Title: ENGM 541: Laboratory #1
Author: mlipsett
Last saved by: Michael Lipsett
Company: Mechanical Engineering

The University of Alberta
ENGM 541: Modeling and Simulation of Engineering Systems

ENGM 541 Project Proposal Template

© M.G. Lipsett 2008
Name:
Student ID:
Proposal Title:
Brief Description of System of Interest (one paragraph):

Type of Project (choose one):
a)	Engineering Analysis and Simulation of a System
b)	System Modeling Methods
c)	Analysis and Simulation of An Existing Set of Governing Equations
Specific Topic for Project:

Proposed Methods of Investigation (e.g., literature review, engineering analysis of a new problem to produce a set of governing equations, computer simulation) 

Guidelines for Projects
You are free to propose any topic in modeling and simulation, subject to approval by the instructor. So choose something interesting. 
There are three general types of project that you might consider:
a) Define a problem in engineering analysis for a (small) physical or technological system, generate the governing equations, define a set of trial parameters based on well-described assumptions, generate simulation results, and discuss the results and their physical interpretation.
b) Research a topic in systems modeling methods and generate a summary report describing the method and give examples of its applicability. Candidate topics include bond graph theory, linearisation, system identification, sources of errors in modeling and simulation, nonlinear eigenvalue systems, random process modeling, machine learning, modeling dynamic financial systems, causality (directed graphs), dynamic programming, animation techniques, human-machine interaction using simulators (such as flight simulators, nuclear reactor simulators, surgical training simulators), chaotic systems, using modeling and simulation for control, reliability, optimization, etc.
c) Take a known problem in systems modeling and develop a Matlab/Simulink simulation of the system, with documented code, and a report comparing your simulation results to some benchmark (published experimental data, analytical results, etc.) Systems should be somewhat complex, involve physics that have not been considered in the course so far (e.g. optics, reactive processes, etc.), or mixed systems such as manufacturing systems, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), robots, etc. Developing a solution in Matlab/Simulink should entail an interesting simulation technique such as animation. 
The instructor may ask you to modify your proposal if the scope is too broad (or too narrow). Projects can not be submitted on work that has already been done for previous courses or for thesis work. Projects may, however, contribute to thesis work that has yet to be done. 
All projects require a report from each student and any source code that was developed (such as m-files). Each report must include an introduction, project objective, definition of the system or technique of interest, methods used (literature search, analysis methods, programming), results, discussion, interpretation, and references. 
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT: Source material must be referenced, including web sources. Some Matlab/Simulink code is available for open source use on-line; and this access to existing code is a huge advantage for the Matlab community. Use of such material is acceptable but it must be referenced, so that your contribution is clear. 

The instructor may wish to use excerpts from reports or sample code in future offerings of the course, in which case the instructor will ask for permission. If permission is granted, then the source of any material used will be acknowledged.