Summer
Course - 10 Week - Added to TRACS
Special Topics: Simple Robots and
Microprocessor
Summer
2001, ECE292B Section 051, 2 hours
|
This
course will provide an introduction to an embedded computer systems. It will expose students to
computer engineering topics.
The objective of this
class is to build a small robot and use microprocessor technology to make
it walk and sense its environment.
This will use the Stiquito robot, PC parallel port controller, and
a Basic Stamp 1. | |
The
culmination of the class will be a Stiquito walking contest at the end of
the semester. Students will
work on the project using skills learned through the semester. They will discover the value of
code reuse from earlier labs and of task scheduling and project
management. |
| |
|
Syllabus
for Summer
2001 (10 week) – James Conrad |
Lecture (DAN 331) /Lab (DAN 343): 7:30 -8:45 p.m. MW. Listed in TRACS online, not published in the summer book.
Office: 307 DAN, Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. - 7:30p.m., and 8:45 p.m. until the last student leaves. Email questions always welcome!
Phone: 472-6178 (Ericsson, RTP, NC)
email: eusjcon@rtp.ericsson.se, jconrad@stiquito.com
Grader: None
Objective
The objective of this class is to build a small robot and use microprocessor technology to make it walk and sense its environment. This will use the Stiquito robot, PC parallel port controller, and a Basic Stamp 2.
Purpose of
Course
This course
will provide an introduction to an embedded computer systems. It continues to expose students to
computer engineering topics. During
this course, students will develop a basic understanding of embedded computer
system architecture; learn to program embedded computer systems; and learn how
simple I/O devices are controlled by microprocessors. This class will use lecture and lab to
solidify concepts on embedded systems.
Prerequisite
Junior
standing, a grade of B- or above in ECE 206/218, a grade of B- or above in ECE
200 (or equivalent), and permission of the instructor. Limited to 24
students.
Materials
Purchased by Student:
· James Conrad and Jonathan Mills, Stiquito for Beginners, IEEE CS Press, 1999. $30.
· Stiquito PC Parallel Port Controller Kit, MRS, Inc. $10 (purchased by each lab pair)
Additional
lab supplies and tools provided by the ECE
Department:
· Basic Stamp 2 Board of Education, Parallax, Inc. $50-$100 (one for each lab pair). If the lab pair wants to keep the Basic Stamp microcontroller, they can buy their own directly from Parallax, Inc.
· Parallax Basic Stamp User's Guide, Parallax, Inc. (in developer kit, and on web).
· Miscellaneous hardware (ULN2803, transistors, perf board, sensors, connectors)
· PC with parallel/serial port (in lab Dan 343)
· Soldering station
· Multi-meters, power supplies
Labs
Lab sessions will be held weekly in 343 Daniels. Students will work on labs in pairs. A considerable amount of time and thought will be required in the labs. Because almost all of us learn by doing, the laboratory will probably be the most effective method for learning the material. It is important that you participate fully in the lab-- do not just let your partner do all the work. (If you do, you find that you will not finish the project!) To learn, you need to do it and you need to creatively think about what you are doing! Students will learn to take lab notes, and use the notes for their final paper.
Since a student will learn the most for performing labs, grading for the course will be weighted heavily on lab performance:
· Lab pairs will demonstrate their work at the end of their eight labs.
· Students will turn in their lab books at the end of the semester
Quizzes
There will
be a quiz each week before lecture to ensure that students prepare in advance
for the day's discussion. There
will be no make-ups for quizzes.
Students are expected to attend all 20 of the
classes.
Final
Project
The
culmination of the class will be a Stiquito walking contest at the end of the
semester. Students will work on the
project using skills learned through the semester. They will discover the value of code
reuse from earlier labs and of task scheduling and project management. These skills will be quite helpful for
their future Senior Design Project.
The lab pair should also write a project report in the form of a magazine
article. The objective is to submit
the article to a magazine, like Circuit Cellar Ink or Robot Science and
Technology, for eventual publication.
The project results and final report will be part of the final
grade.
Course
Topics and Labs
Week |
Date |
Lecture |
Lab/Homework |
W |
5/23 |
Introduction to Embedded Computer Systems; Introduction to Stiquito |
|
M |
5/28 |
|
(1) Build a manual controlled Stiquito |
W |
5/30 |
Electronics, soldering skills, instrumentation, power supplies |
|
M |
6/4 |
|
(2) Solder a PC Parallel Port Controller and test |
W |
6/6 |
| |
M |
6/11 |
|
(3) Program (in C) to the parallel port controller (output-Stiquito gait w/LEDs and input)
Check the text below |
W |
6/13 |
| |
M |
6/18 |
|
(4) Build a tether and program a PWM gait for Stiquito |
W |
6/20 |
An examination of a small embedded Computer System; project management; final project rules |
|
M |
6/25 |
|
|
W |
6/27 |
| |
M |
7/2 |
| |
M |
7/9 |
|
(6) Develop Stiquito Gaits on Basic Stamp |
W |
7/11 |
Optimization of embedded system code |
|
M |
7/16 |
|
|
W |
7/18 |
Hardware/software co-design |
|
M |
7/23 |
|
Building Stiquito/basic Stamp board |
W |
7/25 |
Testing Embedded Systems |
|
M |
7/30 |
Rough draft of final report due |
Building Stiquito/basic Stamp board (cont.) |
W |
8/1 |
|
Building Stiquito/basic Stamp board (cont.) |
M |
8/6 |
Stiquito race/Pizza Party at TAR Meeting |
|
F |
8/10 |
Report due |
|
See the Stiquito race on TV!!!
On WRAL, Raleigh (Realtime video, 2.2 MB)
On WRAZ, Raleigh (Realtime video, 1.9 MB)
Here are some photos of the final day:
Grading
Percentages
40%
Laboratory demonstrations
10% Lab notebook
10%
Quizzes
20% Final
project/race results
20% Final report – Magazine Article
100% Total
More info on Lab 3: