TEACHING AN INTEGRATED NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR ON COGNITIVE PRODUCTS

This paper describes a new interdisciplinary, project-based seminar at TU Munich, where mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science students create cognitive consumer products. The main goal is educational and aims to provide students with experience in artificial cognitive systems and related technology, conceiving new products, prototyping and working in multidisciplinary teams. Due to the high technology and multi-domain nature of cognitive products, project-focused, technical lectures and a software and hardware prototyping toolkit are integrated into a new product development process that is supported by process and technical coaches. Results from running the seminar two semesters are presented and discussed.