Product-based Project Description Examples
The following are examples of the product-based project description information to help understand the size and scope that our capstone teams can accomplish during the 20-week project. Many examples were generated from previous projects, with specific details omitted/changed for some.
Example - VibroSonics
VibroSonics
The OSU OPEnS Lab is partnering with CymaSpace for this project. The Open-Sensing Lab is focused on developing environmental sensing projects and research. CymaSpace is a non-profit community center in Portland, Oregon dedicated to making music, audio, and art accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing through alternative media platforms. Through programs and outreach, Cymaspace hopes to be able to use the results of this project to educate its community on instrumentation, music production, and musical enjoyment.
One of the most exhilarating aspects of experiencing live music events is “feeling” the sound pump against your skin. What if you could experience this sensation from your own playlist anywhere you go? Vibrosonics translates audio from the spectrum of human hearing into the tactile sub-audio range to drive vibrations through the body through wearable devices. This is accomplished through a unique audio encoding process that you will help improve.
What would be some of the benefits of this technology? Ludwig Van Beethoven was famous for being a deaf composer who overcame the condition of his ears by using touch on the piano. This technology could enable Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to dance with and experience music in new ways; gamers in VR-AR to feel and react to more aspects of their environment, and workers in high-noise situations feel critical sonic cues to help them avoid accidents.
We need an ME team to join a group of Electrical Engineering students to integrate their electronic prototype into a backpack or other wearable device.
Qualifications:
Confidence and experience with Fusion360, Solidworks Theoretical knowledge on how mechanical forces propagate and transmit through materials Eager to learn new skills and adapt to a dynamic product development environment
Preferred:
Experiential knowledge working with mechanical forces and propagation and transmission through materials Some electronics experience.
Multiple iterative prototypes for testing before final design solution
Full CAD model of the wearable will be rendered.
Other specs like weight limit, production cost, wearability, portability, etc will be determined in Weeks 1-2.
Integration of a secondary control system looped to the front of the wearable device.
Integrate system beyond backpack concept for more surround sound feel.
Example - SumoRobotics Competition
Sumobot!
The School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering will be sponsoring this competition during the Engineering Expo in June. The College of Engineering may provide funds as well. All teams are welcome to find further external sponsors and funds if they choose (but are not required to)
Teams of Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering capstone students will be tasked with creating an original design for a sumo robot that will compete during the Engineering Expo in June. Sumobot competitions are run similar to human sumo bouts where two robots compete head to head, attempting to push each other out of the competition ring. Robots are not allowed weapons or the ability to flip their opponent out of the ring – it is based solely on the ability to push one’s opponent. The weight class and size restrictions will be set at 3,000 kg weight and no greater than a 20 cm x 20 cm footprint. Autonomous and/or remote control classes may be required.
Last year’s inaugural launch of this competition was a great success during Expo and we’re excited to offer it again this year! Each team will be allocated a budget to work with or may seek out external sponsorship. Up to 4 teams may be fielded for this project, where a round-robin style competition would be implemented during Expo, with the top finishers going head-to-head at the end! This is a great opportunity for ME/MfgE students to gain hands-on experience in manufacturing and coding – two highly sought after skills in industry. Further information on the competition rules can be found here: http://robogames.net/rules/all-sumo.php
Meet all competition requirements regarding size and weight.
Must be aesthetically pleasing.
Must represent Oregon State Engineering in a recruitment capacity.
Must include one extra subsystem beyond a simple ramp
Cost under $500.
Expo poster should be geared towards motivating High School students to become an engineer
Fix the older models of sumobots in storage to use as competition practice. Internal system must be easily accessible for repairs and diagnostics.
Process-based Project Description Examples
The following is an example of the process-based project description information to help understand the size and scope that our capstone teams can accomplish during the 20-week project. This example was generated from previous projects, with specific details omitted/changed.
Example - Call Center Improvement
Call Center Improvement
The ACME call center answers calls for (15) primary distribution centers from the coast to the cascades. The call center takes between 16,000 – 21,000 based on the time of the year (fall/winter have the most). The call center has (40+) employees, a template coordinator/supervisor, and three technical experts. The call center also assists with a number of programs: (1) rocket launcher issues (2) roller-skating mishaps (3) warranty claims. The call center, for the most part, is a resource and scheduling center.
The call center has gone through a very rapid growth process and existing processes and structures are not able to cope efficiently with current demand. It is no longer clear if the ACME call center phone tree is still effective for all customers. In addition, new protocols to handle warranty-related injuries will be added and the request is to add this to the phone tree, yet it is unclear if this will add too much to the phone tree. Given the growth in personnel, it is necessary to design a work flow for the call center representatives that is easy to understand and efficient (this may include to examine where the variables are and what can be streamlined). This information may be when to offer discounts or reimbursements, to when the call should be transferred to technicians or our lawyers. As a result, ACME expects the capstone team to determine the best means to streamline information that the reps need to resolve a claim.
The expectation will be that the capstone team and ACME will determine what tools can be developed/removed/enhanced for the call center representatives to ensure that they are able to answer and address all claims effectively. The hope is that by addressing these areas we will be able to maintain our call goals.
No more than 5% abandoned calls
No more than a 30-second hold time
Minimize the time that representatives are off the phone ‘not ready’ because of completing notes.
Provide full ARENA model of system to clearly show where areas of improvement for future iterations can be.
Provide signage for all centers to help personnel during calls with potential transfers/changes/etc. Create training manuals for all new procedures.