Weekly updates

Weekly Update Emails #

Week 15: Sunday, 12/8/24 #

Great work getting those robots up the ramp. Onward to the final project, #6!

Last Class Session Mon., Dec. 9

  • For our last regular class session, we’ll talk about career trajectories and we’ll go over approaches and resources for Project 6.

Project 6 Details and Resources

  • Please carefully read the updated Project 6 description. We have posted many new resources and ideas for working on Project 6.
  • Take some time to discuss the Project 6 resources with your team. For example, look at the Recommended Work Plan together and decide whether you will follow that sequence of sub-tasks to get the project done. Consider the Software Architecture advice and figure out whether you have questions about it.

Project 6 Required Demo Sessions

  • Project 6 is due during the ME 30 final blocks Tuesday, 12/17 (3:30pm) or Wednesday, 12/18 (2:00 or 3:30pm). These are the university-scheduled times scheduled for ME 30 finals. All teams, from all ME 30 sections, are welcome at any of these sessions. However, if you finish P6 earlier and you can find another team to demo with you, you can come to Nolop for an early demo on Friday, 12/13, 3pm or Monday, 12/16, 3pm.
  • Project 6 documentation is due on Canvas by 11:59pm on Wed., 12/18.

Kit Return

  • Note that you must return your ME 30 kit (except for any components soldered to your PCBs) after P6 robot demos.

Office Hours for Project 6

  • Mon., 12/9, 6-9pm (LAs)
  • Mon., 12/9, 4-5pm (Kristen)
  • Tue., 12/10, 6-9pm (LAs)
  • Wed., 12/11, 11am-1pm (Kristen)
  • Fri., 12/13, 2:30-4:30pm (Kristen)
  • Brandon is usually in Nolop 9 AM to 5 PM, unless he’s teaching class or in a meeting, or it’s a weekend

Week 14: Sunday, 12/1/24 #

Course housekeeping:

  • PLEASE KEEP TRACK OF KIT COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY YOUR MOTORS, POWER SUPPLIES, AND OTHER NON-CONSUMABLES. We must collect all your components (except those you’ve soldered onto your PCBs) at the end of the semester so that ME 30 is possible again next year. You’ll turn in your kits on the day you demo your Project 6 robot.
  • Labs shift to drop-in help sessions starting on 12/2. Any student can drop in to any lab time. Times are 6-9pm, Mon-Thur, 12/2-12/5, and Mon-Tue, 12/9-12/10.
  • Dates for final project demo sessions: In Project 6, you’ll modify your P5 robot to deliver a payload under specific diabolical constraints. Your final deliverable for ME 30 is to demonstrate your P6 robot (and then return your electronics kit) during one of our scheduled final demo sessions on Tuesday, 12/17 (3:30pm) or Wednesday, 12/18 (2:00 or 3:30pm). These are the university-scheduled times scheduled for ME 30 finals. All teams, from all ME 30 sections, are welcome at any of these demo sessions. However, if you finish P6 earlier and you can find another team to demo with you, you can come to Nolop for an early demo on Friday, 12/13, 3pm or Monday, 12/16, 3pm.

Things due in Week 14:

  • Project 5 robots are due at class time this Wednesday, Dec. 4. Please arrive with your robot for testing on the ramp during class time.
  • Project 5 documentation is due by 11:59pm Wednesday night, on Canvas and in the reflection on Qualtrics (linked from Canvas).

Rechargeable battery safety:

  • When using a 11.1 V rechargeable battery, please keep the leads disconnected from the battery unless you have clamped them into screw terminals and they have no way of shorting each other. Do not let the battery leads touch each other when connected to the battery!! They will short out the battery, discharge it rapidly, and create a fire hazard.

Learning goals for Week 14:

  • Describe how the internet works.
  • Implement digital input and output on the Raspberry Pi.
  • Build an internet-connected electromechanical system.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 14:

Week 13: Saturday, 11/23/24 #

Thanks for your creative and hard work on Project 4. We enjoyed playing your games, seeing your collaboration and support for each other, and noting how much progress you’ve made with H-bridges and microcontroller input/output. Now we’re on to the last phase of the course, which focuses on mobile robots (i.e., internet-connected electromechanical systems).

Course housekeeping:

  • PLEASE KEEP TRACK OF KIT COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY YOUR MOTORS, POWER SUPPLIES, AND OTHER NON-CONSUMABLES! We must collect all your components (except those you’ve soldered onto your PCBs) at the end of the semester so that ME 30 is possible again next year. You’ll turn in your kits immediately after you demo P6 robot.
  • No labs the week of 11/25.
  • Labs shift to drop-in help sessions starting on 12/2. Any student can drop in to any lab time. Times are 6-9pm, Mon-Thur, 12/2-12/5, and Mon-Tue, 12/9-12/10.
  • Project 5 and 6 teams: If you requested that Brandon and Kristen form a team for you, we’ll have that information to you by Monday, 11/25.
  • Dates for Project 6 (final project) demo sessions Project 6 will be announced and explained on the last day of class, Monday Dec. 9. In P6, you’ll modify your P5 robot to deliver a payload under specific diabolical constraints. Your final deliverable is to demonstrate your robot (and then return your electronics kit) during one of our scheduled final demo sessions on Tuesday, 12/17 (3:30pm) or Wednesday, 12/18 (2:00 or 3:30pm). These are the university-scheduled times scheduled for ME 30 finals. All teams, from all ME 30 sections, are welcome at any of these demo sessions. However, if you finish P6 earlier and you can find another team to demo with you, you can come to Nolop for an early demo on Friday, 12/13, 3pm or Monday, 12/16, 3pm.

Class this week and P5 due next week:

  • On Monday, 11/25, we’ll explore the oscilloscope as a de-bugging tool. We’ll apply it to PWM (for variable motor speed) signals on the Raspberry Pi. We’ll also do Project 5 Q & A, so bring your questions about robot design and RPi programming.
  • Nothing is due during Thanksgiving week, but the Project 5 due date is coming up soon: next Wednesday, Dec. 4, with required robot demos during class.

Learning goals for Week 13:

  • Describe how the internet works.
  • Implement digital input and output on the Raspberry Pi.
  • Build an internet-connected electromechanical system.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 13:

Week 11: Monday, 11/11/24 #

With Tufts running a Monday schedule Tuesday this week, we’ll have ME 30 two days in a row. Across these two class sessions, our goal is for all students to set up and start using the other small computer in your kit - the Raspberry Pi. This device will be central to the final two projects of the course.

Things you need in class on Tues. & Wed., Nov. 12 & 13: These class sessions will be crucial for setting up your Raspberry Pi hardware. Please bring:

  • a laptop
  • your ME 30 kit (including the Raspberry Pi, its power supply, the serial console cable, and the SD card)
  • an adapter that will let you connect a USB-A cable into your computer (if you don’t have a USB-A port)
  • an SD card reader if you have one (though we will also bring some to share)

Things due in Week 11:

  • Nothing due this week, but Project 4, the (more complex) electromechanical game, is due on Monday, Nov. 18. Your game itself is due at class time. Documentation is due on Canvas by 11:59pm Monday night.

Labs in Week 11:

  • Labs this week will focus on Project 4 work and support. Both Monday and Tuesday night lab groups will meet on Tuesday night. If you are in a Tuesday lab but can’t make it Tuesday night because it’s a Monday schedule, you are welcome to attend any lab on Wednesday or Thursday.

Learning goals for Week 11:

  • Build an electromechanical game including a moving mechanical element and both input and output from a microcontroller.
  • Identify the main components and functions of the Raspberry Pi.
  • Gain familiarity with Linux basics and explain how they relate to the functioning of a Raspberry Pi.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 11:

Extra office hours this week:

  • Tues., 11/12: 3:30-5pm (Kristen)
  • Tues., 11/12: 6-8pm (Calvin)
  • Thu., 11/14: 7-9pm (Kimberly)
  • Fri., 11/15: 2:15-4:45pm (Kristen)
  • Sun., 11/17: 11am-1pm (Arcadia)
  • Sun., 11/18: 6-9pm (Brian and Natalie L.)

Week 10, Monday, 11/4/24 #

In class this week, we’ll work through strategies for wiring and coding your KB2040 to handle outputs and inputs at the same time. We’ll also talk about how to use your kit’s stepper motor in case you need precise motor rotation for your Project 4 game. That project is due on Nov. 18, a week after the Veteran’s Day holiday.

Labs this week will focus on supporting Project 4 planning and circuit set-up.

Things due in Week 10:

  • Nothing is due this week, but if you have not posted your personal learning goal for Project 4, please do that on Canvas.
  • This week you should be developing a solid plan for your Project 4 game. Before you sink time into building structure and moving parts, figure out your circuit and code. Make sure you can get your KB2040 to reliably receive voltage signals from your input(s) and send voltage signals out to your H-bridge(s). Remember that we are not grading you based on how beautiful or sophisticated your game is (though we appreciate those qualities); we are looking for you to meet the posted project requirements.
  • If you have not yet tried out Set 2 of the KB2040 Challenges, aim to do that this week. Solutions will be posted next week.

Learning goal for Week 10:

  • Continue gaining familiarity with motor control, digital and analog input, and CircuitPython programming.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 10:

FAQs about resources for Project 4:

Where can I find example code for programming KB2040 inputs and outputs?

How do I figure out how to convert the motor shaft’s rotational motion into other useful motion?

Week 9: Sunday, 10/27/24 #

We’ve been observing some impressive persistence in de-bugging H-bridges over the past week. Thanks for your hard work on Project 3 and the ways you are supporting each other. If you have questions about your P3 circuit or PCB design, please bring them to class tomorrow or reach out to us ASAP.

In class this week we’ll introduce more circuitry and coding techniques for use in the next open-ended project - a more complex electromechanical game. View the course Calendar for all upcoming class topics and activities.

Things due in Week 9:

  • Project 3, the H-bridge motor controller, is due on Canvas tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 28, 11:59pm. You’ll need to upload your KiCad circuit schematic, PCB layout, and a video (max 90 seconds) demonstrating that your H-bridge breadboard prototype meets the minimum functional requirements for this circuit. You should also upload your OSHPark order confirmation. As with the P1 PCB, if the cost of ordering is a hardship, please reach out to Kristen or Brandon, and they will place the order for you.
  • Learning Goal and 1-sentence plan for Project 4, the more complex game, is due on Canvas on Tuesday, Oct. 30

Learning goals for Week 9:

  • Apply the relationship between motor power, speed, and torque to make design decisions.
  • Use the PWM module to control motor speed.
  • Use the KB2040 to process analog input from a sensor.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 9:

Some good resources for figuring out how to convert the rotational motion of a motor shaft to other useful motion

Week 8: Sunday, 10/20/24 #

This week we’ll be digging into the details of PCB design for more complex circuits, like H-bridges, and we’ll explore motor power and efficiency. View the course Calendar for all upcoming class topics and activities.

Things due in Week 8:

  • Breadboard Prototype for Project 3, the H-bridge motor controller, is due tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 21, 11:59pm. The assignment is to upload a photo of your breadboard H-bridge circuit (with 4 MOSFETs and 2 BJTs) to Canvas.
  • Your KiCad PCB design for Project 3 is due next Monday, Oct. 28, 11:59pm.

Learning goals for Week 8:

  • Explain how an H-bridge motor controller works.
  • Improve your skills with PCB design strategies and software.
  • Estimate motor power and efficiency using electrical and mechanical measurements
  • Apply the relationship between motor power, speed, and torque to make design decisions

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 8:

Textbook reading for Week 8:

  • Note that both of our optional course textbooks are available online for free from Tisch Library
  • “Chapter 15: Motors” (pgs. 933-945) in Practical Electronics for Inventors (Scherz & Monk) (available here from Tisch Library online)
  • “Chapter 6: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Motor: Options for Creating and Controlling Motion” (pgs. 123-181) in Making Things Move (Dustyn Roberts)

Week 7: Monday, 10/14/24 #

Thanks for your creativity and resourcefulness on Project 2 games! Now that you’re familiar with the basics of transistor circuits, we’re moving on to using transistors in combination with your KB2040 microcontroller for bi-directional motor control.

Labs this week (no Monday lab due to holiday)

  • The main activity for lab this week is to solder components onto your Project 1 PCBs. You can also get help with Set 1 of the KB2040 challenges.
  • No Monday labs tonight due to the holiday. Monday lab students can hop into any other lab this week or stop by Nolop anytime to do their soldering. Feel free to ask a Nolop staff member for help with soldering.

Things due in Week 7:

  • Nothing is due on Canvas, bu if you have not completed Set 1 of the KB2040 challenges, you should finish those this week. Ask an LA, instructor, or classmate for help if needed.

Learning goal for Week 7:

  • Explain how an H-bridge motor controller works.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 7:

Week 6: Monday, 10/7/24 #

Things due in Week 6:

  • Project 2, the “Simple Game,” is due in class Wednesday, Oct. 9. Make sure you’ve generated a self-identified learning goal for your Project 2 work. You’ll be asked to describe that goal in the Canvas documentation you submit for Project 2. Example self-identified learning goals are listed in the Prject 2 description.

Learning goals for Week 6:

  • Gain enough familiarity with Python programming to code the KB2040 microcontroller to process simple inputs and outputs.
  • Incorporate a DC gearmotor into a simple electromechanical system.
  • Explain how an H-bridge motor controller works.

Labs in Week 6

  • Labs this week will focus on KB2040 challenges and your work on Project 2. (And Monday labs will test out their Project 0 motor hubs.)

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 6:

Textbook reading for Week 6:

Week 5: Sunday, 9/29/24 #

Thanks for your hard work learning KiCad for Project 1. Looking forward to seeing you put those PCBs in action for later projects!

Course housekeeping:

  • In class on Wed., Oct. 2, you will need your KB2040 microcontroller (the small pink circuit board in your kit) and a data-sync cable that connects your KB2040 USB-C port with your laptop. We have a few extra USB-C data-sync cables, but if you have one of your own, please bring it. Make sure it can transfer data, not just power.
  • In labs, one focus has been soldering pins onto your KB2040 microcontroller. Please have your pins soldered onto your KB2040 by class time on Wed., Oct. 2. Ask Nolop staff member can help you with soldering any time Nolop is open; just ask!

Labs in Week 5

  • Labs this week will focus on trouble-shooting transistor circuits and planning for Project 2. Tuesday groups will test out their motor hubs.

Things due in Week 5:

  • Nothing is due on Canvas, but please read the note above about soldering header pins onto your KB2040 by class time on Wed., Oct. 2, and bringing a USB-C data-sync cable if you have one.

Learning goals for Week 5:

  • Explain how to use both BJT and MOSFET transistors to control high power with low power.
  • Build circuits incorporating motors.
  • Gain basic familiarity with microcontroller hardware.
  • Learn to set up the KB2040 microcontroller to run very simple Python code.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 5:

  • [Low power/high power[(http://andnowforelectronics.com/notes/low-power-high-power/) (includes mini-lecture videos on BJT and MOSFET transistors) 
  • Microcontrollers
  • KB2040 hardware

Textbook reading for Week 5:

Week 4: Sunday, 9/22/24 #

This week is a big transition week in ME 30. In Phase 1 of the course, we focused on fundamental circuits concepts, breadboarding skills, and introductory PCB design. Starting on Wednesday, 9/25, we’ll move on to Phase 2, which introduces the components and circuits used to control motors.

Course housekeeping:

If you miss class, please check both the Calendar section of the website to see what we did in class the day(s) you missed. Reach out to an instructor or Learning Assistant if you have questions.

Anyone is welcome to stop by office hours, which should really be called “times when we sit and wait for you to come do KiCad or build circuits with us.”

  • This week, Kristen’s office hours are Thurs. 9/26, 3-4:30pm in Nolop
  • Learning Assistants ReAnna and Chris will do Friday office hours in Nolop on 9/27, 2-5pm
  • Brandon’s office hours are whenever he’s in Nolop, M-F, 9am-5pm

Things due in Week 4:

  • Due on Canvas by Fri., 9/27, 6:00pm: Project 1 PCB. On the Project 1 Canvas assignment, you’ll see instructions to fill out a Project 1 self-assessment checklist, upload a brief video, and upload screenshots of your KiCad schematic diagram, PCB layout, and order confirmation.
  • Wednesday lab groups, your Project 0 motor hubs are due at lab time on 9/25. Don’t forget to submit your motor hub work on the Project 0 Canvas assignment.

Learning goals for Week 4:

  • Improve your skills at creating schematics and laying out PCBs on Kicad
  • Explain how to use transistors to control high power with low power.
  • Begin to build circuits incorporating motors.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 4:

Textbook reading for Week 4:

Week 3: Sunday, 9/16/24 #

This is the week that Project 1 work picks up, with the introduction of (free!) circuit board design software called KiCad. We’ll use KiCad to translate your temporary breadboard circuits into permanent circuit boards. We’ll preview KiCad in class on Monday and recommend that you have it installed on your computer by class time on Wednesday, 9/18. If you’re having trouble installing it, please reach out to an LA or instructor.

Things due in Week 3:

  • Due Wed., 9/18, as photo upload to Canvas: Prototype Circuit for Project 1 (Voltage Regulator/Breadboard Power Supply)
  • Thursday lab groups, your Project 0 motor hubs are due at lab time on 9/19

Learning goals for Week 3:

  • Deepen your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to your Project 1 Breadboard Power Supply circuit (featuring voltage regulators)
  • Take a breadboard prototype and turn it into a PCB design using KiCad software

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 3:

Textbook reading for Week 3:

Week 2: Sunday, 9/8/24 #

Thanks for a great first day of class last Wednesday. We appreciate how willing you were to lend a hand to classmates once you figured out your own circuit. That spirit of collective learning will take us far this semester.

Course housekeeping:

  • Remember to bring your green box to every class and lab session.
  • Check the Calendar page of the course website to see what we’re doing in class each day and what to study and do every week.
  • Labs begin this week in Nolop on Monday, Sep. 9. Labs are 1 hour. Bring your green box. You can find your lab day/time on SIS.

Things due in Week 2:

  • “Introductory post” on Canvas: By Wed., Sep. 11, upload a very brief video introducing yourself and showing us your LED-pushbutton circuit.

Learning goals for Week 2:

  • Describe the difference between a voltage divider circuit and a voltage regulator circuit.
  • Deepen your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to voltage divider and voltage regulator circuits.
  • Measure voltage, current, resistance, and continuity with a multimeter.

Resources for your learning for Week 2:

For Week 2, these are the resources we’re suggesting:

Office hours

  • Office hours should really be called “times when we sit and wait for you to come build circuits with us”
  • Kristen’s office hours are Fri. 2:15-4:15pm in Nolop
  • Brandon’s office hours are whenever he’s in Nolop, M-F, 9a-5p

Week 1: Tuesday, 9/3/24 #

We are excited to start ME 30 with you! Welcome to the course. We’ll send an organizational email to the ME 30 class every Sunday evening. But this first week, we’re doing it on Tuesday.

Course website:

The course website is http://andnowforelectronics.com/. It serves as the required text for the course. It includes:

  1. The syllabus, which lists office hour info
  2. The calendar of topics, suggested readings, and project work due for each class meeting
  3. Notes and brief videos on key topics
  4. Kit component list and data sheets for all components

Electronics kit:

You’ll receive your electronics kit in the first class on 9/4. Bring it back for EVERY class and lab. You’ll return it at the end of the semester.

Labs:

No labs this first week. They will begin on Monday, 9/9.

Things due in Week 1:

Nothing, but your intro video and the LED-pushbutton circuit is due next week. Canvas deliverable: Upload a video introducing yourself and showing us your LED-pushbutton circuit.

Learning goals for Week 1:

  • Build a working circuit prototype on a breadboard
  • Explain how current flows through the pins on a barrel jack
  • Start to make sense of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to a simple LED circuit

Resources for your learning for Week 1:

In ME 30 we’re aiming to provide a menu of resources to support your electronics learning. We hope you’ll explore and use what works best for you. Some of you may start with the videos we’ve embedded in the website pages; some of you may start by reading a textbook section; some of you may focus on the written website notes; and others may start with broad questions in office hours. Let us know if you’d like help developing a strategy for navigating the different options.

For Week 1, these are the resources we’re suggesting:

NOTE: Many of the website notes pages include mini-lecture videos.