Professors C.V. Hollot & Christopher SalthouseDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering

13 September 2012

Senior Design Project – SDP13

Problem Statement, Requirement Specifications and Block Diagram

2ECE Department

From Idea to Product

3ECE Department

Design processes to avoid …

4ECE Department

title and abstract(statement of problem)

due 20th September

requirements analysis 4th October

system specs & block diagramdue 4th October

assessneeds

analyze requirements

designsystem

Some Intermediate Goals

detailed block level design and test

system integrationand test

functioning modules

5ECE Department

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

The problem statement has the following attributes:

• relatively nontechnical• language of the customer• straightforward

Assess Needs (Problem Statement-1)

6ECE Department

Techniques for arriving at a problem statement:

1. question the customer 2. differentiate needs and wants3. explore project boundaries4. input/output analysis5. preview the user interface6. survey design attributes7. identify conflicting needs8. prepare a draft operations manual

Assess Needs (Problem Statement -2)

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

7ECE Department

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

Assess Needs (Problem Statement-3)

Sections of the problem statement:

1. background2. the design3. deliverables of the design project

8ECE Department

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.

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

9ECE Department

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

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.

10ECE Department

Implementation-Independent Requirements

Puts toothpaste on toothbrush Safe Operable by Jimmy Reliable Fits on Bathroom Counter Portable

Battery Powered Motorized Metal Enclosure Power Switch

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

11ECE Department

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

Analyze Design Requirements (Requirement Specs - 2)

Requirement Spec organization:

• Background• The Deliverables• Special Restrictions• Principle of Operation• User Interface• Input• Output• Draft User’s Manual• Acceptability Test• Product Costs

12ECE Department

Example

94 GHz Switching Circulator Design Project (SDP06)

13ECE Department

assesneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

Design System (Block Diagram and System Specs)

requirement specification

system specs & block diagram

Development of concepts

Synthesis

Analysis

reje

ct u

nw

ork

able

conce

pts

systemdesign process

14ECE Department

Example: Bluetag (SDP10) – “a system for implementing a novel 'purchase at the rack' shopping experience in modern department stores.”

15ECE Department

title and abstract(statement of problem)

due 20th September

requirement specificationdue 4th October

system specs & block diagramdue 4th October

assessneeds

analyze design requirements

designsystem

• relatively nontechnical• language of the customer• straightforward

technical restatementof the problem statement

Development of concepts

Synthesis

Analysis

design is an iterative process

Summary

16ECE Department

Bibliography - recommended reading