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SYST 495: SENIOR CAPSTONE DESIGN - SPRING 2017



Design of a System for Aircraft Fuselage Inspection
Rui Filipe Fernandez, Kevin Keller, Jeffrey Robins
1st Place 2016 IEEE SIEDS Conference: Data Analytics, Simulation and Optimization Track

Design of A System for Identifying Risk and Mitigating ACL Flexion/Extension Injuries
Maribeth Burns, Andrew Tesnow, Amr Attyah, Sam Miller
2nd Place GMU 2016 PITCH-IT Competition
1st Place 2016 General Donald R. Keith Memorial Capstone Conference

Design of a Transoceanic Cable Protection System
Isaac Geisler, Kumar Karra, Felipe Cardenas, and Dane Underwood
1st Place GMU 2016 PITCH-IT Competition
1st Place 2016 IEEE SIEDS Conference: Model-Based Design Track
Design of a Hands-Free Interface for Robot Object Relocation for Paralyzed Individuals
Kassidy Kenney, Kimberly Harrington, Angelo Huan, Muhammad Sungkar

Design of the Life-Ring Drone Delivery System for Rip Current Rescue
Gang Xiang, Andrew Hardy, Mohammed Rajeh, Lahari Venuthurupalli

SwiftGrant: Design of a Streamlined, Collaborative University Grant System
Giselle Sombito, Pranav Sikka, Jeffrey Prindle, Christian Yi

Design and Evaluation of an Orbital Debris Remediation System
B. Noble, Y. Almanee, A. Shakir, S. Park

Design of an Expert System Coach for Complex Team Sports
Brice A. Colcombe, Lindsay M. Horton, Muhammad Ommer, and Julia Teng


SYLLABUS

Jan, 2016

Second semester of a two semester capstone course in Systems Engineering program. Students apply knowledge they have gained to a complex real-world problem in a group project. During the first semester, students perform concept definition and requirements analysis. A Project Plan for carrying out the project is developed, culminating in a proposal presented to faculty at end of semester. During the second semester, the students complete a trade-off/ sensitivity analysis using a simulation and make recommendations to their sponsor

Course Objectives:

  • Provide students the opportunity to apply and synthesize knowledge and skills they have gained in the SEOR program to real-world problems
  • Prepare students for the professional environment.

Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing the course, students will be have demonstrated:

  • Project Planning
  • Budgeting
  • Problem Identification and Definition
  • Requirements Elicitation, Requirements Definition
  • Value Hierarchy/Utility Theory
  • Simulation
  • Modeling
  • Design of Experiments
  • Data Analysis
  • Testing, Verification and Validation
  • Problem Solving
  • Team Building
  • Communication
  • Technical Report and Proposal Writing
  • Poster Preparation
  • Conference Paper Preparation
  • Time Cards and Weekly Accomplishment Summaries
  • Professionalism under adversity

Instructor: Dr. Lance Sherry & Dr. George Donohue
Contact Info: GMU People Finder
Class Location: Planetary Hall 124
Lab Location: Engineering Building, Room 2211
Class Day: Monday and Wednesdays Section 1: 9am - 10:15am, Section 2: 4:30am - 7:00pm
Office Hours:  Wednesdays 1:15-3:00pm or by appointment

Textbook: Thomas Friedman: "Thank You for Being Late"

Week Date Course Plan and Handouts Homework
1 01/23 No Class (Martin Luther King)
01/25 Class Activity: Project Simulations and Simulation Results
Lecture: Limits to Growth
Class Activity: SYST 490 Project Review
Lecture ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010/IEEE- 1471 System Engineering
Lecture: A Skeptics Guide to Computer Models
 Homework Due Mon 01/30 (Individual Assignments)
Project Summary - Results Homework
2
 02/01 Project Briefing #1 - Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
02/06 Project Briefing #1 - Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results
3 02/08 Project Briefing #1 - Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results DRAFT IEEE SIEDS Abstract (500 words) Due

Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
02/13 Project Briefing #1 - Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results
4 02/15 Project Briefing #2- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results
SIEDS Extended Abstract due Feb 12
 Friday Feb 12 Abstracts due for Submission to IEEE SIEDS Conference April 22, 2016

Time Sheets Due Time Sheet
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due Weekly Accomplishment Summary
02/20 Project Briefing #2- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results
5 02/22 Project Briefing #2- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
02/77 Project Briefing #2- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results
6 03/01 Briefing by Appointment (No Lecture) Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
03/06 Briefing by Appointmen (No Lecture)
7 03/08
 Customer Meeting/Research (No lecture)
 Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
03/13 Mid-term Exam (Limits to Growth, Systems Thinking, Projects, 360 Degree Evaluation) IEEE Paper Version 2 Due
8 03/15 Spring Break
03/20

03/11 		Spring Break

Westpoint Abstracts due March 11
9 03/22 Project Briefing #3- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results, Sensitivity Analysis Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
03/27 Project Briefing #3- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results, Sensitivity Analysis
10 Sat 03/29

Sun 03/20

03/21		 GMU Business School Deans Business Plan Competition Registration is Due 6pm EST

GMU PITCH-IT Registration is Due

Project Briefing #3- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results, Sensitivity Analysis		 Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
03/23 Project Briefing #3- Simulation/Analysis, Design of Experimnent, Results, Sensitivity Analysis
11 03/28 Project Briefing - Dry Run Final Presentation Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
03/30 Project Briefing - Dry Run Final Presentation
12 Sat 04/02

04/04

04/04		 GMU PITCH-IT Competition (if project is accepted)

Project Briefing - Dry Run Final Presentation

Final Manuscript due to SIEDS 		Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
04/06 Project Briefing - Dry Run Final Presentation

Westpoint Final Abstract due
13 04/11 Project Briefing - Dry Run Final Presentation Time Sheets Due
Weekly Accomplishment Summary Due
04/13

Fri 4/15

 Project Briefing - Dry Run Final Presentation

Faculty Presentations (8:30am - 2pm) - Research Building Room 163 & Dononhue Senior Design Lab

GMU School of Business Deans Business Plan Competition (if accepetted)
14 04/18 Customer Meeting/Research (No lecture)
04/20 Written Final Exam
Topics: SED&TA Process, Describe Class Projects, Systems Thinking Problems, Fundamental Engineering Principles (used in class projects)		 Submit one hard-copy and an electronic copy of each:
1 - Final Report
2 - Final Report Slides
3 - Final Conference Paper
4 - Final Poster
5 - 10 Minute YouTube Video
6 - Final (Zipped) Source/Executable Code
15 Mon 04/25
 No class
Wed 04/27 No class
Senior Banquet (Georges in JC, Noon)
16 Thurs 04/28 General Donald R. Keith Memorial Cadet Capstone Conference (On Campus of U.S. Military Academy, Westpoint, NY) Vans leave after lunch on Wed 04/27. Vans return by approx 2pm on Friday 04/29
Fri 04/29 SIEDS Conference - Charlottsville, VA (On campus of UVA)

* Dates all tentative, subject to change without notice.

Important Dates & Links:
  1. SIEDS Conference April 29, 2016
  2. SIEDS Extebded Abstracts due Friday Feb 12 (*Abstract must be approved by Instructor prior to submittal), March 4 Notification, April 1 IEEE Paper Completed Manuscript (*Paper must be approved by Instructor prior to submittal)
  3. 2016 General Donald R. Keith Memorial Capstone Conference
  4. General Donald R. Keith Memorial Cadet Capstone Conference Registration/paper due Before March 11. Notification March 25. Final Abstract due April 7. (*Papers must be approved by Instructor prior to submittal)
Deliverables:
  1. Individual Time Cards (hard copy due Monday before class)
  2. Individual Accomplishment Summary (hard copy due Monday before class) [Accomplishments, Issues, Plans for Next Week]
  3. 360 degree team evaluations
  4. SIEDS Conference Extended Abstract (2/9)
  5. Briefings (paper copy due in class prior to briefing)
  6. Final Presentation (4/20)
  7. Final Report (4/20)
  8. Final Conference Paper to IEEE SIEDS (4/1)
  9. Final Conference Paper (4/20)
  10. Final Poster (4/20)
  11. Final YouTube Video (4/20)
  12. Final (Zipped) Source/Executable Code (4/20)
Content of Briefings and Reports
  • Project Briefing #1: Context, Stakeholder Analysis, Problem Statement, Proposed Solutions, Method Analysis/Simulation, Design of Experiment, Project Plan/Budget
  • Project Briefing #2: Method Analysis/Simulation, Design of Experiment, Sensitivity Analysis
  • Project Briefing #3: Method Analysis/Simulation, Design of Experiment, Sensitivity Analysis
  • Dry Run: Context,Stakeholder Analysis, Problem Statement, Proposed Solution, Method Analysis/Simulation, Design of Experiment, Results, Sensitivity Analysis

Template

Senior Design Poster Template
IEEE Conference Paper Senior Design Template

Grades:
  • Quizzes 10%
  • Mid-term Exam 10%
  • Final Exam 10%
  • Deliverables (8) 60%
  • Professionalism 10%
Deliverables handed in late by the next class will be penalized 50%. Deliverables handed in after that will receive 0%. No exceptions.

Grading Scale:
  • A    93%    Exceptional in all respects
  • A-    90%    Excellent, shows clear understanding of concepts and application of ideas
  • B+    88%    Very good, shows basic understanding of concepts and application of ideas
  • B    83%    Good, shows acceptable understanding, baseline for undergraduate work
  • B-    80%    Adequate, shows acceptable understanding, but with deficiencies
  • C+    78%    Weak, but minimally meets requirements
  • C    70%    Very weak, but minimally meets requirements
  • D    60%    Misses several requirements, but not to the point of being considered failing
All grades are final
Academic Honesty:
Honor Code strictly enforced.
Suspected violations will be reported


Professionalism:
  • ALL students are expected to participate in the Design Competitions/Conferences. No exceptions.
  • Participating in the Design Competitions/Conferences involves attendance at sessions throughout the day AND participating in the Awards Banquet until the end. No exceptions.
  • Student behavior at the Awards Banquet and other Design Competition/Conference events must follow the highest standards of respectful and professional behavior.
  • The Design Competitions/Conferences are UNIVERSITY SANCTIONED EVENTS. Students are bound to the STUDENTS CODE OF CONDUCT. No exceptions.
  • Violations of the STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT will be reported to the University. No exceptions.
  • Students shall abstain from alcohol and other drugs for the duration of the trip (including vans and hotels) and during the conference including the banquet.
  • Students that do not comply with these guidelines will be assigned a failing grade for the "Professionalism" grade for the class. The assigned grade is not open for negotiation. No exceptions.

System Engineers need experience in a wide-range of subjects. One way to get experience is live a long time and work on many projects. A short-cut is to READ. Here are a list of books recommended for System Engineers that include topics we will discuss in class.
THE SOUL OF A NEW MACHINE (Tracy Kidder)
ANGLE OF ATTACK: Harrison Storms and the Race to the Moon (Mike Gray)
OUTLIERS: THE STORY OF SUCCESS (Malcolm Gladwell)
THE TIPPING POINT: HOW LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE (Malcolm Gladwell)
WHAT THE DOG SAW (Malcolm Gladwell)
CHAOS (James Gleick)
THE DESIGN OF EVERYDAY THINGS (Don Norman)
LIVING WITH COMPLEXITY (Don Norman)
AUGUSTINES LAWS (Norm Augustine)
TERMINAL CHAOS (George Donohue)
THE CHECKLIST MANIFESTO (Atul Gawande)
BETTER: A SURGEONS NOTES ON PERFORMANCE (Atul Gawande)
COMMAND & CONTROL (Eric Schlosser)
SKYFARING: A JOURNEY WITH A PILOT ( Mark Vanhoenacker)