Implementation issues and benefits of integrating microcontrollers in an existing design and build project

The last twenty years has seen an increase in the level of integration of electromechanical devices in many products and engineered systems. Today’s undergraduate engineers should therefore be provided with appropriate knowledge, methods and the opportunities to design and develop products using microcontrollers, sensors and actuators in order to mirror industrial product development trends. This paper concerns the issues surrounding the recent adoption of microcontrollers in an existing team-based design and build project, part of the First Year MEng course in Mechanical Engineering. As part of the process of continuously improving the delivery and learning outcomes year on year, the use of microcontrollers has also benefited staff, students and the Department in a number of areas, including: reduction in time to conceive, build and test the electrical system, increased project flexibility, greatly increased electronic reliability and nearly 100% recovery of components and devices.