Abstract: It proposes the introduction of extenics into the projectbased learning to improve students innovation ability. According to the process of product design, it presented the ways of applying extenics in solving noncompatible problems via the design of a mechanical transmission device. The results show that the method is feasible to improve students ability of analyzing and solving problems and to train their innovation ability, thus providing reference for teaching in other universities.

Key words: extenics; projectbased learning; innovation ability; noncompatible problems