CDiO project approach to design Polynesian canoes by first-year engineering students

A design of a nautical project using the active learning method based on projects, was developed and implemented in two universities in Chile. The main objective of this research is the search of learning methodologies stimulators of the cooperative work of students in complex projects. The educational project uses the concurrent engineering supported by an informatics platform and the following design technics: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAM), Finite Element Method (FEM) and Computer-aided Design (CAD). The teams are grouped by capabilities and technical interests, working in the different stages of development of the project of a nautical team for an international competition. The programming of the activities carried out by the students include are the 3D digital design, the ergonomic studies, the computational simulations of fluids, the resistance analysis of materials, the 3D prototype and the computer-aided manufacturing. Finally, this research compares the conceive-design-implement-operate (CDIO) methodology with the methodology of lecture classes and presents the learning results and the challenges of the experience.