Experience of the Incorporation of NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge Program in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

摘要

2017/18 academic year was the 10th year that Central Connecticut State University offered the NASA Lunar Exploration Project as a capstone project for Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Engineering Technology (MET) students. The NASA Rover Project as a senior capstone design project was offered for the first time in 2008, back when it was still called The Great Moonbuggy Race. Throughout ten years student teams designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested on the grounds of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center four vehicles. During the 2017/18 academic year MET and ME senior students designed and built most advanced vehicle - Rover-4 and successfully participated in the 24"' Annual NASA Rover Challenge. This academic year again confirmed that Rover project is very popular amongst the ME and MET students since work on the Rover enhances their skills in design, and manufacturing. The work on the project requires application of student knowledge from core classes, and solutions to innovative real-world engineering design challengers, and dramatically improves their communicational, organizational, and managerial skills.