Real-time signal processing using DSP microprocessors - An undergraduate capstone design course at Georgia

In 1996, Georgia Tech completely revised its undergraduate curriculum as part of a process of switching from a quarter system to a semester system. Two elements of the new, combined electrical and computer engineering curriculum were that (1) DSP replace Circuits as the initial sophomore ECE course and (2) a new "capstone design" requirement was added at the senior level. As a result of these changes, a new course, Real-Time Signal Processing Using DSP Microprocessors, was created to fulfill the capstone design requirement. This paper presents a detailed description of the course and a detailed analysis of the course's performance over the past eight years. I will compare and contrast the effectiveness of this course to earlier undergraduate courses that also covered realtime DSP theory and practice. I will also discuss the evolutionary effectiveness of modern DSP development tools in terms of ease of understanding, ease of use, and effectiveness as measured by student success.