ECE 2799 “The Engineering Design Process” Prof. Bitar and Prof. Michalson Last Update – 3/18/15

Major Steps Voland, “Engineering by Design”, 2004  Needs Assessment  Problem Formulation  Abstraction & Synthesis  Analysis & Evaluation  Implementation

Avoiding Temptation There are so many “rapid prototyping” tools currently available: There are so many “rapid prototyping” tools currently available: There is a tendency to “build first, think later” There is a tendency to “build first, think later” “Hack” until things work “Hack” until things work Develop in a vacuum (just you and the machine). Develop in a vacuum (just you and the machine). Don’t confuse this process with design! Don’t confuse this process with design! While this approach has a role in the design process, it is not good design practice by itself. While this approach has a role in the design process, it is not good design practice by itself.

Needs Assessment Designs start with an idea for solving a problem Designs start with an idea for solving a problem At this point, the idea may be good or bad At this point, the idea may be good or bad Realization may be possible or impossible Realization may be possible or impossible The idea must be matched against what the customer wants The idea must be matched against what the customer wants Who is the customer? Who is the customer? Quantifying their needs/wants/quirks/etc. Quantifying their needs/wants/quirks/etc.

Empathy?

Customer Requirements Matching ideas with customers Matching ideas with customers Helps refine the idea Helps refine the idea What is necessary v. “nice” What is necessary v. “nice” What is “nice” worth? What is “nice” worth? “Impossible” increases time and budget… “Impossible” increases time and budget… Research customer requirements Research customer requirements Market / Competitor analysis Market / Competitor analysis Once you know what you need… Once you know what you need… Now you can think about customer requirements to product specifications. Now you can think about customer requirements to product specifications.

Needs Assessment & Problem Formulation Homework #1 Perform Market Research Perform Technical Research HW#1 Needs Assessment & Problem Formulation Customer Requirements Product Specification Need / Idea

We Still Haven't Built Anything! At this point we know what the product must do. At this point we know what the product must do. We still may not know how to do it. We still may not know how to do it. Need to “brainstorm” solutions Need to “brainstorm” solutions Need to evaluate competing solutions Need to evaluate competing solutions Time/budget/skill/resource considerations Time/budget/skill/resource considerations Select that solution which “best” fits the problem and the team capabilities. Select that solution which “best” fits the problem and the team capabilities.

Abstraction & Synthesis Homework #2 Viable Options Preferred Solution Research Prior Art Brainstorm Apply Constraints HW#2 Abstraction & Synthesis Possible Solutions Perform Value Analysis

Closer to Building Something! Now we know the major elements: Now we know the major elements: We have specifications for each element. We have specifications for each element. Might have parts in mind for some elements. Might have parts in mind for some elements. May need research on some elements. May need research on some elements. We can form an “order of operations” to realize the design. We can form an “order of operations” to realize the design. We still don’t know if our part selections will work correctly together We still don’t know if our part selections will work correctly together May need further refinement May need further refinement

(Defining Project Milestones) Homework #3 HW#3 System Block Diagram Define Project Milestones Detailed Schedule

Now We’re in the Details! It’s now that we need to answer the question: “how do we build this”? It’s now that we need to answer the question: “how do we build this”? Perform detailed design of elements Perform detailed design of elements Confirm design is within datasheet specifications Confirm design is within datasheet specifications Unit test of elements Unit test of elements Detailed documentation Detailed documentation Possible redesign Possible redesign Maybe we got something wrong! Maybe we got something wrong! Adapt/redesign/retest – schedule and budget! Adapt/redesign/retest – schedule and budget!

Analysis & Evaluation Homeworks #4 & 5 Define Product Interfaces Define Product Changes HW#4 HW#5 1 Analyze 2 Design 3 Build 4 Test 5 Evaluate Analysis & Evaluation

Finally! We now have all the elements of our product: We now have all the elements of our product: Designed and tested(!) Designed and tested(!) Now is the time to integrate the elements into the final product Now is the time to integrate the elements into the final product System integration and test System integration and test Customer acceptance? Customer acceptance? The ultimate test! The ultimate test!

Implementation Final Report Final Report Implement Design Working Prototype