Mechanical Design and Build: Part 1 - Research - 2021 entry

To be successful in any industry requires a keen awareness of the commercial landscape in which you operate. Mechanical engineering is no different; in this project you and your team will complete a hands-on design and build project that challenges you to develop, prototype and explore the market for a solution to a Mechanical engineering challenge. This project emphasis the combination of commercial awareness and the application of sound engineering knowledge. You will have creative freedom and be encouraged to develop innovative engineering solutions to real-world problems and market opportunities.

This project will put you and your team in the enviable position of having the time and resources to deploy your creativity and engineering knowledge towards a commercial opportunity of your choice. Will your project lead to the next innovation in bagless vacuum cleaners, will you develop a machine to autonomously collect plastic from the worlds oceans, or will you identify a market opportunity to develop the next must tool or gadget?

This project will not only focus on technical challenge, of equal importance is identifying a viable commercial opportunity and strategy to capitalise on it. This project aims to broaden your appreciation for the commercial realities that all engineering activities must face. It’s no  good creating a world beating product that nobody wants to pay for! In this project you will need to deploy more than technical engineering knowledge.

This project does not have a set taught syllabus. However activities you can expect to be engaged with include:

• Identification and investigation of a technical challenge and market opportunity - identify a ‘pain point’ that you and your team have the ability to address
• Identify any existing solutions and their limitations - who/what if anything is currently solving this problem and where/how are they vulnerable to disruption?
• Identify a differentiating innovation to an existing solution or propose a new solution with an outline scheme design or proposal for innovation
• Investigate the potential market size and demand for your improved solution through traditional market research including direct outreach. Ask potential customers if your solution a vitamin (“nice to have, but I don’t really need it” ) or a pain killer (“where do I sign up…take my money”)
• Produce a costed development plan to implement in part two of this project (term 2)
• Build a case for securing funding to develop the product and bring it to market. Present an outline business case and pitch it to an investor panel

Ref/Def assessment is via individual written investor prospectus completed over the summer and submitted in August and investor pitch presentation delivered in August. These elements are weighted as per the original assessment.

Reading list for this module: