Final Words

Life in EEE Student experience 20th May 2016

The last eight months have brought challenge after challenge, but also reward after reward. Every technical hurdle, project deadline, or outreach challenge has resulted in developed skills, an improved product, or at least an unforgettable experience.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Initial ambitions and aspirations sustained good momentum throughout the first few weeks, that was until other course deadlines took over. As a result, technical progress was behind schedule by the end of the first semester. However, the success of consultation with end users can be celebrated. The fruitful partnership with SEERIH resulted in unparalleled opportunities to ensure that this product was developed based on the needs of the users, in my opinion one of the biggest successes of the project.

With an emptier calendar for semester two, it was full speed ahead with regards technical development. In next to no time, an initial prototype was built and code was written. By Easter this had materialised into a presentable proof-of-concept, with a fully functioning PCB and 3D printed enclosure.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the project was road-testing the data logger at Seymour Park Community Primary School. I wasn’t too sure what to expect, whether they’d appreciate the project, ask lots of challenging questions, or just break the prototype. (They did all by the way!). Witnessing the potential impact of the data logger in a real classroom seemed to make the project all worthwhile.

WHAT NEXT

The third year project is now over, as marked by the final presentation and poster submission yesterday. But is that the end of the road for WILFRED? The project has attracted attention from inside and outside the university, and a demand for this product has been demonstrated.

With the next stages of development planned out, it’s potential that Smart Data Logging for Education could become a reality. Watch this space!

FINAL WORDS

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed undertaking this Third Year Project, and have gained so much from doing so. I claimed in the first blog entry that the Third Year Project is “what every EEE student dreams of,” and despite being somewhat optimistic at the time, the project has proven to be the highlight of my academic university experience so far.

But before signing off, there’s a couple of bits I want to add. There’s a number of people who have played important roles in this project, and now is a fitting time to acknowledge them.

Firstly, I’d like to thank Lynne Bianchi, Jon Chippindall, and the team at SEERIH (The Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub) for providing some fantastic opportunities for the project. An initial discussion with Jon had a prominent role in shaping the data logger, and a focus group at the Tinker Tailor Robot Pi immersion event further justified the need for such product. I look forward to working with the SEERIH team at the Robot Orchestra events in the forthcoming weeks!

I’d also like to thank Ellie Buckley, Laura Etchells, Tony Walker and the team at UMIP (The University of Manchester’s Agent for Intellectual Property and Commercialisation) for providing education in the form of the entrepreneurial roadmap sessions. I hope to continue working with UMIP in the future.

The production of the prototype would not have been possible without the Mechanical Workshop, and Derrick Bradshaw in the PCB office. And another thank you to Steve Hannam in Stores, his time processing and chasing up orders is particularly appreciated.

Finally, I can’t begin to thank my project supervisor enough for his tireless commitment and support throughout the last eight months. I’ve never seen anyone more dedicated to their job than Peter R. Green, it’s been an absolute pleasure working with him, and I hope to remain in contact for years to come.

3rd yearAlecundergraduate