Work in Progress: Incorporating Microprocessors across the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

Abstract

Engineering has been and continues to be a highly cross-disciplinary field. The growth of mechatronics and robotics has served to increase the demand for students with skillsets from multiple traditional fields (joining electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering and computer science). While some schools are adding programs in mechatronics and robotics, this is not always feasible. An alternative is to increase exposure to programming and electrical content in traditionally mechanical engineering courses, such as through the incorporation of microprocessors across the curriculum. This work investigates the incorporation of microprocessors (specifically Arduinos) into the Mechanical Engineering curriculum. The goals of this effort are to increase students' familiarity level with microprocessor capabilities, to increase exposure to mechatronic systems, to allow for higher fidelity prototypes in class projects, and to provide an accessible and inexpensive way for students to explore applications of what they learn in class. This work reviews efforts to systematically introduce microprocessors into the curriculum, lays the framework for assessment of these intended benefits, and presents initial findings in the form of professor observations, student feedback, and baseline survey data.