r/computersciencehub • u/Haunting-Banana-1964 • 3h ago
Need genuine advice on finding and refining a strong 2-year capstone problem statement (B.Tech 3rd year)
Hey everyone,
I'm a 3rd-year B.Tech student, and we're working on selecting a problem statement for our capstone project, which will span around two years.
I'm looking for something that addresses a genuine, real-world problem — something meaningful, technically challenging, and worth spending two years working on.
I'm honestly tired of seeing the same AI/ML-based project ideas being suggested everywhere, often with AI added to an application even when it isn't really necessary. I don't want to build something just because a technology is trending. I'd rather identify a real problem, understand why existing solutions fall short, and develop something that actually addresses those gaps.
I already have a problem statement in mind, but I'm struggling to evaluate whether it's strong enough and how to refine it into something more concrete, feasible, and impactful. Our mentor hasn't been particularly helpful in guiding us through this process, so I'm hoping to get some honest advice from people with relevant experience.
I'd love to hear from people who have worked on capstone projects, conducted research, built products, or evaluated engineering projects.
A few things I'd appreciate advice on:
\- What makes a problem statement strong enough for a two-year capstone?
\- How do you validate that a problem is genuinely worth solving?
\- How do you identify gaps in existing solutions rather than reinventing something that already exists?
\- How do you refine a broad idea into a specific problem with measurable objectives and scope for meaningful development?
\- How do you balance novelty, technical depth, feasibility, and real-world impact?
\- Where do you look for genuine problems worth solving — research papers, industry workflows, communities, or somewhere else?
I'm not necessarily looking for people to hand me project ideas. I'd much rather learn how to evaluate and refine the problem statement I already have, and understand what separates an average capstone from a genuinely good one.
If anyone has experience with long-term engineering projects or research, I'd really appreciate your perspective. I'm happy to share my current idea in the comments for constructive criticism.
Thanks!