Course-PM

TME180 Automotive engineering project lp1 HT25 (15 hp), the course is offered by the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences.

Link to the syllabus on the Study Portal

Course aim

The Automotive Engineering Project aims to provide opportunities for students to participate in development projects, train in problem-oriented learning, and act in an automotive engineering environment. The projects focus on early product development, i.e., concept study phases and test and evaluation of physical prototypes or simulation models. The course is limited to ground vehicles.

Examiner and teaching staff

The examiner for the course is Alexey Vdovin (alexey.vdovin@chalmers.se)

Teachers are Björn Pålsson (bjorn.palsson@chalmers.se) and Malin Kjellberg (malin.kjellberg@chalmers.se).

Schedule

Use the Canvas Calendar and read the Announcements. Note: TimeEdit can include slots that will not be used (added for possible extra invited lectures), so please check the Canvas page.

Learning objectives

A. Work in a project

1. Individually and in a group, identify and formulate automotive engineering questions and problems, plan and perform the project within the given time frame.
2. Define project goals, deliverables, scope, time planning, stakeholders, roles and responsibilities for the group members.
3. Deal with open problems, including handling uncertainties, limited information, identification and assessments of risks and changes.
4. Work in a team to identify, combine and use one's own and the team members' different competencies and skills in an efficient way.

B. Develop an automotive product or system

1. Follow a systematic methodology based on customer value (interaction with the "customer" and understanding of the value that can be created from the customer's needs).
2. Apply previously developed knowledge and skills on theory, methods, experiments and CAE tools to work with industrial problems and simulations within automotive engineering development.
3. Create/apply suitable simulation models and experiments to solve a specific automotive engineering problem.
4. Create an accessible prototype or model of the chosen solution and evaluate if it meets the specifications and requirements.

C. Present and evaluate the project

1. In written and oral form, present the project and argue and defend the developed technical solution.
2. Evaluate if the project has reached the objectives, and possibly analyse necessary actions to achieve these objectives.
3. Identify ethical aspects and make ethical judgements in automotive engineering development work.
4. Reflect upon and assess your own and other group members' individual contributions, skills and roles in relation to the project.

Course design

As it is a project course, the main work in TME180 is team-based and specific to the goals defined for each individual project. The course also includes lectures that provide guidance in organising group work, communication, and contributing to a team as an engineer. You are expected to be proactive and visible in project planning, execution, and presentation of results.

Planning and project management

Each team constitutes themselves in an organized and structured way. There needs to be a Project Manager, PM, at all times acting as the main contact person for the supervisor, company representative (if applicable) and external contacts. This should be an alternating position so that everyone in a team can practice. The teams are required to have weekly documented meetings and supervisors should be invited to these meetings. If the team chooses to elect a Meeting Manager (different from the PM) at every meeting, the responsibilities for this position are to see that all are called via agenda, run the meeting and that meeting minutes are written, saved and distributed.

Presentations

The final presentation is mandatory for each project group, and some projects might require a concept presentation as well. The final presentation will be held in front of internal staff as well as external. For each presentation, there will be opposition by another student group. The opposition will be based on the abstract and presentation.

Examination

To pass the course, the student must attend the team meetings; the group itself needs to deliver all required reports and present their results. The final individual grades will be decided based on the group results, feedback from the supervisers as well as the peer assesment in the end of the project.