We (Boer and I) see a lot of students who are not so much interested in the problem but just have an idea they want to design for. We get that to. Today it's a new form of robot wars (google it). Note even in jumping right into the design, we are aware of an approximate problem but because it is not well defined, our ideas jump around a lot.

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 23 Feb 2023

This is the 200th episode. Should we have done something special? Well technically episode 197 was the 200th episode. So we got over it.

Inspired by the video linked here: https://preview.redd.it/vylqpi1kb9ha1.gif?width=360&format=mp4&v=enabled&s=febf0e13558258b31d2916e1c07393aebdf62725

We discuss the design, the good, bad and ugly.

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 23 Feb 2023

The design projects in undergrad at Wits SoMIAE change every year. We do this to keep things fresh, to make our lives (as the lecturer) entertaining and also gives students something new each year. We introduce these here as they tend to come up in conversations. Some starting thoughts, things to think about and the like.

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 15th Feb 2023.

As we tend to do every year, here we discuss the definition of a complex engineering problem, as is established by ECSA. We have done this before and so you can refer to the previous ones, just this one or both. In this episode we only discuss definition of the solution to such a problem. The definition of the problme was covered in a precious .

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 9th Feb 2023

As we tend to do every year, here we discuss the definition of a complex engineering problem, as is established by ECSA. We have done this before and so you can refer to the previous ones, just this one or both. In this episode we only discuss definition of the problem itself. The next episode will cover the definition of the solution to such a problem. 

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 9th Feb 2023

The nature of problems, that while are problems either don't need any solution or not your sort of solution (assuming you are mechanically/aeronautically inclined). That's the topic by the way. If it doesn't make sense then that may change (may... I said may) if you listen to it. So listen to it. 

Hosted by M.Boer and S. Schekman on the 18th January 2023.

The use of videos for explaining points to Boer has been somewhat effective. Its applicability to an audio only podcast is of course limited. There is no easy way to say this so I'll just come out with it: "The Last Jedi is not terrible." Before you prepare your response please first refer to an episode in the podcasts in the #50- #62 range where this topic was discussed in depth. 

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 18th Jan 2023.

Ahh, load shedding. Such a way of life for South Africans that it becomes depressing thinking about it. But on the other hand it gives us plenty to talk about from a design standpoint. New topic, traffic lights. Obviously my first solution would be having a vehicle that can just go through an intersection without damage from oncoming or bypassing other vehicles. Who needs traffic lights or 4 way crossing rules when everyone else has to move out of your way. This is apparently unethical (t-boning a bus full of kids because you decided it was time to go - then carving that bus in half without more than a scratch on the paint, even though its impressive) so let's be good engineers and think about it properly.

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on the 18th Jan 2023

Every now and then it appears that the bad ideas, that we would say "no, that is a bad idea" seem to make it far enough that we see it outside of design reports in undergrad. There's a lot that can be said from this, from the fact that even bad ideas are taken to far to even bad design engineers manage to get out into industry. We discuss such an idea.

Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on the 18th Jan 2023