How to Select Project Idea for Engineering Design Course

Main ideas and lessons

• Why project selection criteria matter this semester

  • The course (IEE202 / “Introduction to Engineering Design 2”) has many more sections (31) than usual (around 13–15 previously).
  • This results in more instructors (many first-time) and much more student volume.
  • Because of that, the speaker explains how to generate/select project ideas and what criteria projects must meet.

• Core approach: use “three filters” before choosing a project

  • A project idea must pass Filter 1 → Filter 2 → Filter 3.
  • After passing all three, it is considered “okay to go ahead” for student work and presentation.

• Alignment with national priorities (Vision 2030)

  • Projects should align with Saudi Vision 2030.
  • Reason: there are national/international competitions, and Vision 2030–aligned projects have higher selection chances.
  • The speaker emphasizes reading Vision 2030 objectives (English/Arabic, with PDFs available).

• Filter 1 is the hardest: “Do it here”

  • The project must be fully demonstrable at the course’s presentation setting (tables/booths).
  • It should be:
    • Demonstratable in real, complete form in front of audiences, instructors, and selectors
    • Not only a simulation
    • Not only a small model that cannot convince judges
    • Not an “outside/real-world-only” scenario that requires being at the actual location to prove it works
    • Appropriately sized/portable (especially for international competitions/travel)
  • Avoid designs that judges distrust because they feel “not real” or require real-site conditions.

• Examples of projects that typically fail Filter 1 (“Do it here”)

  • Parking solutions and similar traffic-like problems
    • Often repeated too many times → spectators get bored; appears students “ran out of ideas.”
    • “Outside” real-world demonstration is hard (needs a real parking environment and real vehicles).
    • Small models/simulations are distrusted by selectors.
  • Traffic signal / road control scenarios demonstrated indoors
    • Even if interesting, indoor miniature representations are hard to trust.
  • Blindstick / wheelchair demonstrations
    • “Blind”/real patient context can’t be fully replicated without real participants and a realistic hospital environment.
  • Sensor-based rubbish bin alarms / remote systems
    • If the sensor-system chain depends on municipal/real environment, indoor models are hard to trust.
  • The speaker notes:
    • Repetition isn’t always automatically rejected, but repetition without meaningful improvement is discouraged.
    • Projects in the above categories (non-demonstrable in real time or not trusted) are generally not accepted.

• Filter 2: Business-friendly (market potential and profitability)

  • The idea should be something that can be:
    • Sold
    • Cost-effective
    • Profitable / providing advantage with lower investment
  • High-tech is not required; simple ideas can still be excellent if they are profitable.
  • The speaker frames an intuition test:
    • If you have 1 million riyals and want to start a business, would you invest it in your proposed idea?
    • If most students would say “no,” it likely fails this filter.

• Filter 3 (implied from the structure)

  • Even though subtitles emphasize Filter 1 and Filter 2, the speaker repeatedly stresses that Vision 2030 alignment is crucial and connected to selection and national competition success.
  • The video structure indicates Filter 3 is about this strategic alignment concept.

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Detailed list: the “three filters” methodology for project selection

1. Step 1: Filter 1 — “Do it here”

   • Check whether the project can be fully demonstrated on presentation day at the student booth/table.
   • Ensure the demonstration is 100% real:
     • Real prototype > simulation/model
     • Real functioning system > partial demonstration
   • Avoid projects that require:
     • Being on real roads
     • Being at real parking locations
     • Real environmental conditions that cannot be reproduced indoors
     • Real affected users/patients/locations needed for credibility
   • Prototype must be portable and size-appropriate for travel (including international competition constraints).
   • Avoid overly repeated project themes unless there is clear improvement.

2. Step 2: Filter 2 — Business-friendly

   • Assess whether the project idea can be commercialized.
   • Consider:
     • Expected cost vs value
     • Potential profit
     • Whether a business would invest based on returns
   • Don’t require heavy tech (Arduino/Raspberry Pi); prioritize profitability.
   • Practical test:
     • If starting a business with 1 million riyals, would you invest in this idea? If not, likely rejected.

3. Step 3: Filter 3 — Align with Vision 2030

   • Ensure the project aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
   • Rationale:
     • Ministries and competitions select projects that match national priorities.
     • Such projects have higher odds of being chosen for national/international events.

• Final rule
  • Only after passing all three filters should the project be considered ready to proceed.

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Selection process for which projects represent the course

• The department needs about 14 projects to display, but with increased sections they may have 18 tables.
• With 31 sections, it’s not feasible to show “one best project per section,” because section quality varies.
• Instead, the process is:
  • Instructors submit multiple candidate projects (e.g., 2–3 per instructor).
  • Candidates are entered into an Excel file.
  • Instructors do not grade their own projects (fairness).
  • Projects are graded using consistent criteria, producing marks (e.g., out of 10 or 15).
  • Then:
    • Top N projects go to the main presentation (example: top 20).
    • Next best projects remain as backup (example: next 5) in case of technical issues or missing items on presentation day.
• The showcase includes administration and dignitaries, and awards are given.
• Winners may be sent to competitions:
  • The speaker coordinates contacting students to improve and represent the university.
• Prototypes and posters/data remain with the instructor/university and are not returned to students.

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Examples used to illustrate “passing” vs “failing”

Passing Filter 1 (“Do it here”) — fully demonstrable, real, credible

• Camera adapter project (Canon/Panasonic + additional Canon/Nikon adapters)

  • Built an adapter using CAD (SolidWorks) and 3D printing + aluminum.
  • Allows high-quality video bodies paired with lenses.
  • Demonstration is real (no simulation), and selectors can ask questions and see it work.

• Bluetooth battery charger adapter

  • Automatically connects/disconnects charging based on battery percentage.
  • Demonstrable fully as a working product; described as inexpensive and real (not a model/simulation).

• Later good-project examples (briefly described)

  • Long-distance Wi‑Fi antenna for receiving internet signals at home (real product demonstration).
  • Wristband for electricians warning via electromagnet detection/alerts (wearable, real-world safety concept demonstrated directly).
  • Student-built digital camera capable of live streaming (demonstrable and built from the ground up).
  • Smart plug / charging system that monitors battery health/levels and controls power automatically.
  • Modular TV antenna designed for varying distance ranges (built to be demonstrated indoors and used for real signal reception).

Failing Filter 1 (“Do it here”) — outside scenario or untrusted model/simulation

• Indoor traffic/road models and parking solutions that cannot replicate real outdoor conditions.
• Solar traffic lighting demonstrated indoors where sunlight/outdoor conditions are missing.
• Ambulance-related or road-based stuck-avoidance miniatures where judges question realism.
• Overarching issue: judges ask many questions and doubt the setup because it’s not a real-world demonstration.

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Additional emphasis: multidisciplinary projects

• Projects are usually electromechanical (electronics/mechanical/software/AI).
• The speaker encourages considering multidisciplinary ideas instead of limiting to one domain.
• Mentions examples (in some contexts) from areas like nuclear, chemical, civil, and aerospace; multidisciplinary teams can improve options and competitiveness.

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Sources / speakers featured

• Primary speaker: The instructor/lecturer presenting the video (appears to be the course coordinator/instructor for IEE202).
• Referenced figures/authorities:
  • Albert Einstein (quoted: “ideas more important than solutions.”)
• Referenced external sources/tools:
  • Saudi Vision 2030 website and PDF (English/Arabic).
  • Competitions and agencies mentioned: Saudi Space Agency (cube satellite/cubats), plus various international/national competitions referenced generally (e.g., Germany/South Korea/Switzerland).