ECE361
Engineering Practice
Brainstorming, Trades,
Evaluation, and Conceptual
Capture
Session 7
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Trades and Conceptual
Design
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Design Process Assures Design
will meet Requirements
Stage 1 – Problem
Definition & Potential
Solutions
Stage 2 – Design
Stage 3 – Verification
Requirements
Specification
Brainstorming
Trades
Preliminary
Design
Requirements
vs. Capabilities
Detailed
Design Review
Implementation
Testing
Reporting
This process is part of what
we call Systems Engineering
Session 7
Deliver = $$$
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Conceptual Design
The PDS establishes what the system must do
functionally, but the implementation details need
to be established
The conceptual design process is where this takes
place through the
• Generation of alternative solutions and the
• Evaluation of alternatives to choose the “best”
solution
• This process leads to …
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Preliminary Design
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Never carry out preliminary design without
reference to the PDS and the chosen strategy
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Strategy – Your general approach to solving the
problem (e.g. win by multiple trips)
Design – the creation to achieve the strategy
Concept of Operation – the specific plan of action for
achieving the strategy with your design
Outlining the functions allows for design of
solutions for those functions
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The interaction between the various functions must be
considered together with the constraints imposed by
those functions
Functions often translate to subsystems
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Conceptual Capture Process
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Identify strategy
Document process for each function in PDS
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Capture preliminary design for each solution
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Each individual approach should be low-risk
Document each part of the solution carefully
Include sketches, diagrams, code, etc.
Complete conceptual capture for total system
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Generate multiple approaches for each function
Evaluate each approach and decide on single approach
for each function
Think about integrating individual function solutions
Assign functions to team members (prelim)
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Conceptual Capture Report
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Informal report format, focus is on conveying
design concepts, not on writing lengthy report
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List all functions performed by system and
capture preliminary design for each
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Include brief introduction and summary sections
Try to clearly indicate strategy and main points of concept
of operation
Description of function and current best solution, along
with list of alternatives
Include sketches and diagrams, neatly hand drawn is fine
Some action view is necessary where appropriate
Each team member should prepare their portion
of the report, and label it as such
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Team Minute
• How is my team functioning?
• Ask these questions:
– Do I know the names of all of my team members? [ y=2, n=0 ]
– When we meet, are all members present and participating?
[ y=2, n=0 ]
– Do I feel like my ideas are valued in the team discussions?
[ y=2, n=0 ]
– Do I know my team’s main idea for the design? [ y=2, n=0 ]
• If your score is below 4, come see me
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Team Activity
Capture Preliminary Design!
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Consider all system functions
Generate multiple approaches for each function
Evaluate ideas for each function and decide on
single approach function
Submit minutes of team deliberations
Complete conceptual capture for total system
Submit as a team report at the next class
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ECE 361 Assignments
TEAM ASSIGNMENT - Prepare Conceptual Capture Report
describing team’s conceptual design
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Due at end of next class, one per team, hard copy
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