We report results of a multi-year project aimed at offering socially relevant capstone design projects (with a rehabilitation engineering focus) to mechanical engineering student teams in their final undergraduate semester. Students meet regularly with one or more experts in rehabilitation over the course of the semester to develop and refine design concepts consistent with a clinical needs assessment. On average, two teams of 3-4 students participate in this project each semester. An overview of several recent design projects is provided, highlighting aspects that particularly leveraged the collaboration and expert involvement integrated into the project team. We also present a novel project element piloted recently, in which an engineering capstone team is paired with a capstone team in advertising at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications (CoJMC). Our anecdotal experience suggests that this approach encourages clear identification of functional requirements and connections to market needs early in the design process, and provides a broader, less siloed capstone experience for engineering students.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4948-6286
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
[biography]
Carl Nelson is a Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Judith M. Burnfield, PhD, PT, is Director of the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, Director of the Movement and Neurosciences Center and the Clifton Chair in Physical Therapy and Movement Sciences at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Burnfield earned her PhD in Biokinesiology from the University of Southern California and completed her post doctoral training at the Pathokinesiology Laboratory at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Burnfield holds adjunct faculty appointments at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and University of South Dakota. Dr. Burnfield's research and development activities focus on improving independence, fitness, health, and well-being of individuals with physical disabilities and chronic conditions.
Associate Professor
Dept. of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Adam Wagler, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His professional background and research interests revolve around interaction design, owned media, emerging technology, user experience, and cognition. Wagler’s research has been published in the Journal of Interactive Advertising, the Journal of Applied Communications, and the Journal of Media Education. Six years of professional work has been supplemented by a number of grant projects at UNL building websites, mobile apps and other digital projects.
William Dick is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Mechanical and Materials Department at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. He Is the former CEO of the Hexagon Composites, Lincoln operation. Mr. Dick has held various engineering and executive positions in the defense and automotive industries throughout his career. He received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering and a MS degree in Engineering Mechanics both from the University of Nebraska.
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