ELM4701/02: ELM Projects I & II The mini-project has served as a practice project. It has given us the opportunity to explain our expectations and you the chance to work in teams to meet the challenge in a way we have described. Now on to the final project…..

A Large Project in Electromechanical Product Design: ELM:4701/2: ELM Projects I & II  Starts in the fall (ELM4701); continues into the spring (ELM4702); everyone gives a final presentation April 19 th,  Involves significant electrical and mechanical components and computer or PCL control. Some form of feedback is also preferred.  Students are encouraged to offer suggestions for projects, but the final decision and assignment will be the instructors'.

A Large Project (continued) ELM:4701/2: ELM Projects I & II  Key concerns in the fall semester: Defining the problem, levels of functionality, & detailed specifications (leads to writing a user’s manual) Brainstorming concepts Schedule & budgets Research, some component and ‘proof of concept' testing inital presentations given and documentation created  The bulk of the design and construction will occur in the spring semester. The objective is to design first, then build from the design!

Suggestions for a Large Project ELM:4701/2: ELM Projects I & II  Scientific (instrumentation, not experiment)  Manufacturing Prototype  Industry-inspired, industry partnership  Robotic (home or office based)  Home Automation  Can be a ‘modification' of an existing product.  (The ET, MET, and science departments may have projects that interest you; ask around. Try not to pick something that you can buy off the shelf for peanuts. Definitely pick something that is interesting to YOU!)

John Murphy’s ideas: A scaled down PRT (Personal Rail Transport?) system (e.g., Stirling Engine for wood stoves (see for some kits and more info) Biodiesel/alternate fuels devices (home-scale oil press? “Wind to biodiesel” Unit? )

MONEY & Other Concerns ELM:4701/2: ELM Projects I & II  Money (tentative $200 budget per group FOR MATERIALS left at VTC)  You MUST GET ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS’ APPROVAL FIRST before buying parts (or you'll foot the bill); we MAY implement a purchase order system to control this.  You should try ‘making contacts' with distributors and reps; we have received MANY free items in the past  We would like approximately equal electrical, mechanical, and software components in your project; if the solution you choose is lacking one element, we'll modify the problem to include it.

Tentative Schedule for the Remainder of this Semester ELM:4701/2: ELM Projects I & II W#7/8: Start discussions on Large Project. W#9: Pick individual problem statements for the Large Project Start brainstorming (within project teams) W#10: Report on brainstorming (min.of 3 concepts, pros and cons, the one to attempt) W#11: Schedule (Gantt Chart) AND list of critical prototyping exercises or tests to perform W#12: feasibility testing, research, ….. W#13:Technical Topics Presentation (an interesting product or technology; something related to your project) W#14: Status Report/Project Overview presentations graded; web-based) Finals week: Notebook inspections, Engineering Effort Evaluations, User's Manual due (1 st draft)

Any questions? You can form new teams (Singles are allowed; 2 or 3 people per team is best.) Use to get your ideas to the rest of the group You should pick something interesting to you You need to decide if you are keeping the product or leaving it at VTC Get a key to the ‘projects’ room from Bob Royce. Some final thoughts…