Work in progress - roller coaster design conceptualization for first-year engineering students

Students in the first-year engineering program at The Ohio State University are required to complete a quarter-long course which incorporates a team-based, design-build final project. Students are assigned to four-person teams and given the job of designing, building and testing a functional model roller coaster. Like all engineering designs, this project is subject to specified time and material constraints. Students use preliminary test data to make informed design changes and arrive at final working solutions. The project has evolved to encourage and assist students in conceptualizing and creating complex, innovative designs, through rule changes and new measurement tools.