# Introducing the AI Design Review Tab Explore Flux's new AI-powered design reviews, designed to surpass standard DRCs by understanding design context and boosting PCB reliability and efficiency. Written by [Lance Cassidy](https://www.flux.ai/lwcassid) Published Nov 2024 - 4 min read [![Screenshot of a PCB design tool showing an AI-powered review panel. The review panel highlights capacitor C56 with a red error indicating a voltage rating of 16V, below the required safe margin. A chat response suggests replacement capacitors with part numbers, demonstrating the AI's capability to recommend fixes for flagged issues.](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/blogs/ai-drc-panel/main.webp)](#) ## Creating a manufacturable, error-free PCB is never simple. Every engineer knows that missed details lead to production delays, costly revisions, and project setbacks. But what if you could have the power of a seasoned review team guiding you, 24/7? At Flux, we believe that AI should be more than a tool—it should be a design partner that helps you navigate these challenges and produce better work faster. That’s why we’ve created AI-powered design reviews. It goes beyond traditional ERCs by understanding your project’s context and constraints, helping you catch not only blatant errors but also potential optimizations and nuanced issues. It’s like having an experienced engineer available at all times to review your work and offer guidance. ### Why Traditional Reviews Fall Short Electrical Rule Checks (ERCs) are a standard part of PCB design, flagging rule violations such as unconnected pins or electrical loops. While these checks are necessary, they often lack the depth needed to fully understand the broader context of your design. This can leave critical gaps in your review process and result in missed opportunities for optimization or overlooked issues that only surface later. For experienced engineers, thorough reviews are time-intensive, so they’re often done less frequently. In a small team or startup, you might not always know what to look for, which can lead to overlooked issues Flux’s AI-powered design reviews change that by transforming a traditionally reactive process into a proactive one. ### AI-Powered Reviews Change the Game What sets Flux AI design reviews apart is its ability to leverage your project’s context and detailed data—such as part datasheets, application notes, and design constraints—to provide deep, actionable insights that mimic a human expert’s guidance. Unlike simple DRCs, which are limited to binary pass/fail results, Copilot’s checks are context-aware and interpretive. This means you’re not just checking if your design meets basic criteria; you’re getting insights into whether it aligns with best practices, meets safety margins, and is optimized for production. We also understand that user trust in AI-driven engineering tools is paramount. That’s why we developed these checks to blend deterministic algorithms with AI, striking a balance that ensures accuracy, reliability, and confidence. We’re launching with targeted reviews that cover essential areas and will be expanding them based on user feedback. **Included in the Beta Release**: The first of many checks you can expect - **Resistor Power Rating**: Ensures resistors can handle expected loads. - **Pull-Up/Pull-Down Configuration**: Verifies correct logic circuit setups. - **Capacitor Voltage Margins**: Confirms capacitors meet safe voltage requirements. - **Parts Availability**: Flags components that may be hard to source, minimizing procurement risks. - **Design Review Checks:** Overlapping copper, Missing footprints, Air wires, Floating copper The system always explains *why* an issue was flagged. This combination of deterministic algorithms and AI ensures that checks are reliable, comprehensive, and adaptable to your specific project. ### How to run AI design reviews Flux’s AI design review panel is designed to be intuitive and flexible: 1. **Open the Review Panel:** Access all available design checks from one centralized interface. 2. ‍**Select the Relevant Reviews**: Choose checks based on your current design phase. For example, if you haven’t laid out your PCB yet, focus on component specifications.**‍** 3. **Review the Results**: The panel displays results clearly: - ❌  for errors, ⚠️ for warnings, and ✅ for pass - Click on flagged items for detailed explanations and direct navigation to the affected component on your board. - Need more context? [Use Copilot](https://docs.flux.ai/tutorials/pcb-design-review) to learn about the issue and its impact.**‍** 4. **Iterate and Re-check**: Make the necessary changes and run the review again to confirm that everything has been resolved. [![Screenshot of a PCB design tool showing an AI-powered review panel. The review panel highlights capacitor with a red error indicating a voltage rating below the required safe margin. Demonstrating the AI's capability to recommend fixes for flagged issues.](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/blogs/ai-drc-panel/capacitor-voltage-rating-checks-example-1.webp)](#) ### Example: Capacitor Voltage Rating Checks Flux Copilot doesn’t just check for pass/fail criteria; it interprets the constraints of your project and cross-references them with your design. This means that beyond simple ERCs, the AI can flag issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Imagine you’re working on a PCB and running a passive component check. Copilot flags a warning for capacitor C3, stating, *“Ceramic Capacitor C3 has a voltage rating of 16V, which is less than the required 50V”* . This isn’t just a binary check—it’s context-aware. It understands your circuit’s requirements and knows that a safe voltage margin should exceed 150% for reliable operation. In the review panel, you see the flagged issue highlighted on your PCB layout, the voltage margin percentage shown, and an explanation of why it matters. This makes it easy to interpret the results and take corrective action quickly, ensuring your design meets reliability standards. [![Screenshot of a PCB design tool showing an AI-powered review panel. The review panel highlights capacitor with a red error indicating a voltage rating below the required safe margin. Demonstrating the AI's capability to recommend fixes for flagged issues.](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/blogs/ai-drc-panel/capacitor-voltage-rating-checks-example-2.webp)](#) ### Your Voice Shapes the Future of AI Reviews These initial checks are only the start. At Flux, we’re committed to continuously evolving our platform based on your feedback. Have specific checks or features you’d like to see added? Share your suggestions with our support team at [support@flux.ai](mailto:support@flux.ai). Your insights are invaluable in making Flux an even better design partner. With AI as your partner, design reviews are more thorough and run more frequently, resulting in safer designs. Flux is here to help you focus on what you do best: creating innovative, reliable hardware. [Try AI Design Reviews Now](https://www.flux.ai/signup) ## About the author [Lance Cassidy](https://www.flux.ai/lwcassid) Co-Founder at Flux Lance is Co-Founder & CDO of Flux, a hardware design platform that's revolutionizing how teams create and iterate on circuits. Find him on Flux [@lwcassid](https://www.flux.ai/lwcassid/) Let’s start building Build your big idea together with Flux. All you need to do is describe what you want to make, or what problem you want to solve. Flux will work with you to make it a reality. ![Close-up photo of a PCB made with Flux, with an ESP32 module, buttons, and a microSD slot.](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/blogs/miscellaneous/sidebar-cta-pcb.webp) [Try it Free](https://www.flux.ai/signup) ## More in AI & Prompt Engineering for Hardware [ ![What Makes a Perfect PCB Design Prompt](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/blogs/how-to-write-a-perfect-pcb-design-prompt/main.webp) ### What Makes a Perfect PCB Design Prompt 8 Min Read](https://www.flux.ai/p/blog/what-makes-a-perfect-pcb-design-prompt)[ ![Flux, an AI hardware engineer pointing out the dos and don'ts when prompting.](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/blogs/prompting-guide/main.webp) ### Prompting Guide: Working with Flux from Idea to Schematic 9 Min Read](https://www.flux.ai/p/blog/prompting-guide-working-with-flux-from-idea-to-schematic)[ ![A space-themed image with a central cartoon astronaut helmet against a backdrop of stars and nebulae in shades of purple. 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Let’s build your idea together. All you need to do is describe what you want to make, or what problem you want to solve. Flux will work with you to make it a reality. [Try it Free](https://www.flux.ai/signup) ![Close-up of a Flux-designed printed circuit board](https://www.flux.ai/p/assets/homepage-v2/mission-visual.webp)