Senior Capstone Design Project I

Catalog description

The goal of The Capstone Design Project is to provide students with a major design experience that leverages the knowledge and skills acquired through their undergraduate studies and co-curricular experiences. Its structure includes a process of design with measurable metrics, and incorporation of appropriate engineering standards and multiple realistic constraints. Emphasis is placed on clearly framing the design problem and following the design process to result in an optimized design solution. Students are encouraged to build prototypes of their designs and seek validation of their solutions through simulations and experiments, as appropriate. The Capstone Project aims to be collaborative and trans-disciplinary across several engineering streams. The emphasis is on students applying the design process to solve real-world problems in a 21st century, global context. The projects address engineering and technology topics that overlap with the sciences, social sciences, liberal arts or business. The Capstone provides an opportunity to integrate technical, human, aesthetic, business and ethical concerns with engineering design. Students practice critical skills in communication, team-building, and project management. There is a mid-semester review of the projects. Students complete their design, as well as build and test their prototypes, if applicable, in spring semester. The senior year culminates in a comprehensive project report and design review by a committee of faculty and other professionals. Senior Capstone Design Project I (ENGR-AD-400) and Senior Capstone Design Project II (ENGR-AD-401) both consist of two, seven-week modules. Module I, in the fall semester, has a lecture and a project component focusing on the design process, problem definition, project management and Ethics. Module II in the fall is focused on creating the design solution, which is…