Using MotionGen to Help Teach Concepts
From Machine Theory
Ben Schaiper, Luke Lococo, Kahra Loding, Ryan Rotsching, et al
What is MotionGen?
Researchers in Mechanical Engineering at SUNY Stony Brook have recently developed a free-access, online tool called MotionGen which enables users to virtually synthesize and assemble 2-dimensional mechanisms. Designers can then animate the mechanisms and observe the motion to assess performance.
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The Motivation
The course MEE 321 Theory of Machines, a requirement in the University of Dayton Mechanical Engineering curriculum, focuses on the analysis and use of 2-dimensional systems.
Students are often required to visualize complex 2-dimensional systems and how they operate, as pictured below:
These are often simplified into ‘Kinematic Diagrams’, allowing students to simplify complex mechanisms into simple structures and actuators, as pictured below:
The Application:
MotionGen provides a new resource for bringing the static images from that course's content to life via animations. MotionGen assists students in gaining exposure to functioning mechanisms by helping visualize how linkages move, thus building a stronger understanding of the fundamental concepts for the course.
A student team has created a significant number of short videos which range from simple mechanisms in motion to example videos breaking down complicated concepts like the “seize and fix” methodology for assessing degrees of freedom.
Future Work:
From here, the team aims to incorporate a number of these videos into the curriculum as a supplementary resource for students.
Additionally, the team is developing videos as a supplementary resource demonstrating in-class tools, such as “Seize and Fix”.
Advisors: Andrew Murray, Ph.D. and David Myszka, Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
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