1. 1 Engineering Design - A general approach

2. 2 Outline Form a group Proposal (Presentation and 1 st Mandatory Meeting) Milestone A (Demo A and 2 nd Mandatory Meeting) Milestone B (Demo B and 3 rd Mandatory Meeting) Milestone C (Demo C and 4 th Mandatory Meeting) Final check Poster day Final report Assessment Resources Suggested approach

3. 3 Form a group Find partners (usually 4 in each group) as early as possible Better with a project idea already before looking for partners Better to find partners with complementary talents and/or skills Mutual respect

4. 4 Form a group Deadline: Sept. 18 Everybody in C01 will be informed by his/her group assignment no later than Sept. 21

5. 5 Proposal Raise and collect possible project ideas –Think of the application, rather than the technology –Think of what is needed, rather than what you are good at –Every partner needs to make contribution to project ideas –Search literature (publications and internet links) for inspirations

6. 6 Proposal Identify the project to work with –Comparison and analysis on: significance in application, impact to the general audience, technical soundness, feasibility –Get the opinion from the instructor –Get the unanimous support from every partner on the final selection

7. 7 Proposal Prepare for the proposal presentation –Motivation –Background (similar works done by others) –Feasibility (manpower with necessary knowledge and skills involved, time, and funds) –Step-by-step technical approach –Scheduling –Risks and alternative plan

8. 8 Proposal format Objectives: (Up to 10 lines) Clear and concise Resources: People - Names and effective time Facility/Equipment/Software/Funding Description: (4 pages maximum) Motivation Background (with references) Project details – Provide details of each milestone and expected time for its completion (usually set your target at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold level)

9. 9 Proposal format Scheduling: Make use of Gantt Charts Assumptions/Risks: Examples: –Delayed delivery of components –Components too expensive Deliverables: Itemize each deliverable (at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold level) Summary: (Up to 10 lines) Focus on expected end results

10. 10 Proposal Proposal due: Oct. 2 Presentation time: –In the week of Oct. 5-9, at the normal lecture and tutorial hours, 10~15 minutes for each group –Location: ABB-271 1 st mandatory meeting: –In the week of Oct. 5-9, after each group ’ s presentation, 15~20 minutes for each group –Location: ITB-A313

11. 11 A project example Sensor Temperature Pressure Motion ECG signal …… Analog electric signal A/D Digital electric signal Processor Display D/A Analog electric signal Driving circuit Control unit Input Interface Output Interface

12. 12 Milestone A At about 1/4 of the time: –Simulation (if possible) is successful –Hardware components are ready –Logic design for the processor is ready –Circuit design for I/O interfaces is ready Demo A: –Show the simulation result (if there is any) –Show the logic and circuit designs –Check the component list

13. 13 Milestone A Milestone A progress report: –Current status: implementation, scheduling, expenditure –Problems encountered –Prediction on progress

14. 14 Milestone A Milestone A progress report due: Nov. 20 Demo A time: –In the week of Nov. 23-27, at the normal lecture and tutorial hours, 10~15 minutes for each group –Location: ABB-271 2 nd mandatory meeting: –In the week of Nov. 23-27, after each group ’ s demo A, 15~20 minutes for each group –Location: ITB-A313

15. 15 Milestone B At about 1/2 of the time: –Implementation of major part completed Demo B: –Show a closed-loop working system –Identify the major function

16. 16 Milestone B Milestone B progress report: –Current status: implementation, scheduling, expenditure –Problems encountered –Prediction on progress

17. 17 Milestone B Milestone B progress report due: Jan. 8 Demo B time: –In the week of Jan. 11-15, at the normal lecture and tutorial hours, 10~15 minutes for each group –Location: ABB-271 3 rd mandatory meeting: –In the week of Jan. 11-15, after each group ’ s demo B, 15~20 minutes for each group –Location: ITB-A313

18. 18 Milestone C At about 3/4 of the time: –Implementation completed at least at the Bronze level Demo C: –Identify added functions –Consider how to show the full system in a most attractive way on the Poster Day

19. 19 Milestone C Milestone C progress report: –Current status: implementation, scheduling, expenditure –Problems encountered –Prediction on progress

20. 20 Milestone C Milestone C progress report due: Feb. 26 Demo C time: –In the week of Feb. 29 – Mar. 4, at the normal lecture and tutorial hours, 10~15 minutes for each group –Location: ABB-271 4 th mandatory meeting: –In the week of Feb. 29 – Mar. 4, after each group ’ s demo C, 15~20 minutes for each group –Location: ITB-A313

21. 21 Progress report format (for all demos) Project briefing (in a few lines) Technical approach List of tasks Current status Problems encountered Problems yet to be solved

22. 22 Final check – on Apr. ? Check the working status of the fully functional system Check miscellaneous issues for display: panel posters, power supplies, system settings, possible interferences (space, wireless, etc.)

23. 23 Poster day – on Apr. ? A full day, every partner must show up Always leave at least one partner at your booth Every partner must be at your booth for the presentation to examiners, and for possible extra presentations to VIPs Clean up your booth upon completion, don’t drop any piece in your system

24. 24 Final report – due on Apr. 15 Introduction (motivation and background) Project goals and planned approach Actual approach (design, modeling/simulation, implementation) Critical problems solved Conclusion (final result achieved) Future plan (any potential market value or specific usage?)

25. 25 Assessment Meeting milestones 5% Proposal 10% Demo A 15% Demo B 15% Demo C 15% Final (including final demo/presentation/poster/report) 40% Weight factor 0.8~1.2 (depending on technical complexity)

26. 26 Resources Manpower: 4 Time: ~6 months Fund: ~CAD$200 (on average) Lab space: ITB-156 (open full time) IEEE student chapter: PCB milling Instructor: ITB-A313, ext. 27698, lixun@mcmaster.ca TAs ’ office hour: one hour daily from Mon. to Fri. (check course webpage for location and time)

27. 27 Suggested approach 1.Find an application: better to utilize an existing technology to solve a new problem, or enhance a popular technology, rather than to develop a new technology from scratch 2.Set up step-by-step technical approach that will lead to the final accomplishment of the goal 3.Complete a design for the whole system 4.Find components: read data sheet beforehand, make careful comparisons on multiple choices, weigh among performance, cost, and lead time

28. 28 Suggested approach 5. Run simulations or perform analyses to your design, with components specified by the data sheet 6. Order components or start over again from step 4 or even step 3, depending on the result of step 5 7. Build your system towards the Bronze level 8. Test your system 9. Add features to your system to reach the Silver, or Gold level

29. 29 Suggested approach 10. A few hints in the execution process: Work on a parallel, rather than a serial fashion whenever possible (for saving time) Always have a plan B Think about if your system will be well presentable to the general audience on the poster day