INTRODUCTION TO KiCad

#IEEEDAY #signal #SPSDay #sps

Turning an electronic circuit into a working product involves more than designing a schematic. PCB design provides the bridge between a circuit concept and its physical implementation. As part of the IEEE Day 2026 celebrations, IEEE SPS SBC MBITS, in collaboration with IEEE Sensors Council MBITS, presents Introduction to KiCad, an introductory session focused on the fundamentals of PCB design using an open-source electronic design automation platform.

The session will introduce participants to KiCad and its role in the electronic product development process. Participants will gain an overview of how circuit ideas can be translated into schematics, organized into PCB layouts, and prepared for physical fabrication.

The session will be handled by Mr. Anandhu K R, 3rd Year ECE Student, CUSAT and Intern, Kerala Startup Mission, who will share his knowledge and practical perspective on PCB design and the use of KiCad. The session will introduce the basic KiCad workflow and help participants understand the relationship between circuit schematics, component placement, PCB routing, and final board design.

The programme is intended for students who wish to take their first step into PCB design, electronic hardware development, embedded systems, and prototyping. By working with an open-source design platform, participants will also gain exposure to a tool that can be explored beyond the session for academic projects and personal hardware development.

The session will be conducted online on 10 October 2026 at 7:00 PM. An interactive segment will allow participants to engage with the speaker and clarify their questions regarding KiCad, PCB design, and the hardware development workflow.

Through this initiative, IEEE SPS SBC MBITS and IEEE Sensors Council MBITS aim to encourage students to explore practical electronics design and develop the skills required to transform circuit concepts into physical hardware.