Project 1 (2 weeks ) - Configure Tools [Click to Download Project 1 Instructions]

Install MATLAB/Simulink on student PC and test xPC configuration by executing simple programs on the Target PC. Perform the following loop-back experiments: analog out to analog in, digital out to analog in, digital out to encoder in. Also test by connecting a US Digital encoder to encoder in. Plot the data in MATLAB (not Simulink scopes). Write 4 page report: Purpose, Materials and Methods (include photos and connection diagrams), Results and Discussion, Conclusion. Write the Conclusion as a recommendation about what can be done with the xPC system. Grading emphasis will be on report quality and completeness.

Create a part to be cut with the laser cutter. The part should demonstrate both cutting and etching and should be contained in a 4” x 4” area.

Sample Reports: Sample Report 1, SampleReport 2

Project 2 (2 weeks) - Design Voltage Adapter and Build Website
[Click to Download Project 2 Instructions]

Design a circuit (no physical prototype) and create a report website for your group. Specify two resistances so that a voltage divider is guaranteed to produce a certain voltage under variable load, supply voltage, temperature, and tolerance on the resistors themselves. Must specify resistors, connectors, and mounting/case. Competition based on accurate accounting of cost of parts from Newark and Digikey catalogs and estimated hand assembly costs. 8 page report: engineering requirements, design details, cost analysis, and prototype simulation. Emphasis on the design details and how well design meets the requirements. Create a website that will house all of the design reports for the semester. Free HTML editor

Sample Reports: Sample Report 1, SampleReport 2, Sample Report 3

Project 3 (2 weeks) - Design a User Interface for a Light-level Controller [Click to Download Project 3 Instructions]

Design and build a prototype of a physical user interface that is used to control the level of an LED light. The light level must be changed using PWM output. The cost of the input sensor will be limited to $30 in parts. 10 page report: engineering requirements, concepts and concepts evaluation, prototype details, and evluation of the final design. Emphasis will be placed on the innovativeness of the user input device.

Provide a financial analysis of that examines turning your group into a start-up company. Use the spreadsheet provided to make calculations and report your results on the MS Word template. [Click to Download Spreadsheet for Finacial Anlaysis] [Click to Download MS Word Document for Finacial Anlaysis Report]

Project 4 (2 weeks) - Camera as a Sensor [Click to Download Project 4 Instructions]

Design and build a prototype of a camera system that can find the identity (by color) and position of colored disks on a surface. Define engineering requirements. Groups must identify and purchase a camera that will work with MATLAB image processing tools. Mount the camera above the surface. Perform experiments to determine the sensitivity of the system to lighting changes (does it meet the requirements?). 9 page report: engineering requirements, calculations, analysis of sensitivity to lighting changes, conclusion. Emphasis on robustness of the design to lighting changes.

Use BEES software to provide a life cycle analyis of a shipping container that could be used for this system. [Click to Download MS Word Document for Life Cycle Analysis].

Project 5 (2 weeks) - Closed-loop Motor Control. [Click to Download Project 5 Instructions]

Mount the motor on a 2' square of 3/4" medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Add a pointer to the motor shaft that points to an angular scale. Follow instructions for closed-loop motor control. Demonstrate that you have achieved closed-loop control by videotaping the physical pointer and recording motor position. Design an experiment a system that requires closed-loop motor control. Perform experiments that show the effects of changing the PID gains. 10 page report: purpose, materials and methods, results that prove robustness to light fluctuations in the range of the requirements, conclusions.

Safety

Project 6 (3 weeks) - Puzzle solver [Click to Download Game Rules] [Click to Download Customer Requirements]

Solve a puzzle by moving game pieces to different locations on the game board. A starting and final arrangement of the game pieces will be given. System must autonomously determine the starting locations of the game pieces, generate a strategy to rearrange the washers in minimum time, move the washers with a robotic manipulator, and correct any misplaced washers. Emphasis will be placed on how fast the system correctly performs the fixed task compared to the other groups. 10 page report: engineering requirements, detailed design, and performance evaluation.

[Click for dwg format drawing of game board]