Texas A&M University

ENGR 112 – Spring 2018

Foundations of Engineering II

Class 1
Introduction
Agenda

Introduction

ENGR 111 vs ENGR 112

Brief review of ENGR 111

What is ENGR 112 about?

Syllabus

Announcements
Course Syllabus

Available on HOWDY

Available on our Section Page of e-Campus

Instructor Contact Information

• Dr. Rahul Subramanian

Lecturer, Ocean Engineering | EASA
Office: PMEC 135
rsubramanian@tamu.edu

Please mention your Full Name, Course# and

Section# in all correspondence.

Life can be stressful, however please be polite and

courteous in all your interactions! 
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

You are responsible for the following w.r.t. the BYOD policy
1. Bring your device to every class period
2. Make sure the battery is charged when you arrive in
class. We may use the devices at the beginning of
class.
3. Keep software up-to-date (Office, LabVIEW, MATLAB,
etc.) and ready to use at the beginning of class

The IT Help Desk has computers available for you to borrow

if you have your student ID with you
 What remains same between
ENGR 112 and ENGR 111?

BYOD Policy
SEC Seminar Attendance
Required: Attend one industry night seminar
Module-Based Learning
The format for module-based learning is the same
Only for additional MATLAB topics
Not for conventional lecture topics
Team-Based Collaborative Learning
Project work, in-class work, homework may all be team
oriented throughout the semester
Academic Integrity

This is something else that hasn’t changed

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or

tolerate those who do.”

Please visit aggiehonor.tamu.edu

 What is different between
ENGR 112 and ENGR 111?
Semester-long projects – MATLAB and Lego Project
No department videos – You have seen enough of them.
 What is different between
ENGR 112 and ENGR 111?
Department Information (DI) Saturday – February 24
All departments will present 6 times between 10 AM and
4 PM
You must attend TWO (2) of these presentations
Choose one department from each of two groups
Online signups for times and departments (like for
industry nights)
This is MANDATORY – if you have a legitimate excuse,
makeup will be possible
If you are already in a department, you will have an
alternate assignment
Quick Review of ENGR 111

Design
It is a process
Algorithmic Thinking
Humans do this all day long
Modeling
We cannot include all parameters so we develop a model
with the most important parameters
Projects
What should you have learned?
LabVIEW/MATLAB
Why in the world are we spending so much time on this?
Communication
Written, oral, graphs, drawings, etc.
Five Major Steps of the Design Process

1. Identify the Need What do

we need
2. Understand the Need that we
What Whatdo we
does
it need to
don’t What does
have?need it how
dothat we
3. Ideate Possible Solutions and
Oftoall
needdon’t do
well the
have?
does it
4. Define A Solution need to do
Of all the
and how possible
well it?
possible
5. Implement the Solution doesways
it needto do
ways to do
this, which
to this,
Does do it?which
it meet one do we
choose?
theone
specsdoPutwethe
choose?
yet? solution
Does it into
meet the
action.
specs yet?
Put the
solution
into
action.
The Design Process is Iterative
The Design Process is Iterative
Examples of Algorithms and Engineering

Solution to many engineering problems may be in the form

of algorithms
An algorithm is a compact and reliable method of
communicating the underlying logic of a solution or process
Wide range of applicable problems
Simple assembly instructions
How to use a mathematical model of a physical
phenomenon
Description of a chemical synthesis process
Everyone, no matter their educational level, understands the
idea of following the steps of an algorithm
 Properties of Algorithms

1. Input/Output Each step can

Applicable
Execution to
2. Definiteness Produces
Transform
be performedthe
allThe steps of
problems
terminates
3. Effectiveness correct
Inputs
exactly output
we
and
ofthe
the algorithm
desired
after a finite
4. Finiteness values
have
in a for each
into
finite
are
form, defined
numbernot justof
set of
Outputs
amount input
we
of
5. Generality precisely
a particular
steps for set
values
want
time
6. Correctness of input
any values
input

There is always more than one way to solve a problem (algorithms are not unique)

The language and logic used to express the algorithm should be at the level of the
intended audience (algorithms are useless if they cannot be understood)
Projects

What should you have learned?

Engineering projects are open-ended
We don’t know the solution ahead of time
We are not entirely sure that we can solve the problem
given

Approach to project/problem solving

Spend time understanding the problem and gathering
information
You want to solve the right problem

Teamwork aspect: learning to work with others

Programming: LabVIEW/MATLAB

Why spend so much time on this?

To successfully program in either LabVIEW or MATLAB

requires you to understand algorithmic thinking.

We can test your algorithmic thinking skills using

programming assignments.

Programming projects are design projects: good practice for

design skills

Also, programming digital computers to solve engineering

problems will become a huge part of many of your lives.
Communication

Engineering is not just technical thinking and problem

solving.

A huge part of most engineer’s daily routine is

communication.
Written reports, memos, emails
Oral presentations or meetings
Displaying data or results in the form of graphics
Expressing design intent via drawings

You need practice in all of these forms of education

What lies ahead in ENGR 112?

The course has the following components

Algorithmic thinking and programming – MATLAB, Python
Fundamental engineering concepts
Practical problem solving, team work and communication
skills - LEGO project
Individually develop a software package – MATLAB
project

ENGR 112 is not difficult, but do not take it lightly!

Syllabus

Everyone log on to eCampus and bring up the syllabus

eCampus

Everyone please log onto our eCampus Section page

Also, try to log onto the ENGR 112 Fall 2017 Community
Page

If you cannot log on, please let the teaching team know
We need your name and email before you leave today
Homework

READ THE SYLLABUS

Many of your questions can be answered there
Start reviewing MATLAB from your Zybook – make sure you
have access (you should)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Enculturation Survey for ENGR 112 (National
Science Foundation Sponsored Study)

 Your participation is voluntary and confidential and the results of the study
are expected to help students, researchers, and administrators in
engineering programs in general and the Texas A&M engineering program
in particular. If you agree to participate, after completing the survey (~15
minutes), you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift
card. Odds of winning are 1 out of 100 (e.g. one gift card will be drawn for
every 100 surveys).

https://tamu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1zfydtXJpNB01zT 

Thank you,
Dr. Noemi Mendoza
Dr. Jacques Richard
Dr. Tanya Wickliff
Dr. So Yoon
SEC Career Fair – Spring 2018

Please check the e-community page for the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vyz1Ob6V70&t=1s