Resources

The resources supplied and linked below have been developed and collated to support all the Design Challenges and therefore may not have direct relevence to any particular project. However, the general areas on the introduction to Design and the Use of Project Management are central to the successful outcome of a design project and therefore are worth browsing.

There are also overviews, introductions and tutorials on a number of software packages that may be used during a project.

The major central resources for the projects are supplied on a DVD/(CD) which is being developed for schools and undergraduate design and build projects. (see the "Multidisciplinary Design Project" website for further details about the project.) This DVD/(CD) contains a wide range of general design information and applications together with a bootable operating system which doesn't require applications and data to be installed on the user's hard disc. There are three main sets of packages on the DVD/(CD),

Desktop Applications

Including a office suite, web tools, image processing and printing resources.

Design Applications

Including Mechanical and Electrical CAD and various software languages.

Analysis Applications

Spreadsheets, Octave, Spice and ReD. (ReD is a web based library of engineering calculations which can be used to deliver project specific calculations for use in a what if environment.)

Textual Support Material

Databooks, on-line text books and manuals for the available applications.

The DVD/(CD) is quite extensive and contains as standard some applications and information that may not be required for any particular project. To aid understanding some of the more relevant items from the disc are duplicated below together with some resources which are too large to include on the CD. (Any updates or project specific additions will be made available via this website/email or via the Virtual Learning Environment)