Electrical Engineering Capstone Ideas

[Michael Lopez]

My name is Mike and I'm new to the forum.
I am taking my capstone class this quarter in school before I graduate. We are to do a fairly complex project that deals with electronics. The reason I'm reaching out for advice is because I have no idea what to do for the project. I'm terrible at brainstorming ideas. I've tried looking online for some hints, but didn't find much. It's me and one parter and were not sure what to do. We're more the doers and builders, but not really the creative type. The other group in our class is building a quad copter.
My partner and I enjoyed our Programmable Logic Circuits course so we'd hope to do something along those lines. We've also used microcontrollers also. This project is over a course of 10 weeks, so it should be somewhat complex.

If anyone could throw out some ideas that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much

 

[crutschow]

Perhaps something in the simple robot category would work for you. Don't try to get too complex. 10 weeks may seem like a lot of time but it's not that much when designing and building an engineering design. You want to decide soon what you want to do and then buy the parts first, since the lead-time for those can be a killer.

 

[jpanhalt]

That is not an infrequent question, so I created a list. Some of these are more complex that others. Obviously, some can be simplified as a demonstration:

Speech jammer: https://www.electronicproducts.com/News/How_to_build_a_SpeechJammer_Gun.aspx

Finger speller (complex): https://www.electronicproducts.com/News/Students_create_device_that_translates_sign_language.aspx

Invisibility cloak: https://www.electronicproducts.com/News/Mercedes_uses_LEDs_to_create_invisible_car.aspx

Remote lighting control (post#3): https://www.electro-tech-online.com...ler-with-data-acquisition.132350/#post1102749

John

 

[ghostman11]

I am not great at idea's! But how about one of those, magnetically levitating globes? to make it harder find a way to make it turn slowly as well.

 

[jpanhalt]

And I forgot my favorite (useless) idea: program a 12F6xx chip to exactly emulate a NE555, except for the power pins.

John

 

[ghostman11]

Maybe i am wrong, but if were the tutor, i would mark down something like a quad copter.Yes they are cool, but are being done to death! so many vids on you tube and tutorials, to me it makes it too easy. Try and be a little original (easier said than done i grant you).

 

[jpanhalt]

I agree. When I was a student, a project was meant to be be somewhat unique, that is, publishable.

Today, it appears anything that doesn't come with a warranty from the manufacturer is OK.

John