Practical Engineering Prototyping

Catalog description

This course will teach prototyping skills, standard tools, and best practices to convert a project concept into a functioning, verifiable prototype. Course topics include understanding component specifications, system schematics, system functionality verification, power calculations and measurements, driver circuit designs, soldering and wiring procedures, basic MCU programming, Printed Circuit Board design and test, and debugging/test/verification tools/methods and procedures. Quick workshops on sensor interfacing, standard circuits and off-the-shelf systems, mobile app design, prototype packaging, and patent search resources will also be included in this course. Students will be required to complete several prototyping activities outside of class. This course is an open elective recommended to be taken before or at the same time as the capstone classes for Electrical and Computer (ECE) Engineering. Students are expected to have some basic knowledge about what is ac-dc, dc-dc voltage converters, motors, transistors, op-amps, and MOSFETS.