Tuesday, 04 May 2010

Detica has tested second-year electronics students at Southampton University to the limit with this year's System Design Exercise (D4).

Detica challenged 65 students from the School of Electronics and Computer Science to design a portable mixed signal oscilloscope and to build a working prototype in 11 days. An oscilloscope is an item of test equipment for electronic circuits which displays voltage against time, a concept similar to heart rate monitors used in hospitals.

Students worked in teams in the scenario that they were part of a small electronics consultancy firm and were given precise design specifications. The device had to feature eight digital channels and one analogue, have a graphical display, be portable and robust, and able to operate in the field.

At the end of the eleven days, the teams had to make a competitive pitch for their design in front of the judges and their fellow students. The product was judged on a set of criteria including performance, price, aesthetics and innovation.

This is the first time that Detica has sponsored the System Design Exercise at Southampton University. Dr Matt Sacker of Detica, an alumnus of the School of Electronics and Computer Science and one of the judges said: "Detica's involvement in exercises like this gives students the opportunity to really understand what it would be like to work in a small electronics consultancy and how their coursework will directly apply to their future careers. This was a particularly testing project and I was really impressed with the innovative ways in which the students approached it. Detica is keen to encourage talented electronics students and we look forward to supporting the course again next year." By sponsoring the System Design Exercise at Southampton University, Detica aims to increase awareness of the company to talented electronics students as part of its recruitment programme.

Professor Harvey Rutt, Head of the School of Electronics and Computer Science, Southampton University added: "Having the involvement and support of a prestigious company like Detica was an excellent incentive for our students as they rose to the challenge of producing a complex device over a very short time frame. We already enjoy a strong relationship with Detica on a number of levels, but this was a new initiative and one that enabled our students to be creative in the context of commercial needs."

The winning team members were Tristan Bogle, Avadhi de Costa Tom Dell, Adam Malpass, Bekki Robinson, and Miraj Wanaguru. Each received 100GBP from Detica for their prize.