ECE 188

EE Senior Capstone Design Projects

Dr. Ilan Ben-Yaacov
April 29, 2014

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Overview
Established as a formal course offering in 2009.
EE elective design sequence taken during senior year.
Students form groups of 2-4 and choose a project offered by
faculty or industry sponsors.
Each group is provided a technical adviser.
Students establish a set of design specs and project plan, then
proceed to design build their apparatus.
Work on the projects begins in October and is completed by the
following June.
At the end of Spring quarter, each group demos their apparatus
and gives a poster presentation and talk on their project.
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Projects
Typically 4-6 projects (1-3 industry sponsored projects) completed
each year.
All projects are established in advance by instructor, in coordination
with a sponsoring research group on campus or industry partner.
Funding and technical support provided by sponsor. Industry projects
typically supported by $6000 gift from sponsor.
Technical adviser may come from sponsoring group or may be
assigned by instructor.
Project requirements
Require knowledge/experience from a variety of areas of EE.
Ideally, include implementation of both hardware and software.
Goals can be reasonably met in a 9-month time frame.
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Course Structure
Fall Quarter
Students select projects, come up with a project plan and design
specifications, and begin working on components (mostly hardware).
Lectures: Project planning/management, Gantt charts, establishing design
specs, prototyping, concept/design development, design reviews,
intellectual property.
Deliverables: Design reviews, 2 sets of preliminary design specs and
project plans, prototype demo.
Winter Quarter
Continued work on project, transition from planning to executing
Monthly meetings w/ instructor
Deliverables: Updated project plan and design spec, prototype demo.
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Course Structure (cont)
Spring Quarter
Final specs and project plan due week 2 of quarter, final product judged
verses deliverables promised.
Complete and assemble project.
Branding / trademarks.
Present project and demo products at ECE/CS Capstone presentation day
at the end of the quarter.
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Past Project #1: ICARUS
Angularly resolved spectral characterization system
Sponsored by Solid State Lighting Services, Inc.
Completed System
(spectrophotometer not shown)
LabView UI
Data Visualization
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Past Project #2: brightblu
Plug and play home automation device that allows users to control their lights
and appliances from their smartphone over Bluetooth
Sponsored by Solid State Lighting Services, Inc.
Hardware
Phone App
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brightblu is now Zuli, Inc!
Launched Zuli Smartplugs on Kickstarter in December, raised $175K
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Past Project #3: Rejuvalight
Solar powered light with pay-as-you-go functionality for use in developing
regions
Sponsored by Unite to Light
Patent pending
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Current Project: IR Scout
Tool enabling first responders to perform remote, thermal reconnaissance
prior to entering a hazardous environment
Joint EE/ME project
Sponsored by FLIR
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Project Sponsorship - Benefits
Completion of a project of interest to the sponsor.
Access to university resources.
Great way to attract, pre-screen, and train entry level
engineers.
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Establishing an Industry Sponsored Project
Contact Ilan Ben-Yaacov (ilan@engineering.ucsb.edu),
preferably by around June.
I will work with you to define the scope of the project such that
it meets all the criteria for the class.
In early October, present the project idea to the class.
Projects are selected and work begins by early October.
Projects are completed by the following June.
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Questions?