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You bring the challenge; we create the solutions

All of our Mechanical Engineering students are required to complete a capstone project.  First, as individuals, students evaluate a variety of projects to find one that aligns with their interests and the capstone requirements. Then, in small teams, they choose a single project and use the knowledge and skills gained during their program (courses and co-ops), to solve challenging real-world problems proposed by community partners like you.

At the end of MECH400A, students will present design concepts; at the end of MECH400B the student group will present further refined designs and potentially a working prototype as a solution to the challenge presented.

Your contribution

• Project idea/challenge
• Initial meeting to discuss project with students. (~1hr) [Could vary depending on how many students are interested in your project.]
• Touchpoints throughout the term as students develop design specifications, design concepts, design selection and prototyping. A minimum of 2 hrs/month, MECH400A and MECH 400B, for discussion, progress updates and document review. (~16 hours )
• Optional: provide additional funding for prototyping support in MECH400B.
• Optional: participate in judging at project showcase; sponsoring a showcase award.

Project Proposal (please include the following)

• Introduction: Describe the magnitude and scope of the suggested challenge/project. Give some background, including motivation for work on the project.
• Brief Project Description: Provide additional details regarding the problem to be solved, refer to prior work conducted (in your org or elsewhere) Describe any constraints not addressed in the sections listed below.
• Expected Outcomes: What are your expectations at project completion (for example, prototypes, mockups, a demonstration, design concepts)?
• Resources Available from the Client: Please list financial, supervisory or other in-kind support that will be made available to the team. Note: these may be contingent on how well the students progress through the project.
• Project Requirements: List in order of importance your requirements (as envisioned at this stage) for the design in terms of functional performance, aesthetic, cost and other considerations that may be specific to the application. Putting the criteria into two or three categories of importance (for example: must have, nice to have, maybe) is a good start. Please be specific by quantifying your requirements whenever possible.
• Contact: point of contact at the organization for the project.

Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

We strongly discourage the use of confidentiality agreements unless absolutely necessary. In MECH400A, student work is individual and only viewed by the TA and instructor, however in MECH400B teams will be required to participate in a design showcase so projects are inherently not entirely confidential. If a confidentiality agreement is required, we will only be able to support the use of the UVic NDA template with no modifications – otherwise it becomes too much of a burden on our contracts department. Please reach out to me if you have questions or concerns about this; we handle this on a case-by-case basis each term.