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 illustrated by projects drawn from microprocessor design courses taught at the George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. The courses´ emphasis is on an integrated, multidisciplinary, concurrent design philosophy: group oriented working and communication skills; independent investigations of new material; and a viewpoint of practical, hands-on instruction. The projects emphasize a concurrent design philosophy where hardware and software design are simultaneously developed. The projects also emphasize low-cost components and user-friendly interfaces suitable for consumer product design