Undergraduate Projects on Technology Assessment
Introduction
Undergraduate team projects on technology assessment was introduced to the Electrical Engineering curriculum in 1993. The purpose of the projects is to introduce engineering students to the softer aspects of electronics product/service development. No actual engineering developmental work is conducted in these projects. The deliverables are feasibility reports on the topic of study and are focused on the following aspects:
a. The formulation of a conceptual marketable electronic product or service. The product concerned may include high volume consumer products/services or specialized industrial equipment or processes. Definition of a user feature set will be made and if appropriate industrial design concept and packaging will be considered.
b. Development feasibility. No actual engineering work is performed but students have to show clearly the approaches and technologies needed to realize the final product. Consideration will also include regulatory requirements such as EMI, ESD, etc.
c. To consider costing and realistic pricing policy to realize market potential.
d. To consider the manufacturability aspects of any developed engineering prototype.
e. Preliminary study on market feasibility of the product. This will include market size, acceptance, share, etc.
f. To show realistic planning and scheduling for the project execution. This will also include a budgetary financial planning. The supervisor will then provide a synopsis on the area of study from which the project is to proceed.
Period of Projects
12 weeks at 5 hours per week (giving a total of 60 hours). The 60 hours will include writing of the report.
Scope of Projects
The project will expose the students to the various stages of product development. It will include product conceptualization, market feasibility studies, technical feasibility studies, and financial planning. The investigations done in the project will be based on actual facts and should be implementable. Science fiction type of those involving only “thought process” are to be excluded. It will have to be substantial and involves a complete review of the state of the art achieved currently. Both engineering application of technology and project management and planning will be emphasized. The proportion of emphasis is as follows.
Application of technology 70%
Project management 30%
As a guide, each project should preferably include the following:
a) A description of the conceptualized product or service to be developed.
b) An assessment of the market potential of the product or service.
c) Proper budget, plans, and schedule for the development phase of the project.
d) State of the art review and drawing of specifications. Specifications include
· specification on user requirements
· specification on system requirements
· design specifications
e) Block diagram design for the technical aspect. Each block should contain complete and detailed functionality description. However component level design is not required.
Administration (staff)
The staff members involve in each project are as follows.
a) Technical Supervisor(s)
b) Project Examiner
Technical Supervisor(s)
Each group of students to be supervised by one or more EE staff members.
Their duties are as follows:
1. To oversee the students’ progress and ensure that the group is moving in the right direction.
2. To provide the specific technical advice relating to the technologies used or investigated in the project.
3. To provide general advice relating to project management and planning to facilitate the students to do the project.
4. To play the role of management to the students.
5. To assess the overall performance of the groups.
Project Examiner
An EE staff member will be assigned as examiner for each group of students. The examiner will have to read the project reports/documentation, attend the final presentation and interview the students on their project. He/She is then to provide assessment of the following.
1. The overall performance of the groups in term of proper execution of the projects.
2. The overall performance of the group in terms of report writing and oral presentation.
Evaluation Criteria
a) Execution of project (60% of total marks)
b) Report writing (20% of total marks)
c) Presentation (20% of total marks)
Examination Score Sheet for Mini-Projects
Department of Electrical Engineering
Group Number : ___________________________________________
Supervisor* : ___________________________________________
Score
Execution of Project
(100%)
Weighting=0.6
Report writing
(100%)
Weighting=0.2
Presentation
(100%)
Weighting=0.2