MECH307 - DESIGN PROJECT

"Microcontroller Based Mechatronic Design"


Objectives

Each group must design, build, test, and demonstrate a device controlled by a PIC microcontroller.  The device should have functioning elements in all six categories listed below. The device will be rated (graded) based on the level of functionality achieved in each category. There will also be grading adjustments for qualitative attributes and how well the project is documented.

Project Deliverables

Each group must present the following over the course of the project:

Each of these is described in detail below. See the syllabus for due dates.

We expect each group to be creative in coming up with a unique "device" that performs some useful function. Past project and alternative ideas are displayed at mechatronics.colostate.edu/projects.html. Please choose an "appropriate" project concept, and avoid project ideas involving alcohol or drugs, weapons, anything illegal, explosives or fire, anything dangerous (e.g., electrocution or finger loss possible), etc.

Proposal

The proposal must contain:

You should consider the proposal as a preliminary draft for the final design report. If you do a good job with the proposal and create high quality illustrations and diagrams, you will be able to reuse the material in your final report.

Group Design Notebook

The design notebook is a loose leaf binder containing notes, sketches, schematics, documents and designs. It will be separated by tabs for each week of the design cycle. Pages must be dated and initialed. The notebook will be reviewed weekly by the TA (per the instructions on the syllabus). The TA will record a score each week.

Required Functional Element Categories

Your device should contain functioning elements in each of the six categories listed below. The examples under each element category are listed in order of increasing rating score (see below). Other components not listed as examples below are acceptable and encouraged. Note - you cannot receive credit for any category until you have a device that is mostly complete. You must have a device, not just a collection of independently functioning elements. Having several different components in a single category can help your rating, but quality is more important than quantity.

  1. Output Display
  2. Audio Output Device
  3. Manual Data Input
  4. Automatic Sensor Input
  5. Actuators
  6. Logic, Counting, Integration, and Control

Functional Element Category Ratings

The group's grade for the project will be based on the device's performance in each functional element category listed above (A, B, C, D, E, F) and on several grading adjustments described below. The rating for each category will be based on the following system:

Rating
Description of performance
0
nothing implemented.
2
something implemented, but non functional.
5
something implemented (i.e., has some level of functionality and is interfaced to the PIC), but not functioning as designed in a repeatable and reliable way.
10
something functioning as designed (i.e., performs some intended, useful function) and repeatable (i.e., it works every time), but did not require much research or effort on your part (e.g., you purchased something requiring very little interfacing and work, or you are using something presented in detail in class or Lab).
15
something functioning as designed and repeatable, and required significant research and effort on your part (e.g., you built something discussed in the text book, but not presented in detail in class or Lab, that required significant research and effort).
20
something functioning as designed (i.e., performs some intended, useful function) and repeatable, and required substantial independent research and effort on your part (e.g., you built something requiring knowledge and skills not presented in the textbook or used in Lab).

Each category will receive a rating, and the base project score will be the sum of the six ratings. For example, if the project is rated 10 for category A, 15 for B, 10 for C, and 10 for D, 20 for E, and 15 for F, the base project score would be 80.

NOTE: These ratings are somewhat qualitative, so official scores will not be released until the end of the semester, after the instructor and TAs meet to discuss all of the results. But if your device functions well in all of the categories listed above, and some or all of the functional elements required significant research and/or work on your part, you can expect a high rating score.

Final Design Report

The final report is due at the last meeting of the Lab section. The report should include:

After looking at the figures and schematics and after reading the BRIEF descriptions in "Design Summary" and "Design Details," the reader should be able to fully understand what your device is, what it looks like, and how it functions (without seeing the actual device).

Examples of good elements from previous student reports and other resources:

Grading Adjustments

The base project score (the sum of the category ratings) will be adjusted by the following grading adjustments, with input from Dr. Dave, the TAs, and your classmates.

deliverables:

qualitative adjustments:

other:

NOTE:

Additional Information:

Also, the group will have to multitask, accomplishing various design and testing steps in parallel (e.g., do not wait for the microcontroller to get programmed before testing the motor, input circuits, sensors, etc.).