university of alabama electrical & computer engineering electrical and computer engineering...

University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama Electrical & Computer EngineeringElectrical & Computer Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering Capstone Design Experience at The Capstone Design Experience at The University of Alabama: Challenges, University of Alabama: Challenges,

Improvements and Future DirectionsImprovements and Future Directions

Jeff JacksonJeff Jackson

Electrical and Computer Electrical and Computer EngineeringEngineering

University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama

22 of 11 of 11The University of AlabamaThe University of Alabama Electrical & Computer EngineeringElectrical & Computer Engineering

OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction ABET program educational objectivesABET program educational objectives Transitioning to a two semester design course Transitioning to a two semester design course

sequencesequence Curriculum changes to accommodate design Curriculum changes to accommodate design

course changescourse changes Handling co-op and out-of-phase studentsHandling co-op and out-of-phase students Funding and corporate involvementFunding and corporate involvement ECE Advisory Committee role in capstone ECE Advisory Committee role in capstone

designdesign Current and future design project examplesCurrent and future design project examples QuestionsQuestions


ABET Program Outcomes ABET Program Outcomes Assessed in Capstone DesignAssessed in Capstone Design

B. Design & conduct experiments, analyze & interpret B. Design & conduct experiments, analyze & interpret datadata

C. Design a system, component, or process to meet C. Design a system, component, or process to meet needsneeds

D. Function on multi-disciplinary teamsD. Function on multi-disciplinary teams E. Identify, formulate, solve engineering problemsE. Identify, formulate, solve engineering problems F. Professional and ethical responsibilityF. Professional and ethical responsibility G. Communicate effectivelyG. Communicate effectively H. Broad education necessary for global and societal H. Broad education necessary for global and societal

contextcontext I. Need, and an ability to engage in life-long learningI. Need, and an ability to engage in life-long learning J. Knowledge of contemporary issuesJ. Knowledge of contemporary issues


Current StatusCurrent Status One semester design courseOne semester design course

– One course administrator and one technical advisor One course administrator and one technical advisor per design teamper design team

Heavy burdenHeavy burden– Typical preliminary and critical design reviews Typical preliminary and critical design reviews

“merged” into a single, mid-term, design review“merged” into a single, mid-term, design review– Fragmentation of design process with “soft” skills Fragmentation of design process with “soft” skills

coveragecoverage– Far removed from previous ethics, society and other Far removed from previous ethics, society and other

“soft” skills coverage in the curriculum“soft” skills coverage in the curriculum Hard to incorporate meaningful “soft” Hard to incorporate meaningful “soft”

components, at least early in the design components, at least early in the design processprocess– Largely a time constraintLargely a time constraint


Transitioning to a Two Transitioning to a Two Semester Capstone Design Semester Capstone Design

SequenceSequence Making the transition seamless?Making the transition seamless?

– Must teach at lest one additional iteration of single course Must teach at lest one additional iteration of single course design, in parallel with two course design sequencedesign, in parallel with two course design sequence

Course administrator’s role in second course may be Course administrator’s role in second course may be minimalminimal– Second level manager roleSecond level manager role– Coordination necessary to reduce probability of conflicting Coordination necessary to reduce probability of conflicting

adviseadvise Two semester designTwo semester design

– More accurate industrial flowMore accurate industrial flow Preliminary and critical design reviewsPreliminary and critical design reviews Incorporate more design review Incorporate more design review beforebefore design is fixed design is fixed

Breakpoint between courses will be at the preliminary Breakpoint between courses will be at the preliminary design review (or later)design review (or later)– Still under considerationStill under consideration


Handling Co-op and Out-of-Handling Co-op and Out-of-phase Studentsphase Students

Each capstone design course will be Each capstone design course will be taught each termtaught each term– Increases faculty loadIncreases faculty load

Co-op students will be allowed to Co-op students will be allowed to participateparticipate– RemotelyRemotely– Option to join a new design group for Option to join a new design group for

second course experiencesecond course experience– +/- in both cases+/- in both cases


Curriculum Changes to Curriculum Changes to Accommodate Capstone Accommodate Capstone

DesignDesign Based, in part, on student inputBased, in part, on student input Part of full curriculum emphasis on “hands Part of full curriculum emphasis on “hands

on” designon” design First capstone design course will be co-First capstone design course will be co-

requisite with an ECE senior lecture/lab requisite with an ECE senior lecture/lab combinationcombination

Second capstone design course will have first Second capstone design course will have first capstone design course and ECE senior capstone design course and ECE senior lecture/lab combination as prerequisiteslecture/lab combination as prerequisites

IE203 – Engineering Economics will be deleted IE203 – Engineering Economics will be deleted from ECE curriculumfrom ECE curriculum– Engineering Economics coverage will now be in the Engineering Economics coverage will now be in the

first of the two capstone design coursesfirst of the two capstone design courses


Funding and Corporate Funding and Corporate InvolvementInvolvement

Funding for capstone design teams is currently set at Funding for capstone design teams is currently set at $500 per three student design team$500 per three student design team– Larger teams generally have a larger budgetLarger teams generally have a larger budget

Larger teams also introduce more test and integration issuesLarger teams also introduce more test and integration issues– Department funded from engineering student equipment feeDepartment funded from engineering student equipment fee– Paid for by corporate donationsPaid for by corporate donations

Some corporate sponsors are heavily involved in projectsSome corporate sponsors are heavily involved in projects– Project definition, participation in design reviews and other Project definition, participation in design reviews and other

presentationspresentations– Primary motivation: Students to hire after graduationPrimary motivation: Students to hire after graduation

Corporate sponsors also have recruiting and/or IEEE events Corporate sponsors also have recruiting and/or IEEE events scheduledscheduled

New capstone design lab paid for by corporate New capstone design lab paid for by corporate donation from Bellsouthdonation from Bellsouth


ECE Advisory Committee ECE Advisory Committee InvolvementInvolvement

ECE Advisory Committee meetings are ECE Advisory Committee meetings are scheduled to coincide with final scheduled to coincide with final capstone design presentationscapstone design presentations– Provides one external source of design Provides one external source of design

evaluationevaluation– Provides one additional opportunity for Provides one additional opportunity for

students to meet with potential employersstudents to meet with potential employers– Students have a chance to represent Students have a chance to represent

departmentdepartment A good motivator for students and faculty alikeA good motivator for students and faculty alike


Current Design Project Current Design Project ExamplesExamples


Questions?Questions?

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