Engineering Design: A Survival Guide to Senior Capstone

✍ Scribed by Cory J. Mettler

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2023
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 442
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Engineering Senior Design is perhaps the course that most resembles what an engineering professional will be required to do during their career; it is the bridge between the academic classroom and the engineering profession.  This textbook will support students as they learn to apply their previously-developed skills to solve a complex engineering problem during a senior-level design course.

This textbook follows the design life cycle from project initiation to completion and introduces students to many soft engineering skills, such as communication, scheduling, and technical writing, in the context of an engineering design.  Students are instructed how to define an engineering problem with a valid problem statement and requirements document.  They will conceptualize a complex solution and divide that solution into manageable subsystems.   More importantly, they will be introduced to Project Management techniques that will help students organize workloads, develop functional engineering-teams, and validate solutions, all while increasing the likelihood of a successful completion to the project.  Throughout the experience, students are instructed that a well-intentioned solution is not particularly useful unless it can be communicated and documented.  To that end, this textbook will help students document their work in a professional manner and to present their ideas to stakeholders in a variety of formal design-reviews.

With the support of this textbook, by the end of a student’s senior design experience, each individual will be ready to communicate with other engineering professionals, effectively support engineering design-teams, and manage complex project to solve the next generation’s engineering challenges.

✦ Table of Contents

Support for this Textbook
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Examples
List of Common Pit Falls
List of Industry Point of Views
PART I
1: Introduction to Senior Design
1.1 Developing Soft´´ Engineering Skills EXAMPLE 1.1 Importance of Soft Skills Avoiding Common Pit Falls 1.1 Keep an Open Mind Industry Point of View 1.1 Soft Skills Are Important 1.2 A Case for Project Management EXAMPLE 1.2 Examples of Projects Industry Point of View 1.2 Project Management Is Important 1.3 The Engineering Design Life-Cycle 1.4 Chapter Summary 2: Introduction of Case Study Teams 2.1 Augmented Reality Sandbox 2.2 Smart Flow Rate Valve 2.3 Robotic ESD Testing Apparatus 2.4 Chapter Summary PART II 3: Choosing Your Design Project 3.1 How Organizations Start Projects Industry Point of View 3.1 Select Your Opportunities Carefully 3.2 Choosing Your Senior Design Project Avoiding Common Pit Falls 3.1 Selecting Your Senior Project 3.3 Chapter Summary 3.4 Case Studies 4: The Engineering Design Team 4.1 Definition of an Engineering Team Industry Point of View 4.1: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work 4.2 SWOT Analysis EXAMPLE 4.1: Personal SWOT Analysis EXAMPLE 4.2: Team SWOT Analysis 4.3 Expectations of Effective Teammates 4.4 Project Time Commitments EXAMPLE 4.3: Allotting Time to the Project 4.5 Running an Efficient Team Meeting EXAMPLE 4.4: Recommended Agenda (Template) EXAMPLE 4.5: Suggested Agenda for First Team Meeting EXAMPLE 4.6: Suggested Agenda for First Advisor Meeting EXAMPLE 4.7: Suggested Agenda for Weekly Advisor Meetings Avoiding Common Pit Falls 4.1: Discussing Technical Issues Industry Point of View 4.2: Running Efficient Meetings EXAMPLE 4.8: Suggested Agenda for First Sponsor Meeting 4.6 Chapter Summary 5: Project Documentation 5.1 Project Notebook Background EXAMPLE 5.1: Example of Handwritten Journal Page 5.2 Electronic Notebook Guidelines 5.3 Primary Types of Notebook Entries Avoiding Common Pitfalls 5.1: Doubling Documentation Efforts EXAMPLE 5.2: Proper Titles for Meeting Minutes EXAMPLE 5.3: Possible Purposes of Meetings EXAMPLE 5.4: Proper Meeting Minutes #1 EXAMPLE 5.5: Proper Meeting Minutes #2 EXAMPLE 5.6: Proper Technical Entry Titles EXAMPLE 5.7: Project Relationship References EXAMPLE 5.8: Potential Technical Content EXAMPLE 5.9: Poor Technical Entry EXAMPLE 5.10: Proper Technical Entry EXAMPLE 5.11: Action Item Report Titles 5.4 Chapter Summary EXAMPLE 5.12: Proper Action Item Reports 5.5 Case Studies PART III 6: The Problem Statement Avoiding Common Pitfalls 6.1 Focus on the Problem 6.1 Project Motivation Statements EXAMPLE 6.1 Clear Motivations Avoiding Common Pitfalls 6.2 Accurately Determine Motives Industry Point of View 6.1 Project Motivations Dictate Solutions 6.2 Project Goal Statements EXAMPLE 6.2 Motivations Drive the Goal Statement Avoiding Common Pitfalls 6.3 Write Excellent Goal Statements 6.3 Project Objectives EXAMPLE 6.3 Objectives Further Define the Goal Statement 6.4 Summarizing the Problem Statement EXAMPLE 6.4 Finalizing the Problem Statement Industry Point of View 6.2 Problem Statements 6.5 Concept Check EXAMPLE 6.5 Problem Statement for a Nameplate Reading System EXAMPLE 6.6 Problem Statement for a Mars Rover Exhibit Avoiding Common Pitfalls 6.4 Focus on the Problem! 6.6 Chapter Summary 6.7 Case Studies 7: Requirement Documents 7.1 Project Requirements EXAMPLE 7.1 Common Requirements EXAMPLE 7.2 Requirements Define Objectives 7.2 Project Specifications EXAMPLE 7.3 Common Specifications EXAMPLE 7.4 Specifications Quantitatively Define Requirements Avoiding Common Pitfalls 7.1 Not Enough Specifications EXAMPLE 7.5 Software Exceptions to the Requirements Rule 7.3 Project Constraints EXAMPLE 7.6 Common Constraints EXAMPLE 7.7 Constraints Versus Requirements/Specifications 7.4 Building the Requirements Document EXAMPLE 7.8 Format of a Requirements Document Avoiding Common Pitfalls 7.2 Completing Your Requirements Document 7.5 Requirements Gathering EXAMPLE 7.9 Requirements Gathering Process #1 EXAMPLE 7.10 Requirements Gathering Process #2 EXAMPLE 7.11 Requirements Gathering Process #3 EXAMPLE 7.12 Requirements Gathering Process #4 Industry Point of View 7.1 Requirements Define all the Details Industry Point of View 7.2 Keep AskingWhy´´
7.6 Concept Check
EXAMPLE 7.13 Requirements Document for Mars Rover Exhibit
EXAMPLE 7.14 Requirements Document for a Nameplate Reading System
EXAMPLE 7.15 Requirements Documents for the Mars Rover Exhibit
EXAMPLE 7.16 Structuring the Req. Doc. for the Nameplate Reader
7.7 Chapter Summary
7.8 Case Studies
8: Final INITIATING Processes
8.1 Literature Reviews
EXAMPLE 8.1 Potential Background Topics
EXAMPLE 8.2 Potential Background Topics #2
EXAMPLE 8.3 Potential State-of-the-Art Topics
8.2 Using a Gantt Chart
EXAMPLE 8.4 Using a Gantt Chart #1
EXAMPLE 8.5 Using a Gantt Chart #2
Industry Point of View 8.1: Schedule Management by Everyone
8.3 Block Diagrams
EXAMPLE 8.6 Block Diagram #1
EXAMPLE 8.7 Block Diagram #2
8.4 Chapter Summary
8.5 Case Studies
9: Project Kickoff Meetings
9.1 Purpose of a Project Kickoff Meeting
9.2 Formatting a Project Kickoff Meeting
9.3 Effective Use of Templates
EXAMPLE 9.1 Modifying the Order of Template Slides
9.4 A Project Kickoff Meeting Template
9.5 Advanced Presentation Techniques
Avoiding Common Pitfalls 9.1: Avoid Cumbersome Slide Transitions
Avoiding Common Pitfalls 9.2: Avoid Using Pronouns
Industry Point of View 9.1: Kickoff Meetings
9.6 Chapter Summary
10: Project Charters
10.1 Basic Technical Writing Strategies
EXAMPLE 10.1: Effective Use of Figures
Avoiding Common Pitfalls 10.1: Introduce All Lists
EXAMPLE 10.2: Leading the Witness
EXAMPLE 10.3: Applying Antecedent Method #1
EXAMPLE 10.4: Applying Antecedent Method #2
EXAMPLE 10.5: Applying Antecedent Method #3
Avoiding Common Pitfalls 10.2: Choosing Your References
10.2 Helpful Formatting Tips
10.3 A Template for a Project Charter
Avoiding Common Pitfalls 10.3: Distinct Motivation and Description
EXAMPLE 10.6: Additional Project Concerns
10.4 Chapter Summary
PART IV
11: Developing Gantt Charts
11.1 Use a General Framework as a Guide
11.2 Scheduling Detailed Tasks
EXAMPLE 11.1: Alternative Selection and Subsystem Design Gantt Chart
EXAMPLE 11.2: Preliminary Prototype Development Gantt Chart
11.3 Schedule Management Process
EXAMPLE 11.3: Progress Updates to a Gantt Chart
EXAMPLE 11.4: Modifying a Task´s Schedule
EXAMPLE 11.5: Using a Gantt Chart to Mitigate Slippage
11.4 Chapter Summary
11.5 Case Studies
12: Alternatives Selection Process
12.1 Identifying Critical Components
Avoiding Common Pitfalls 12.1: Avoid Poor´´ Selection Choices EXAMPLE 12.1: Component Selection to Reduce Technical Risk EXAMPLE12.2: Component Selection to Reduce Complete Project Failure EXAMPLE 12.3: Component Selection to Reduce Lack of Knowledge 12.2 Engineering Alternatives Analysis EXAMPLE 12.4: Economic Decision Trees EXAMPLE 12.5: Radar Charts EXAMPLE 12.6: Pugh Charts 12.3 Final Alternatives Selection Avoiding Common Pitfalls 12.2: Incompatible Alternative Selections Industry Point of View 12.1: Consider All the Alternatives 12.4 Chapter Summary 12.5 Case Studies 13: Preliminary Design Process 13.1 Identifying Subsystems EXAMPLE 13.1: Identifying Subsystems EXAMPLE 13.2: Assigning Subsystems to Individual Members EXAMPLE 13.3: Assigning Subsystems to Small Groups 13.2 Critical Subsystems Design EXAMPLE 13.4: Design vs. Ideation of a Subsystem Avoiding Common Pit Falls 13.1: Produce aFinalized´´ Design
EXAMPLE 13.5: Nearly-Finalized Subsystem Designs
Avoiding Common Pit Falls 13.2: Circuit Diagrams
Industry Point of View 13.1: Systems Engineering
13.3 Preliminary System Designs
13.4 Chapter Summary
13.5 Case Studies
14: Preliminary Design Review
14.1 Formatting a PDR
14.2 A PDR Template
Avoiding Common Pit Falls 14.1: Circuit vs. Pin Diagrams (again)
14.3 PDR Feedback
Example 14.1: Clarifying Questions
Example 14.2: Deeper Level´´ Concerns Industry Point of View 14.1: Use Evidence to Improve Communication 14.4 Chapter Summary 15: Preliminary Prototyping Process 15.1 Purpose of the Preliminary Prototype Avoiding Common Pit Falls 15.1: Selecting a Preliminary Prototype 15.2 Identifying Useful Prototypes Industry Point of View 15.1: Subsystem Prototypes Reduce Risk Example 15.1: Useful Preliminary Prototypes 15.3 Exceptions to the Rule 15.4 Formatting a Prototype Proposal 15.5 Template for Prelim: Prototype Demos 15.6 Chapter Summary 15.7 Case Studies 16: Critical Design Process 16.1 Overview of the Design Life-Cycle 16.2 Finalized System-Level Designs 16.3 Fabrication and Verification Processes 16.4 Fabrication Planning Process EXAMPLE 16.1: Execution Plan Using a Gantt Chart Avoiding Common Pit Falls 16.1: Organized Fabrication Plans 16.5 Verification Planning Process EXAMPLE 16.2: Examples of Pass Criteria for Specifications 16.6 Rudimentary Risk Analysis EXAMPLE 16.3: Examples of Pass Criteria for Requirements EXAMPLE 16.4: Four Categories of Risks EXAMPLE 16.5: Articulating a Risk 16.7 Chapter Summary Industry Point of View 16.1: Risk Analysis Considers Cause and Effect 16.8 Case Studies 17: Critical Design Review 17.1 Formatting a CDR 17.2 A CDR Template 17.3 Chapter Summary PART V 18: Fabrication and Verification Process 18.1 Synergy of the Design Life-Cycle 18.2 Modifying Requirement Documents Example 18.1: Reasons to Modify a Req Doc 18.3 Req Docs Drive Verification Plans 18.4 Verification Plans Drive the Schedule 18.5 Schedules Drive Action Item Reports 18.6 Tips for the Fabrication Process 18.7 Tips for the Verification Process Avoiding Common Pit Falls 18.1: Misleading Trendlines Avoiding Common Pit Falls 18.2: Presenting theCorrect´´ Answer
18.8 Chapter Summary
18.9 Case Studies
19: System Prototyping Process
19.1 System Prototyping Process
19.2 System Prototype Demonstration
Example 19.1: Acceptably Complete Systems at SPD
19.3 Completing the System Prototyping Process
19.4 Chapter Summary
19.5 Case Studies
20: Final Design Review
20.1 Successes, Attempts, and Failures
20.2 Formatting an FDR
20.3 An FDR Template
PART VI
21: Closing Phase Overview
21.1 Confirmation of Project Completion
21.2 Completion of Paperwork
21.3 Transfer of Deliverables
21.4 After-Action Retrospective Meetings
21.5 Archiving Information
Industry Point of View 21.1: Formally Close All Projects
21.6 Releasing of Resources
21.7 Chapter Summary
22: CLOSING Processes (Completion)
22.1 Final Project Reports
Example 22.1: Amount of Implementation Details in an FPR
22.2 The Design Fair
22.3 Deliverables Meeting
22.4 Case Studies
23: CLOSING Processes (Retention)
23.1 After-Action Retrospective Meetings
23.2 A Senior Design After-Action Retrospective
24: The Final Process - Celebration
References
Index