, health and safety, legal and cultural considerations and sustainability in relation to engineering design. ​ (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 25% Individual Test
Assignments 29% Individual Coursework
Group Project 46% Group Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Test
Assignments
Group Project
Students must sit the test to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNC (did not complete) result will be returned.

A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

Late assignments are penalised at 4% of the total mark for each hour they are submitted late, unless prior arrangements are made for excused late submissions.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial and/or MDLS build sessions, and 6 hours on assignment, test/exam preparation and/or project work.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials and labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures and lectorials will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

A project booklet will be posted on Canvas in the first week of semester.
Lectures notes / slides will be posted on Canvas.

Health & Safety

Engineering Multi-Disciplinary Learning Spaces will be used for the Capstone project. Students will be required to complete online and in-person induction prior to working in these spaces. Students will be required to follow all reasonable health and safety instructions by course and MDLS staff. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Improvements are being made in communicating the assessment details and marking criteria from the start of the course and ensuring that feedback is given quickly on submissions. Timing of assessment submissions is also being reviewed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.