Learning Factory - Students - Semester Overview

What can I expect this semester?

While capstone design sections differ slightly by department, a typical semester entails:

  • Week 1: Show up to class, review the descriptions of available projects, attend Project Kick-Off, and specify your top five project preferences
  • Week 2: Get assigned to a team and project, introduce your team to your sponsor, arrange initial site visit
  • Weeks 2-4: Make initial site visit, refine project requirements and deliverables, start brainstorming solutions
  • Weeks 5-6: Prepare Statement of Work (SOW); review with instructor; revise and submit to sponsor
  • Weeks 7-9: Continue working on project: gathering data, CAD modeling, prototyping, analysis, etc.
  • Weeks 10-11: Prepare Detailed Specification Report (DSR); review with instructor; revise and submit to sponsor
  • Weeks 11-12: Prepare and present alpha prototypes for review
  • Weeks 12-14: Continue working on project: design for manufacturing, fabrication, testing, validation, etc.
  • Weeks 14-15: Wrap up project, prepare final report, poster, and summary and attend Design Showcase

Click on the following to hear what some of your peers have to say about the experience:

Past Student Testimonials


Learning Factory - Students - Learning Factory Overview

What is the Learning Factory?

The Learning Factory helps coordinate the industry partnerships and projects for the senior capstone design courses in Agricultural/Biological Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The Learning Factory also organizes the Project Kick-off and Design Showcase each semester. The Learning Factory is also a building but depending on your project, you may not need to use it - your department's facilities may have everything your team needs.


Learning Factory - Students - Awards

I hear there are awards...for what?

Learning Factory studnet award

Awards are given at the end of the semester during the Design Showcase for:

  • Best Project
  • Best Poster
  • BP People's Choice Award
  • Boeing Systems Engineering Award

The Best Project, Best Poster, and Boeing Systems Engineering awards are selected by a panel of industry judges based on a set of judging criteria that are assessed at the Design Showcase. The BP People's Choice Award is determined by votes from the audience and participants of the Showcase.

Lockheed Martin gives the Design Excellence Award crystals shown on the right to the 1st place Best Project teams.

Many departments also give awards to recognize outstanding projects in their sections. You should talk to your instructor to see what is available in your department.