ME310 distinguishing features
Long track record, many corporate connections and alumni
Substantial projects: 3 quarters, 3-5 people, $15K - $20K budget.
Resources: $14k per project supports course infrastructure (staff, computers, supplies, software). Another $6K goes to Design Division teaching generally (e.g. prototyping shops).
Large archive of information: paper + electronic
Projects have mix of mechanical, electrical, software technology
- Often systems level
- Usually involve substantial prototyping, testing
Notes:
The points to recognize are
1. The teams have a significant budget. They can afford to hire subcontractors (including other students) for specialized tasks like fabrication, real-time programming and instrumentation.
2. The Design Division does not make a profit on the course -- we break even. But we are able to provide fairly generous resources
(computers, prototyping, extra staff, software).
3. For companies the dollar cost is usually less significant (assuming they recognize the quality of the final results they typically get) than the costs in terms of time that must be committed by a liaison to work with the student team. This comes to abo
4.Projects in ME310 are typically at the ìsystemsî rather than detailed component level.