The use of advanced simulation tools in capstone design projects

Capstone design courses are run in many different ways in the academic community. Many universities strive to promote immersion into the real world of engineering through industrially sponsored projects. While this approach offers many immediate benefits to near-graduating seniors, it introduces many unique problems to the academic community. Real-world problems differ significantly from academic courses included in the curriculum of most engineering institutions. Since students typically have little exposure to advanced simulation software tools because of their steep learning curve, new education approaches are needed to accommodate such programs. This paper addresses the experience of several senior design teams at the University of Connecticut in using commercial software to support their design project.