Senior Project Planning
EMB 335: Senior Project Planning is a foundational course designed to prepare students for their culminating Senior Project in Embedded Systems Engineering. This course focuses intensely on the initial phases of a complex engineering project, including problem identification, literature review, requirements elicitation, and the development of a robust project proposal. Students will learn methodologies for defining project scope, establishing measurable objectives, and selecting appropriate embedded hardware and software platforms. Emphasis is placed on engineering ethics, safety standards, and intellectual property considerations pertinent to embedded systems development. Throughout the term, students will progressively develop their individual or team project concept, moving from a broad problem space to a detailed technical plan. The curriculum covers project management principles relevant to embedded systems, risk assessment, and strategies for documentation and presentation. The ultimate goal is for each student to produce a comprehensive, well-researched, and technically sound Senior Project Proposal that outlines their planned work for the subsequent Senior Project implementation course, ensuring a structured and successful approach to their capstone experience.
Prerequisites
Course outline
Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.
Syllabus
## EMB 335: Senior Project Planning ### Course Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Identify and articulate a significant problem suitable for an embedded systems engineering solution. 2. Conduct comprehensive literature and market research to understand existing solutions and identify technical gaps. 3. Define clear, measurable project requirements and objectives for an embedded system. 4. Develop a conceptual design, including hardware and software architectures, for a proposed embedded system. 5. Formulate a detailed project plan, including timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies. 6. Prepare and present a professional Senior Project Proposal that meets engineering standards. 7. Analyze ethical, safety, and intellectual property considerations relevant to embedded systems projects. ### Weekly Topic List * **Week 1:** Introduction to Senior Project; Problem Identification & Scoping * **Week 2:** Literature Review & State-of-the-Art Research * **Week 3:** Requirements Elicitation & Specification * **Week 4:** Conceptual Design: Hardware Platform Selection * **Week 5:** Conceptual Design: Software Architecture & Tools * **Week 6:** Project Management Basics: Scope, Schedule, Budget * **Week 7:** Risk Assessment & Mitigation Strategies * **Week 8:** Midterm Review & Proposal Outline Development * **Week 9:** Ethical, Safety, & IP Considerations in Embedded Systems * **Week 10:** Testing & Validation Planning; Documentation Standards * **Week 11:** Prototyping Strategies & Proof-of-Concept Planning * **Week 12:** Proposal Writing Workshop & Peer Review * **Week 13:** Comprehensive Midterm Review * **Week 14:** Final Project Proposal Presentations & Review ### Grading Policy * Knowledge Checks: 15% * Assignments/Labs: 30% * Quizzes: 25% * Final Exam: 30% ### Required Materials * No textbook required. All readings and resources will be provided digitally through the learning management system. * Access to a computer with internet connectivity and common office software (e.g., word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software). * Access to online academic databases for research (provided by college library).