Senior Design Project –
SDP13
Problem Statement, Requirement
Specifications and Block Diagram
Professors C.V. Hollot & Christopher Salthouse
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
13 September 2012
From Idea to Product
ECE Department
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Design processes to avoid …
ECE Department
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Some Intermediate Goals
detailed block level
design and test
functioning
modules
assess
needs
title and abstract
(statement of problem)
due 20th September
system integration
and test
analyze
requirements
requirements analysis 4th October
design
system
system specs &
block diagram
due 4th October
ECE Department
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Assess Needs (Problem Statement-1)
The problem statement has the following attributes:
• relatively nontechnical
• language of the customer
• straightforward
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
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Assess Needs (Problem Statement -2)
Techniques for arriving at a problem statement:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
question the customer
differentiate needs and wants
explore project boundaries
input/output analysis
preview the user interface
survey design attributes
identify conflicting needs
prepare a draft operations manual
ECE Department
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
6
Assess Needs (Problem Statement-3)
Sections of the problem statement:
1. background
2. the design
3. deliverables of the design project
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
ECE Department
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Problem Statement Example: Paste and Place
Students with severe disabilities face many
challenges with tasks that we perform every
day with little thought. For one student in the
“Life Skills” program in West Springfield
schools, his limited fine motor skills make it
impossible for him to squeeze tooth paste
onto his tooth brush. Our “Paste and Place”
system will offer him independence by
allowing him to brush his teeth without
assistance.
An easy-loading system will
secure the toothbrush, move it under the
toothpaste, squeeze the toothpaste, and
present the toothbrush for use.
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
ECE Department
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Analyze Design Requirements (Requirement Specs - 1)
The requirement specifications can be
thought of as a technical version of the
problem statement. It should not
propose a solution.
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
ECE Department
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Implementation-Independent Requirements
Puts toothpaste on toothbrush
Safe
Operable by Jimmy
Reliable
Fits on Bathroom Counter
Portable
Battery Powered
Motorized
Metal Enclosure
Power Switch
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
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Analyze Design Requirements (Requirement Specs - 2)
Requirement Spec organization:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Background
The Deliverables
Special Restrictions
Principle of Operation
User Interface
Input
Output
Draft User’s Manual
Acceptability Test
Product Costs
asses
needs
analyze
design requirements
design
system
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Example
94 GHz Switching Circulator Design Project (SDP06)
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Design System (Block Diagram and System Specs)
reject unworkable concepts
requirement specification
Development of
concepts
system
design process
Synthesis
Analysis
analyze
design requirements
system specs &
block diagram
ECE Department
asses
needs
design
system
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Example: Bluetag (SDP10) – “a system for
implementing a novel 'purchase at the rack' shopping
experience in modern department stores.”
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Summary
assess
needs
title and abstract
(statement of problem)
due 20th September
analyze
design requirements
• relatively nontechnical
• language of the customer
• straightforward
technical restatement
of the problem statement
requirement specification
due 4th October
design
system
Development of
concepts
system specs &
block diagram
due 4th October
ECE Department
Synthesis
design is an
iterative process
Analysis
15
Bibliography - recommended reading
ECE Department
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