Lectures :: ECE 445 - Senior Design Laboratory

Lectures

Fall 2024 Lecture Material:

 

Pre-Lecture #1:


(before the first lecture)

 

 

Brainstorming and Ideation

  • Brainstorming and Ideation slides (pptx)
  • Videos (watch before coming to class)

 

 

Lecture #1:


(January 21st )

 

Getting Started

  • Welcome and Course Overview (link)- Professor Arne Fliflet
  • Request for Approval (link)
  • Conflict Management Workshop (link)- Professor Olga Mironenko (olgamiro@illinois.edu)
  • Pitches
    • Ant-weight, 3D Printed Battlebot Challenge (link)- Professor Viktor Gruev (vgruev@illinois.edu)
    • ECEB Autonomous Window Cleaning System- Professor Jennifer Bernhard (jbernhar@illinois.edu)
  • Brainstorming

 

Pre-Lecture #2:


(before the second lecture)

 

 

Beyond Ideation

 

 

Lecture #2:


(January 28th)

 

 

Moving Forward

  • Introduction
  • Ethics (link)
  • PCB Tips (link)
  • Pitch(es)
    • A Better, Safer EVD (External Ventricular Drain) (link) (link)- Saguna Pappu (spappu@illinois.edu)
    • Spurlock Muesum Artifact Mapping Dome (link)- Aaron Graham (agraham4@illinois.edu)
    • Establishing an Intelligent Square Stepping Exercise System for Cognitive-Motor Rehabilitation in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis (link) – Professor Manuel Hernandez (mhernand@illinois.edu)
  • Senior Design and Lab Safety (link) – Casey Smith (cjsmith0@illinois.edu)
  • Brainstorming

 

Pre-Lecture #3:


(before the third lecture)

 

 

Design and Writing Tips

 

 

Lecture #3:

(January 30th)

 

 

Last Stop Before RFA

  • A Better, Safer EVD (External Ventricular Drain) (link) (link)- Saguna Pappu (spappu@illinois.edu)
  • Proposal and Design Document Overview (link)- Arne Fliflet
  • Documentation Details (link)
  • Intellectual Property – Dr. Michelle Chitambar (mchitamb@illinois.edu) (link)
  • Machine Shop – Gregg Bennett (gbenntt@illinois.edu)
  • Writing Center – Dr. Aaron Geiger (ageiger2@illinois.edu) (link)
  • Lab Notebook (link)
  • Modular Design (link)
  • R&V Table (link)
  • Proposal (link)
  • Design Review (link)

Spring 2023 Video Lectures:

Brainstorming

Finding a Problem (Video)
Generating Solutions (Video)
Diving Deeper (Video)
Voting (Video)
Reverse Brainstorming (Video)
Homework for Everyone (Video)

Important Information

Using the ECE 445 Website (Video)
Lab Notebook (Video , Slides)
Modular Design (Video, Slides)
Circuit Tips and Debugging (Video , Slides)
Eagle CAD Tutorial (Video)
Spring 2018 IEEE Eagle Workshop (Slides)
Spring 2018 IEEE Soldering Workshop (Slides)

Major Assignments and Milestones

Request for Approval (Video, Slides)
Project Proposal (Video, slides)
Design Document (Video, slides)
Design Review (Video, slides)
Writing Tips (Video, slides)

Automatic Water Bottle Filler

Priyank Jain, Jakub Migus, Abby Mohan

Automatic Water Bottle Filler

Featured Project

# Automatic Water Bottle Filler

Team Members:

- Priyank Jain (priyank3)

- Abby Mohan (ammohan2)

- Jakub Migus (jmigus2)

# Problem

In normal liquid dispensing and water bottle filling systems, the process requires the user’s attention and constant manual activation of the device. This may require the holding of a button, the action of pushing the bottle against a sensor for a specific amount of time, or holding the bottle in front of a sensor until it is full. If the user gets distracted or is unable to provide that attention (blindness or lack of motor function), liquid may spill or the bottle may not be filled enough.

# Solution

Our goal with this project is to make an automatic water bottle filling station. Our device senses when a water bottle is placed underneath it, begins filling the bottle with water once a start button is pressed, determines when the bottle is full and shuts off automatically. After placing the bottle on a platform and pressing a button, the user can walk away knowing their bottle will be filled accurately.

# Solution Components

## Sensing Component

This subsystem utilizes multiple sensors including an ultrasonic sensor to measure the water level and a light-based sensor to determine the height of the bottle.

## Control

This subsystem connects the sensors to the water system. It receives data from the sensors, compares the water level height to the height of the water bottle, then decides to either begin, continue, or stop dispensing water.

## Display/Interface System

An LCD display will show instructions for the user and will display simple messages. A few push buttons will be included for manual filling and selection of desired amount of liquid (ex. Half bottle, full bottle)

## Water System

This subsystem utilizes a water tank attached to a pump and tubing, which transport water to the dispenser.

# Criterion for Success

The device…

- detects a water bottle and accurately measures the height

- monitors the water level in the bottle

- stops filling when a desired water level is reached

If there is no bottle/ the bottle is removed, the device stops filling water.

Project Videos