• a proposal
• a group design notebook
• a device containing functional elements in each of the categories listed below
• a final design report

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:

• a title page with title, group number, group member names, and date.
• a concise overview of what your proposed device is and how it will work.  Include well-labeled figure(s) to illustrate your device concept (what it will look like, how it works, what it does). Be sure to label key components in your figures (with concise text and arrows).
• a functional diagram showing all major components and their connections (for good examples, see Section 7.9 in the book).
• a list of proposed components in each of the functional element categories.

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
   
• LED
• 7-segment digit display
• LCD
2. Audio Output Device
   • buzzer
   • speaker with digitally pre-recorded music or voice
   • speaker with software-generated sound effects
   • speaker with software-controlled synthesized music or voice
3. Manual Data Input
   
   • switch, button
   • potentiometer
   • joystick
   • keypad
   • keyboard
4. Automatic Sensor Input
   
   • switch
   • photo-optic pair
   • potentiometer
   • photo cell
   • temperature sensor
   • encoder
5. Actuators
   • solenoid
   • on-off dc motor
   • PWM speed-controlled motor
   • reversible dc motor
   • stepper motor (unipolar, bipolar)
   • closed-loop feedback servo motor
6. Logic, Counting, Integration, and Control
   • on-off motion control in one direction only
   • counting
   • programmed logic
   • motion in different directions and of different magnitudes
   • A/D and D/A interfaces
   • open-loop control
   • menu-driven software
   • advanced and/or multiple PIC microcontrollers
   • closed-loop feedback 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:

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:

• title page with title, group number, group member names, and date.
• Design Summary: concise overview of what the device does and how it works. Include a well-labeled figure or photograph illustrating the overall device.
• Design Details: detailed figures and photographs with key features and components clearly labeled, circuit schematics, functional diagrams, and software flowcharts. The use of computer aided tools (Word, PowerPoint, LogicWorks, PSpice, CAD) is encouraged. Be sure to refer to the figures and diagrams in the text and describe them completely. Include detailed wiring diagrams (if details are not included in earlier figures) and well-commented software listings in an Appendix and refer to them in the body of the report.
• Design Evaluation: describe the success of the device in meeting the functional element categories, and provide justifications for any anticipated grading adjustments.
• Partial Parts List: for each unique and/or interesting component in your design, list the following information: part name or brief description, model number, source (vendor), and price. Include only actuators, sensors, sound modules, special purpose amplifiers, specialty drivers, external A/Ds or D/As, and other components not used in Lab or mentioned in the text book (i.e., don't list common components like resistors, capacitors, small LEDs, basic LCD display, basic keypad, etc.)
  

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:

• title page
• labeled figures/photographs
• software flowcharts (see even better examples in Section 7.9 in the book)
• functional diagrams (see even better examples in Section 7.9 in the book)
• detailed wiring diagram (see even better examples in Section 7.9 in the book)
• example partial report (as modified for Design News magazine [see article])
• full parts list (per above, only a partial list is required and desired)
• example full report

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:

• +/-5 for the proposal per the requirements listed above  [-5: poor; 0: average/acceptable; 5: exceptional].
• -10 maximum for a poor design notebook  [-10: very little done on time or completely; 0: everything done on time and completely].
• +/-10 for the final project report per the requirements listed above  [-10: poor; 0: average/acceptable; 10: exceptional].

qualitative adjustments:

• +/-10 based on how presentable and complete the device is, based on construction quality, aesthetics, and consumer appeal (e.g., perforated protoboard with neat soldered wiring vs. messy breadboard; well-built and attractive packaging; creative, original, and useful functionality) [-10: poor; 0: average; 10: exceptional].
• +/-10 for apparent level of effort   [-10: low; 0: average; 10: high].
• +/-10 based on construction cost and expected mass production cost appropriate for the functionality  [-10: expensive, non frugal; 0: average; 10: inexpensive, very frugal].

• -10 maximum for level of integration of components and functionality (i.e., everything works together and is a vital part of the overall system)   [-10: poor; 0: well-integrated].
• -10 maximum for performance during final reviews in your final Lab section meeting  [-10: device is nonfunctional and/or unreliable; 0: everything works perfectly and reliably].
• -10 maximum for any unsafe or dangerous elements in your device (e.g., pinch points, shock hazards, potential for bodily injury)  [-10: dangerous; 0: completely safe].

other:

• +5 if you have something working and performing some useful function in all six categories by the early bird date listed on the course syllabus. Your device does not need to be a completed system for the early bird award, but everything must be interfaced to the PIC(s) and be controlled by functioning software performing useful functions.
• A group self-evaluation will occur at the middle and end of the semester. This provides an opportunity to praise and critique group members, and it may be used to help adjust individual grades.

NOTE:

• The potential for a positive adjustment increases with the level of functionality. A maximum positive adjustment (especially for the final project report) is possible only for a well-designed, high-ranking device.
• You are encouraged (and will be rewarded) for designing creative and interesting devices with minimal cost.
• Mechanical design and construction are not the emphasis of this project; but well done work will be rewarded through the qualitative adjustments above.

Additional Information:

• The TA will provide the basic set of electrical components needed to get started, and the Engineering Shop can supply you limited materials and mechanical hardware. Other items (special ICs, switches, miscellaneous mechanical and electrical accessories, etc.) must be purchased. See useful local and mail-order vendors for for supplier information. The TA may help you order components through lower cost mail-order vendors, but groups must submit order sheets to the TA and prepay. Electronic items from local retail stores can be quite expensive, so try to order all components through your TA.

• See sources of information for useful resources to help you with the project.

• Information and vendors for various actuators and sensors and for various I/O devices, PIC accessories, motor drivers and controllers, and sensor interfaces can be found online.

• We recommend that group members work together as much as possible, but the project work may be more manageable if tasks are divided among the group members. The entire group is still responsible for the work (e.g., if one group member doesn't do their part, the other members must take up the slack and evaluate the non contributing member accordingly). Here is an example of a list of duties to distribute among the group members:
• Project management (schedule meetings, plan and monitor progress, budget and collect for purchases, foster communication, etc.).
• Product and component research and purchasing.
• Mechanical hardware design, assembly, and testing.
• Electronics design, assembly, and testing.
• PIC microcontroller programming and interfacing.
• Design documentation and report writing.
  

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.).

• Official evaluation trials will be held during the Lab section meetings during the latter part of the semester. No trials will be allowed after the last class day of the semester. Multiple trials are allowed to progressively document the level of functionality achieved in each functional category. A group is allowed only one official trial per day. NOTE: Your functional category ratings are not official until the instructor and TAs discuss them and post the final project scores.

• Every group must show their device during the last Lab section meeting, where the grading adjustments will be evaluated by the instructor, TAs, and your classmates.

• Selected groups will be invited to present their projects to the entire class during the last two lecture periods of the semester.

• Theoretically, the highest possible score (for an extraordinary device requiring much effort and research, functioning repeatedly, and presented well) is 170 on a scale of 100! Although such a high score (170) is unlikely, with hard work and good performance, a score over 100 can be achieved. This could help in recovering from poor grades in other parts of the course.

• The design notebook and group self-evaluation are the only evaluations considered on an individual basis. However, individual grades in the course can also be adjusted based on the group self-evaluations completed in the middle and at the end of the semester (see Course Policies).

• Group composition is very important. See Course Policies for more information about how the groups are formed and how individuals are evaluated within a group.

• You may be asked to turn in your device at the end of the semester.

• If you have done a good job with your project, you may want to consider submitting it to Design News magazine for their Gadget Freak series. If they select your project, you will receive $600 and get your project published in the magazine. Several students have done this in the past (see student design projects). Click on any of the previous articles to see the submittal instructions (at the bottom of the article).