February 22, 2011 Preliminary Design Review…Review

2 Topics 2/22/2011 Writing a Status Report Preliminary Design Review Considerations

3 Writing a Status Report Chapter 7 in Pocket Book of TR Follow format given in website Simple and Straightforward: Comment on your contribution’s status and the details of why the action item is in that state.

4 Preliminary Design Review Basic Engineering principles –The simplest solution is often the best –Look at the big picture –Technical language is extremely important Use common sense –Many of the solutions to problems are straightforward, not in an engineering textbook –Consider Everything

5 Simplest Solution: More Research= Easier Time Project: Trash collecting robot –Winner: Cloth conveyor, sorting via broom bristles Less components: less complicated –Project: Marco Polo Sound Generation –Project: Capacitive hand tracker

6 Interfacing Several groups need to define interfacing between circuits –Success does not depend on the subsystems working independently; it depends on all subsystems working together Consider each subsystem’s outputs and inputs, and if you can make things easier –Analog filters –Automatic Gain Control –Digital signal transfer

7 Consider Everything Microcontroller: –Sampling rate is limited by interrupts –Output is limited by clock Amplification –You can change circuits to suit your needs –Fixed, agreed-upon targets and ranges make everyone’s life easier. Power Requirements –Are you losing power to heat sinks because you chose inferior components?

8 Subsystem Demonstrations Aim for completion, ensure everything works properly Define goals for team that are separate from the goals defined by the project documents Integration of subsystems cannot occur too soon