Introduction of 1st semester of 1st year Vol.2


Design and Thinking (6 ECTS) 0915-1315 Thursday
What we did?
4 hours seem too long but it is no problems because this is not just listening to professors but we do group workings. We used a text book
Evolving Perspectives in Product Design: From Mass Production to Social Awareness (English Edition).
 The author is the professor of class. The contents is about design thinking like history of design, how design changed, problems of design and so on. The contents could be quite difficult for the people who studied Engineering before because it is written totally different manners. For example, this is not quantitative and objective at all. Also the English is Italian style of English so there are some mistakes so it is hard to understand it if you are not a native or excellent at reading.
 The lecture is composed of two kinds. The first is presentation. It is a group working so we made a group of three. We are assigned a topic from Design thinking, 3D technology, Ethics and patent. You will be objection or affirmative side of your topic. Reset of the days, we had other group workings. The groups are different every week which are decided randomly. We analyzed products in different ways according to the contents of book in the week. Finally, one person of group had to present it in front of everybody.
How we are evaluated?
There are two ways. The first is small exams every 2 weeks and the presentation above. Every 2 weeks , and 4 times. we read the 2 chapters of book and answer questions. That matters 27 points. The presentation matters 4 points. No final exam.
The other way is not attending any lectures but reading the book ourselves and take the final exam only. Personally, I recommend the first one because the book has a lot of contents and figures so it is very hard to understand and remember everything for the final exam.
My Impression
I felt this lecture was hard because I am not good at reading neither in my native language and English. Also the book is written in imperfect grammar and the contents is difficult already. I feel that is totally my luck that I passed. In group workings, I felt difficult too not because the assignments are hard but also the culture was totally different from in Japan. You may think that it is strange but in Japan even in discussions, people do not express their opinions but they pay more attention to keep harmony in their group. The discussion is slow and indirect sometimes. That is why in Japan, I haven’t experienced group workings so I did not know how it is done. Here it was totally opposite. They know what to in what kind of processes. I sometimes felt I was left behind and could do nothing. Finally, I got some ideas about that.

Reverse Modeling(6ECTS) 0915-1315 Tuesday
What we did?
 4 hours seem long and that is true but do not worry, we had 10 minutes break in the middle. The main activities is to learn theory and practice of laser scanning and photogrammetry. In practices, we made a group of 3. We scanned and process data together.
 In laser scanning part, we used a scanner by Minolta, NON CONTACT 3D DIGITIZER VI-910 and our object was a melon. We used a software called polyworks to process raw data and painted it with rhinoceros. We have those software in our class room. At last we had a small exam about laser scanning.
 In photogrammetry, we scanned with a camera. If you have one, you can use. You can also borrow from the professor so don’t worry. We used a mesh mixer to edit the data. We used one more software but I forgot. Also we had a small exam about photogrammetry.
How we are evaluated?
The result of exams and quality of the data processing. We had to get more than 51 % for exams. We cannot compensate the lack with scanning data processing. The exam were quite hard because we needed to understand everything including all details. If you want to get full mark you need to know more than in the lectures. This youtube videos are very helpful in photogrammetry.
My impression
 I could make a group with my good friend so it was fun as a total. The friend and the other person are very intelligent so it was possible to overcome problems. Choosing melon was not so a great ideas because we had to match data from different sides of melon. Melon has almost same feature on the surfaces so it was hard to find the same feature because they all look same. I recommend choosing an object with clear geometrical feature.

Material Selection Criteria in Design and Engineering (12ECTS) 0915-1315, Monday and Tuesday
What we did?
We learned how to choose proper materials for products. In theoretical parts, there are a lot of things which are familiar with people who studied Mechanical Engineering like Stress, strain, Young modulus, stress-strain curve and so on. We found some knowledges from thermodynamics like heat conductivity, heat expansion ration and so force. We also studied durability, wearing and electric property of materials. We need to compare those elements and rank constraints and objects of products according to requirements and decide the best material for products.
We used a text book Materials: Engineering, Science, Processing and Design (English Edition).
Also we used a software, CES edupack 2019.
How we are evaluated?
It was evaluated by the final exam and final project. The project is not mandatory. We needed to understand everything in the text book.
My impression
 The lecture was good because the professor was very welcomed to ask questions during the lecture and after that. The construction of lecture was nice too because first we learned theory and concept. Then we do examples and understand more. We can learn step by step.
 By the way, for the final project, I was working with my good friend. We were meeting quite frequently like once two weeks. It was in the end of year so people usually go home or travel but I do not have money and my home is too far away so it was great to spend time with him not alone. One day, we agreed on to meet at a library but we misunderstood the place so we were at the different places. To see each other, we were going to the other place each other. It means we just exchanged the place and still in the different places. It was funny but we gave up to see and went home. I think in the future I will remember such wandering story as a memory of ,y student life in Polimi.

Mechanical Design (6ECTS) 1415-1815 Wednesday
What we learned?
It started from physics in high school to elementary level of scientific university level. For example, we learned the difference between scalar and vector, static and dynamics, newton laws, newton equation and so on. We have theoretical parts, example parts and solidworks analysis part. We also learn how to use solidworks motion analysis. We had a final project with the motion analysis but it was not mandatory.
How we are evaluated?
We had a written and oral exam, and a project. Written exam matters 25 points. If you join oral and project, you can get the full mark. The professor gave us questions from past years so it is easy to prepare.
My impression
This class was one of my best in this semester because the contents are familiar with me and professors are very welcomed to ask questions during and after the lectures. They were so kind so I could ask many stupid questions and understand more. In final project, I made a group with two guys. One guy was the same as in reverse modeling but the other guy was different. This new guy can be one of the smartest person I have ever met in my life. He was intelligent of course, passionate to overcome problems and have great grit spirit. He can be the best because not just because he is smart but he does not look arrogant but nice. I sometimes find people who are smart but uncomfortable to be with but he was not like that.

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