INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATIONS ORIENTED DESIGN PROJECTS IN MECHATRONICS COURSES

Microprocessors are fast becoming essential components for the design of communication oriented products. The design of such products is ill ustrated by projects drawn from microprocessor design courses taught a t the George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, The courses' emphasis is on an integrated, mu ltidisciplinary, concurrent design philosophy; group oriented working and communication skills; independent investigations of new material; and a viewpoint of practical, hands-on instruction, The projects empha size a concurrent design philosophy where hardware and software design are simultaneously developed, The projects also emphasize low-cost co mponents and user-friendly interfaces suitable for consumer product de sign.