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CSA 448 Senior Design Project I (2 credits)

Typically offered during both the fall and spring semesters.

Catalog description:

Student teams conduct major open-ended research/design projects. Elements of the design process are considered as well as real-world constraints, such as economic and societal factors, marketability, ergonomics, safety, aesthetics, and ethics. In 448, feasibility and design studies are performed. In 449, implementation, testing and production of the design will be completed.

Prerequisites:

CSA348 and senior standing. Cross listed with MME/ECE 448-449

 
Course Objectives:

The Capstone Experience, completed near the end of baccalaureate studies, integrates liberal learning with specialized knowledge. Each Capstone emphasizes sharing of ideas, synthesis, and critical, informed reflection as significant precursors to action, and each includes student initiative in defining and investigating problems or projects.

Thus, the objectives of this course are to utilize your knowledge, as a senior student to perform a major open-ended design project. The project is conducted in a professional manner that resembles a real business/industrial environment. Here, you are considered a design engineer working in a multidisciplinary team, and the faculty as the project director/manager and consultant. The fundamental elements of the design process are integrated with the four goals of the Miami Plan (in bold, below) to help you achieve the capstone objectives. Specifically, you will be able to:

  • Understand context by defining and considering the boundary of the problem, by conducting research, and by considering realistic constraints, as appropriate to each project, which include technical and economical factors, social implications, environmental considerations, marketability safety considerations, reliability, aesthetics, and ethics.
  • Think critically by solving open-ended problems, by establishing objectives and criteria, by brainstorming ideas and alternatives, by synthesizing, creatively, the problem, by analyzing, testing, and evaluating ideas, and by developing proposals.
  • Engage with other learners by actively participating in and learning to function within a multidisciplinary team, by assuming, as necessary, different roles on the team, by communicating with one another and your customer and advisor, and by critically evaluating and reflecting on your performance as well as their team members.
  • Reflect and act on your proposed designs and results, and communicate these effectively with your customer and project manager, by addressing safety and other related issues, and learning to adjust to and evolve with the given stochastic environment of an open-ended business/industrial problem.

Learning Outcomes:

CSA 448/9.1: As a team member, work under the direction of a faculty mentor to solve an open-ended problem utilizing computational or software engineering tools and methods
CSA448/9.1.1  The student can define the problem, determine requirements to solve the problem, and analyze alternative approaches to solving the problem:

  •  Formulate a succinct definition of the problem domain which may come from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, a research problem or from a client internal or external to the university.
  •  Define the problem boundaries.

CSA448/9.1.2  The student can design a solution to the problem:

  • Brainstorm to generate alternatives
  • Synthesize and evaluate alternatives to select an optimal solution
  • Address multiple criteria (such as technical, environmental, economic and societal issues) in design 
  • Follow a standard development process
  • Develop and test models using mathematical, scientific, and engineering principles and modern techniques
  • Propose and justify a final design solution

CSA448/9.1.3  The student can implement a design producing a functioning software system that meets user requirements or addresses the research problem at a high level of quality.
CSA448/9.1.4  The student can validate and verify that the solution solves the problem.
CSA448/9.1.5  The student can deploy an implemented software system.
CSA448/9.1.6  The student can use standard processes or domain notations and tools such as UML, mathematics, scientific notations, relevant modeling tools, etc.

CSA 448/9.2.: Demonstrate written and oral communication skills necessary to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
CSA448/9.2.1  The student can interact with the client to determine appropriate criteria and constraints on the design, and the appropriate problem to solve to satisfy the client need.
CSA448/9.2.2  The student can document and present the results of the design process by the following means:

  • Prepare and deliver various written engineering reports as requested by the client.
  • Prepare and deliver effective professional oral presentations.

CSA 448/9.3: Understand and apply engineering ethics and professionalism, and demonstrate skills in project management.
CSA448/9.3.1  The student has the ability to plan, organize, attend, and conduct project meetings
CSA448/9.3.2  The student can plan and manage a design project, including time management
CSA448/9.3.3  The student can identify ethical implications/considerations of the project.

CSA448/9.4: Work in teams and take on different roles in the team.
CSA448/9.4.1  The student can successfully function in a team environment.
CSA448/9.4.2  The student can document teamwork processes used, and demonstrate ways that they contributed to team progress during the project

Miami Plan:

MPC - capstone course.

Practiced Success Skills

Syllabus:

Weeks 1-2 Introduction to project and forming teams.

 Announcing groups and projects, assign an advisor to each team, and teams meet with their advisor; project planning and prepare timetable.

Weeks 3-7 Literature research, brainstorming sessions, generating ideas, feasibility study, and project planning.

Weeks 8-13: Requirements analysis; high-level design; prototyping; professional ethics and other concerns (environmental, etc.)

Weeks 14-15: Writing the final report and guidelines for presentations.