Capstone Course Road Map

Students learn about the engineering design process, defining problem statements, customer discovery and needs, and project requirements. Once the problem statement is clearly defined, they start the concept design, finding potential solutions for the problem. Meanwhile, they will become familiar with project management and how to create the project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Gantt chart for scheduling, and budget management.  

Following this phase, they practice down-select design and arrive at the most practical and plausible solution using different methods, such as decision matrices. In the next stage, they start the detailed design process, producing the system's block diagram, Computer-aided Design (CAD) models, wire diagrams, circuit diagrams, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) design, components selection, and the Bill of Material (BoM). The students learn how to select components from different vendors and manufacturers during this process. Finally, they can purchase the sensors in the first semester to become familiar with functionality and performance and start prototyping to close on the final solution.

Students can choose research as the second part of the capstone program. They are required to discuss the project with their research faculty and file a petition to replace 4905 with 4905H. Eligible students must hold Honors standing and permission of the department. Please contact clymer.1@osu.edu for more information.