2.013/2.733: Engineering Systems Design

Fall | Undergraduate | 12 Units | Prereq: (2.001, 2.003, (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or 2.678)) or permission of instructor

Focuses on the design of engineering systems to satisfy stated performance, stability, and/or control requirements. Emphasizes individual initiative, application of fundamental principles, and the compromises inherent in the engineering design process. Culminates in the design of an engineering system, typically a vehicle or other complex system. Includes instruction and practice in written and oral communication through team presentations, design reviews, and written reports. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. In person not required. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.

Fall 2020 Update: Optional In-Person Component - 2.013 is a systems design capstone course to address real world problems in collaboration with MIT Lincoln Laboratory. This course leverages student-run teams with interdisciplinary skills to fully design, document, and present on a complex system. Subsystems (if not the entire system) will then be built and tested in spring term. This year’s project is a low-cost modular autonomous undersea platform for applications such as undersea search or oil spill characterization, inspired by the novel sampling strategy developed by students last year. Students will innovate on a variety of challenges, such as vehicle endurance, adaptability, autonomous control, and hydrodynamic performance. All required aspects of this course will be provided virtually, and we will work with you to provide hardware options either at home, or at Beaver Works. We recognize that working from home is challenging, and are dedicated to setting up and facilitating successful teams. We will also work closely with you and EHS to develop plans to provide you with the materials you need, and to work on hardware wherever you are. While shipping and lead times are unavoidable, this approach worked well last spring.  While course staff are always available to provide support as needed, our main goal is to empower you and your team to define and take ownership of the project, create your own team dynamic, and to tell us what additional support and resources you need. The remote version of 2.013 will be different than it was on campus, but will still provide an exciting, real-world engineering experience. The course will still have a variety of guest speakers and mentors, as well as sponsor attended design reviews. We are confident that this course will continue to be invaluable experience for the transition to industry or graduate research. Please email Prof. Doug Hart (dphart@mit.edu) with any questions!