CDR Format / Content / Expectations

The Critical Design Review is a major milestone for the Capstone 1 course. BOTH of the following (Part a + Part b) elements MUST be fulfilled!

The Part (a), round-table meetings with  group members, advisors, instructors and sponsors are an opportunity for design teams to present their designs, and fine-tune their designs and documentation prior to entering the 'build phase' of their projects.
 
Part (b) involves media (video) presentations. This portion of the CDR is designed to allow the group to convey end-of-term status to ME/MET Freshmen, their fellow students, project sponsors, advisors, faculty, and to the public.

CDR is worth (up to) 30 points, and thus comprises 15% of the Capstone 1 course grade. 

  Part (a) Round Table CDR MEETING
Each group must schedule a round-table discussion during the the last week of class. Scheduling of these hour-long sessions. will be discussed in class                                                                       		   Part (b) Recorded Video Presentation
Each Group also must prepare a recorded presentation as the second required component of CDR: This presentation method involves creating a short (~5 minute) video summary of their project activities and results. 
 

Organization

Each Group is to request their CDR session via email request to instructors. Select one of the available times (see schedule.) All group members must attend, and must actively participate. Faculty advisors should be consulted and the requested time should consider the advisor's availability. Sponsors are welcome should be invited. 

When approved, groups will be added to the schedule matrix (below) to provide a common reference resource for attendance and scheduling.

 One or more of the course instructors and/or course T/A's will plan on attending. The Capstone instructor chairs the session.

Content:

Groups should come prepared to discuss and show off the important deliverables for their project, including

  • Project Scope; Level One requirements and Specifications.
  • Alternatives considered and selection criteria.
  • Details of the selected configuration including physical configuration, mass & material properties, etc. Include parts breakdown/  CAD model & Drawing Package.
  • ANALYSIS: Assumptions, Methods, Procedures, and Results.
  • Draft Manufacturing Plan and Methods.
  • Project Management Plan - through project completion.

The main issues at hand are
1. How - and how well - will your design address the customer's requirements and meet the engineering design specifications you derived from those requirements?
2. Have you completed the design of a system that can be fabricated, assembled, and tested, using means at your disposal, in a timely fashion.

Professionalism

 This Critical Design Review Round-table is intended to be a relatively informal discussion, but groups must come prepared with proper support material. PREPARATION is key. Students are to drive the discussion and demonstrate ownership of the project.

        

Organization and Content:

At this stage of your project, the RESULTS  are likely more interesting and important than the PROCESS, so you should ensure that the final proposed configuration is presented thoroughly. Exclude extraneous content.  

Clearly you will not have adequate time to present all steps in a complex analysis, please limit discussion to analysis outcomes. (Suggestion - you may wish to use a table to list what analysis was performed and the corresponding outcome in terms of safety factors.) 

Be sure to include a brief summary of your project management plan including upcoming events next term.

Professionalism

Remember proper presentation techniques. This Critical Design Review element is considered a semi-formal presentation! Your Format should be professional yet entertaining, and appropriate for all audiences. Use a standard video player format. 

The point of your media presentation should be on the result of your project, with emphasis on technology (CAD/CAE modeling and analysis.) The presentation should contain (only!) content appropriate for viewing by the public. Creative production techniques such as 'interviews' with group members who provide narrative on the process and outcome of the design are encouraged. The intent here is to have design project information conveyed using modern information delivery methodologies - while still conveying all important project details.