This freshman course employs the familiar application space of POETS in a form intended as a science and engineering general education course. The course explores energy balance and shows how thermal and electrical systems must interact in mobile systems. Analysis and design challenges are built around modern, mobile platforms, including a hybrid electric vehicle system architecture and an electrified aircraft system. They explore how function and performance objectives turn into specifications on electrical and thermal systems and components, and explore how physical limits and practical constraints govern specifications and solutions. Student work in teams to consider specific design tasks. The goal of this course is to train undergraduate students in the design process, interdisciplinary work, project management and scientific communication.

This course is being piloted at the University of Illinois under ENG 198. Similar experiences will be implemented at our partnering schools in the future. Learn more about this course at here.