CENTRE FOR PRODUCT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

Design Aptitude Test (DAT)

for admission to
M. Des. Programme in Product Design and Engineering

PART – I (Technical Thinking)

There are EIGHT questions in this part, FIVE from Questions 1-7 are to be attempted.
Question 8 (Maths) is compulsory.
Work out the problem in the space provided below each question.

You must show your choice of correct answer on the cover page

Questions 1-7 carry 6 marks each, Question 8 (Maths) carry 10 marks, for the correct choice
and work out. Unsuccessful but valid attempt get 50% marks. No marks for skipping a
question.

Maximum Total Marks (6x5+10) = 40

NAME: APPLICATION NO.:

SIGNATURE:

Summary of your response:

Tick the correct answer (for Q 1-5) from the options below
Question 1 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 2 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 3 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 4 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 5 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 6 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 7 (a) (b) (c) (d)
A (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 8
B (a) (b) (c) (d)
1|Page
Question 1:

In the truss shown below, the force in the member CF is

a. 0.707 kN (Tensile)
b. 6.36 kN (Tensile)
c. 1.414 kN (Compressive)
d. 7.07 kN (Compressive)

Calculations:

2|Page
Question 2:

Starting from rest, a skier slides 200 m down without any push in a 35 degrees
slope. How much time does the run take if the coefficient of kinetic friction is
0.3?

a. 10 sec
b. 10.5 sec
c. 11.25 sec
d. 13.5 sec

Calculations:

3|Page
Question 3:

Calculate the time complexity of binary search on a list of N items?

a. O(log(N))
b. O(N log(N))
c. O(N/2)
d. O(2N)

Calculations:

4|Page
Question 4:

It is required to cut screw threads of 2mm pitch on lathe. The lead screw has
pitch of 6 mm and the spindle speed is 60 rpm, then the lead screw will be……?
a. 10 rpm
b. 20 rpm
c. 120 rpm
d. 180 rpm

Calculations:

5|Page
Question 5:

5. Calculate the voltage across the 15 ohm resistor.

a. 4V
b. 12 V
c. 6V
d. 8V

Calculations:

6|Page
Question 6:

1Kg of ice (at 0°C) is mixed in 3Kg water at 20°C till temp till all of water comes
down to nearly 0°C. Remaining ice is filtered out. Assuming no heat is
transferred from surrounding, how much ice will be left over?
Latent heat of fusion = 333KJ/kg , Heat capacity of water 4.2 KJ/Kg/°C
a. 0 gm (no ice left)
b. 244 gm
c. 488 gm
d. 732 gm

Calculations:

7|Page
Question 7:

Find the voltage V if the current i3 is measured a 10mA.

a. 40V
b. 4V
c. 0.1V
d. 1V

8|Page
Question 8 (Mathematics)
A. In the figure below, if length of AB is 10, the length of AD is:

a. 47/4
b. 12
c. 49/4
d. 25/2

9|Page
B. If f(x) = 4x-2, then f(x-1) =
a. 4x2-6x+2
b. 4x2+2x+2
c. 4x+2
d. 4x-6

10 | P a g e
 CENTRE FOR PRODUCT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

Design Aptitude Test (DAT) for admission to

M. Des. Programme in Product Design and Engineering
PART – I (Spatial Thinking)

There are FIVE questions in this part, ALL of which are to be attempted.
Work out the problem in the space provided below each question.
Show your choice of correct answer on the cover page

Questions 1-4 carry 5 marks each (Correct answer: 5 marks, Unsuccessful

attempt 2 marks, No attempt 0 marks)

Question 5 (Sketching) carries 10 marks

You will be DISQUALIFIED if you do not attempt Question 5
Maximum Total Marks (4x5+10) = 30

NAME: APPLICATION NO.:

SIGNATURE:

Tick the correct answer (for Q 1-4) from the options below
Question 1 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 2 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 3 (a) (b) (c) (d)
Question 4 (a) (b) (c) (d)
General information about the “Spatial Thinking Test”

Spatial thinking concerns understanding and reasoning spatial relations among objects. In a
spatial thinking test you need to mentally manipulate and reason about 2-dimensional and 3-
dimensional objects.

Indicative types of questions:

• You are given several 2D or 3D elementary shapes. A number of alternative 2D or 3D

figures are also provided. You need to select the correct alternative figure that can be
produced by combining the elementary shapes.

• You are given an image of a 3D object. A number of alternative 3D views are also
provided. You need to select the correct alternative 3D view that can be produced by
3D rotation of the given object.

• You are given a 2D pattern which can be folded into a 3D shape. A number of
alternative 3D shapes will be provided. You need to select the correct one.

• You are given a number of objects in a scene. If one or more objects in the scene or
how the scene is viewed is changed, you will be asked to indicate how other objects
or relations among these, or the view would change.

• Sketching: In this section your ability to draw free-hand sketches using pencil is
tested. The questions may involve drawing in perspectives and drawing with lines and
shading.
Sample Question 1:

Which image among options (a)-(d) can be made from the three shapes shown by
combining them without overlapping?

In the box below show the details of the composition for the selected option. Also
explain why the other options were rejected.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Composition of selected option

Explanation for rejected options

Sample Question 2:

You are given an image of a 3D object. Four alternative 3D views, (a)-(d), are provided below.
Select the correct 3D view that can be obtained by 3D rotation of the object.

In the box below show the rotation process visualized for the selected option. Also explain
why the other options were rejected.

Object

Alternative views

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Rotation process for the selected option

Explanation for rejected options

Sample Question 3:

See below a 2D pattern which can be folded into a 3D shape. Four alternative 3D shapes are given in
the table below. Show a few steps in the folding process and select the correct one that can be
obtained from the 2D pattern.

Steps of folding

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Sample Question 4:

With reference to shadow of the cylinder in image (i) below, sketch the shadow of the same cylinder
in image (ii) after a cube is placed close to the cylinder as shown.

(i)

(ii)

How many faces of the cube does the shadow of the cylinder fall on? Select the correct option from
those given in (a)-(d)

(a) 0 faces (b) 1 face (c) 2 faces (d) 3 faces

Sample Question 5:

(a) The figure of a table is given below. Complete the figure by adding a closed book
placed on the table-top such that one edge of the book matches an edge of the table
top. Length of each book should be about 1/3 of the edge of the table.

Do NOT shade the sketch. Only free hand line drawing is required.
(b) Sketch free hand outline of the figure below in the adjacent box.
Do NOT shade.

(c) Copy the shading of the shaded figure below in the outline figure in the adjacent
box
 CENTRE FOR PRODUCT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

Design Aptitude Test (DAT) for admission to

M. Des. Programme in Product Design and Engineering

NAME: APPLICATION NO. :

SIGNATURE:

PART – II (Design Thinking)

There are SEVEN (7) questions in this part

Answer all the questions

Each question carries 5 marks

Maximum Total Marks = 35

1. Mention THREE potential problems (i.e. difficulties) in any ONE of the two situations shown
below

ANSWER:

Selected Situation:__________________

Problem 1

Problem 2

Problem 3
 2. Choose any ONE technology item from the list below.
Write TWO sentences each to describe in which situation this technology is used and
what is the principle on which it works
(e.g. the technology of electromagnetic induction is used in design of a calling bell.
This works by (a) passing current through a coil around an iron rod that turns into magnet to attract the
hammer to the bell; (b) this in turn breaks the circuit and a spring takes the hammer back to its original
position to close the circuit again)

A. Digital Human Models (DHM)

B. Wire EDM

C. Internet of Things (IoT)

D. Collaborative Robots (COBOT)

E. Automatic Manual Transmission (AMT)

ANSWER: Selected technology:__________________

(in which situation this technology is used)

Sentence 1:

Sentence 2:

(the principle on which it works)

Sentence 1:

Sentence 2:
 3. Choose any ONE product from the list below.
Write FIVE distinct features of the product
(e.g. two distinct features of Tata Nano Car are: (i) the engine is at the rear, (ii) each wheel
has only three fixing bolts)

A. Microsoft Hololens

B. LG 308L 3 Star Refrigerator

C. TVS Apache RR 310

D. SpaceX Falcon Heavy

ANSWER: Selected product:__________________

Feature 1:

Feature 2:

Feature 3:

Feature 4:

Feature 5:
 4. For each of the materials given below, identify one property and its application in some
products
(e.g. material `activated carbon’ has `high porosity’ property which is used in `water
purification’ applications)

A. Polylactic Acid (PLA)

B. Gorilla Glass
C. Ductile Iron
D. Cotton
E. Manganese Oxide Polystyrene
Nanocomposite (MOPN)

ANSWER:

Material Property Application

#1 PLA

Gorilla
#2
Glass

Ductile
#3
Iron

#4 Cotton

#5 MOPN
 5. Read the text in the box then proceed.
Numerous living organisms possess biophotonic nanostructures that provide
colouration and other diverse functions for survival. While such structures
have been actively studied and replicated in the laboratory, it remains
unclear whether they can be used for biomedical applications. Here, we
show a transparent photonic nanostructure inspired by the longtail glasswing
butterfly (Chorinea faunus). We exploit the phase separation between two
immiscible polymers to form nanostructured features on top of a Si3N4
substrate. The membrane thus formed shows good angle-independent white-
light transmission, strong hydrophilicity and anti-biofouling properties.

Suggest TWO innovative improvements for any ONE existing household product of your choice
using one or more of the properties of the material described above. Note that only the
properties, and NOT the material itself, need to be used in the proposed improvements.

ANSWER: Selected product you wish to improve: __________________

Improvement 1

Improvement 2
6. Two writing alternatives for students are under consideration; one is a (A) metallic fountain-
pen and the other is a (B) plastic ball-point pen. First compare five different aspects (material,
manufacturing etc.) of the two alternatives in the table below. Then take ALL five aspects into
account to evaluate which one is BETTER.

ANSWER:

(A) Fountain pen (B) Ball-point pen

Aspect 1:

Aspect 2:

Aspect 3:

Aspect 4:

Aspect 5:

Evaluation: Option _______A/B____________ is better; because,__________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
7. Paper bags have lower strength for carrying meats/vegetables and can easily get wet and
lose strength. This makes these biodegradable but less functional. Plastic bags have greater
strength and non-wetting properties but have several environmental problems. Propose
TWO novel design concepts for carrying heavy and wet meats/vegetables, for personal use,
which do not harm the environment when discarded and can be recycled/reused. Preferably
use labeled sketches to present your proposals.

ANSWER: