From the course: Arduino: Prototyping

Prototype planning considerations - Arduino Tutorial

From the course: Arduino: Prototyping

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Prototype planning considerations

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- [Instructor] Prototyping as part of a design process can begin without extensive planning. In fact, starting early is a good strategy for quickly gaining momentum and keeping the design grounded. Many projects begin with a product brief that describes the overall goal of the design and any considerations and constraints, such as target audience, cost, and timeline. A product brief can be a good starting point for the design process and your prototype. They say even the longest journey begins with the first step. In prototyping, the first step is often to focus on a single component or feature. Maybe connecting a component you haven't used before or creating a feature, like displaying the time on a small screen. This is a minimum viable prototype or proof of concept prototype and can be a small step that helps build momentum. Once you've determined the general outline of your prototype, next you need to select the components you'll use. Maybe you need a potentiometer or some LEDs or a gas sensor or a display. You may already have these lying around or you may need to order them. If you're ordering components, make sure they will arrive in time to fit your prototype's schedule or be ready to pay for expedited shipping. After deciding on components, the next stage is to design the circuit. You can draw on a napkin or use software, such as KeyCAD, EAGLE, or Circuits.io, to draw schematic or breadboard layout. Finally, you'll develop a sketch to implement your design and animate your prototype. Remember when we talked about nimble design? Well, prototyping is inherently nimble. As you prototype, you and the team will gain new insight and the design will evolve. Be ready to visit all stages of the process as new design ideas emerge from this growing understanding and inspiration.

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