Weekly updates

This is an archive of all the emails we have sent you about the course, just for reference.

November 20, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 11/20/20

Thanks for your thoughtful responses to the “How smart does your bed have to be…” Flipgrid prompt, and kudos on a strong start to Project 4 this week. We’re excited about the ideas that you have and look forward to supporting your implementation.

Below is a short update before a short week. We hope you are all taking care and we wish you a restful Thanksgiving break.

Things due in Week 12:
• Nothing due this week

Learning goals for Week 12:
• Describe how the internet works.
• Identify the main components and functions of the Raspberry Pi.

What you should watch and read before Week 12 pods in ME 30:
The following web pages may be helpful for Project 4:
• Servers and clients
• Project 4 Requirements
• The Internet: How does it work?
• Raspberry Pi set-up
• Demo video on Raspberry Pi set-up

Optional textbook reading for Week 12:
• None this week

November 13, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 11/13/20

Things due in Week 11:
• Video Response 9, due on Flipgrid by Monday 11:59pm.
• Project 4 Teaming Preference Survey, due Monday 9:00am. This is a very quick survey. We need your input so we can make any needed partner assignments in time for you to work together next week.
• Project 4 Mock-Up, due on Canvas by Wednesday 11:59pm. Your submission should include: (1) a labeled sketch or diagram showing your plan for the two nodes of your system, their function, and their main components, (2) photo(s) showing a mock-up of each node

Learning goals for Week 11:
• Describe how the internet works.
• Identify the main components and functions of the Raspberry Pi.
• Build engineering ethics fluency by exploring the impact of internet-connected electronic technologies on various stakeholders.

What you should watch and read before Week 11 pods in ME 30:
• Project 4 Requirements
• The Internet: How does it work?
• Raspberry Pi set-up
• Demo video on Raspberry Pi set-up

Optional textbook reading for Week 11:
• None this week

November 7, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Saturday, 11/7/20

Thanks for your hard and creative work on Project 3, and your participation in share-out this past week. Make sure you save your Project 3 video and take some good photos of your work so that you have it for portfolios and career opportunities down the road.

Things due in Week 10:
• No pods on Tuesday (it’s a Tufts Wed. schedule), and no video response due.
• But, in time for pods on Thursday, 11/12, please have your Raspberry Pi set up following the demo video (to be posted soon). This is important work for you to do to be able to participate in 11/12 pods and to keep on track for Project 4. Please attend office hours before 11/12 if you’re having trouble with RPi set up.

Learning goals for Week 10:
• Describe how the internet works.
• Identify the main components and functions of the Raspberry Pi.

What you should watch and read before Week 10 pods:
• The Internet: How does it work?
• Microcontrollers
• Getting Started with Raspberry Pi (skim/browse, to get a sense of what it is)
• Raspberry Pi set-up (link TBD) (includes a mini-lecture video): Your task is to: (1) Install the Raspberry Pi OS on your micro SD card. (2) Plug the SD card to your RPi, and connect your RPi to power and your computer. (3) Demonstrate that you can connect to your RPI over the Internet.

Optional textbook reading for Week 10:
• None for this week

October 30, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 10/30/20

We’d like to start this week’s email with some big-picture perspective. While there is a deadline coming up next week (Monday night, for Project 3), the point of ME 30 projects is the process, not the particular endpoint you reach by the deadline. If you don’t find yourself on a journey, that’s a concern (and please reach out so we can help you get started). But if you don’t find yourself landing at the exact destination you’d hoped for by Monday night – especially given the stress of the pandemic and the upcoming election – that is okay. The learning comes from the journey, and that’s what this is all about.

Things due in Week 9:
• Project 3 Final, which will take the form of Video Response 8 plus a Canvas submission. Due Monday 11:59pm.
• In Video Response 8, you will: (1) demonstrate playing your game and (2) point out the major electromechanical components and explain the circuit
• On Canvas, you’ll upload: (1) a still photo of your game and circuit and (2) your code for the game

How will Project 3 sharing happen?

  1. We’ll make the Flipgrid project demo videos visible to all ME 30 students.
  2. On both Tuesday and Thursday, North and South pods will meet in together in the same Zoom (1:30-2:05) and East and West pods will meet together (2:10-2:45). We’ll create four breakout rooms of ~8 students each plus an instructor or LA. Each breakout room will focus on four games on Tuesday, and the other four games on Thursday.
  3. Each breakout room will give 15 minutes for individual viewing (on your own device) of that day’s four Flipgrid videos, followed by 15 minutes to ask those four students questions about their games.
  4. The first four people alphabetically (by last name) will have their videos viewed Tuesday; the other four will go on Thursday.
  5. When you post your Flipgrid and Canvas submissions for Project 3, we’ll also ask you to fill in a row of a shared table that lists each game’s designer, goal/objective, component used for output (e.g., which type of motor(s)), and component used for input (e.g., which type of sensor or switch).
  6. You can use that shared table to decide if you want to watch any other videos (from people in another breakout room) on your own.

Learning goals for Week 9:
• Continue gaining familiarity with microcontroller hardware peripherals including the i2C module, PWM module, and serial port module.
• Continue gaining familiarity with motor control, sensor input, and C++ programming.

What you should watch and read before Week 9 pods in ME 30:
There is no new material for Week 9, but the following web pages that may be helpful for Project 3:
• Arduino programming
• Analog vs digital
• H-bridge motor driver
• Arduino tutorials and foundations (from Arduino)

Optional textbook reading for Week 9:
• Note that both of our optional course textbooks are available online for free from Tisch Library
• “Section 13.5: Interfacing with microcontrollers” (pgs. 874-892) in Practical Electronics for Inventors (Scherz & Monk)

October 23, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 10/23/20

Things due in Week 8:

  • Video Response 7 by Monday 11:59pm, on Flipgrid (please post within the prompt for your pod)

Learning goals for Week 8:

  • Continue gaining familiarity with microcontroller hardware peripherals including the i2C module, PWM module, and serial port module.
  • Continue gaining familiarity with motor control, sensor input, and C++ programming.

What you should watch and read before Week 8 pods in ME 30:
There is no new material for Week 8, but the following web pages that may be helpful to review for Project 3:

Optional textbook reading for Week 8:
Note that both of our optional course textbooks are available online for free from Tisch Library

October 16, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 10/16/20

Things due in Week 7:

Learning goals for Week 7:

  • Gain familiarity with incorporating microcontroller hardware peripherals into circuit designs, including the i2C module, PWM module, and serial port module.
  • Gain enough familiarity with C programming to code an electromechanical game controlled by an Arduino.

What you should watch and read before Week 7 pods in ME 30:

  • Arduino programming
  • Analog vs digital
  • I2C (includes a mini-lecture video)
  • Project 3 Description: Your task is to build a game with the following characteristics:
    • It is controlled by a microcontroller like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. (Choose the Arduino unless you’re a Pi zealot.)
    • It has at least one electromechanical element that moves, like a motor or a solenoid.
    • It has some kind of user input, like buttons, knobs, joysticks, sensors, or the like.
    • It is at least sort of fun to play. A blinking LED is not a game.
    • (It does not need to have a custom PCB, but it can if you want. If it has a custom PCB, you must make a working prototype first.)

Optional textbook reading for Week 7:

  • Note that both of our optional course textbooks are available online for free from Tisch Library
  • “Section 13.5: Interfacing with microcontrollers” (pgs. 874-892) in Practical Electronics for Inventors (Scherz & Monk)

October 9, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 10/9/20

Things due in Week 6:

  • Video Response 5 by Monday 11:59pm, on Flipgrid (please note tutorials offered Sun. night and Mon. afternoon to assist Arduino newcomers)

Learning goals for Week 6:

  • Learn the basic code/upload/test/debug cycle for Arduino.
  • Gain basic familiarity with microcontroller hardware.

What you should watch and read before Week 6 pods in ME 30:

Optional textbook reading for Week 6:

  • Note that both of our optional course textbooks are available online for free from Tisch Library
  • “Section 13.4: Arduino” (pgs. 864-873) in Practical Electronics for Inventors (Scherz & Monk)
  • “Appendix: Arduino Primer” (pgs. 329-337) in Making Things Move (Dustyn Roberts)

Arduino newcomers! Special prep for Week 6: The VR leading up to Week 6 (pods 10/13 and 10/15) involves making sure you can send basic program to your Arduino (blink its onboard LED; flash an external LED). For Arduino newcomers, there are two more special office hour tutorials designed to walk you through the above two tasks and get you ready for pods on 10/13. Please plan to attend one if you are new to the Arduino.

  • Sun 10/11 – 8:00 & 9:00pm start times for the tutorials (during LA office hours)
  • Mon 10/12 – 3:30 & 4:15pm start times for the tutorials (during Wendell office hours)

October 2, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 10/2/20

Things due in Week 5:

  • Quiz 1 on big ideas of Projects 1 and 2 during pods on Tuesday, Oct. 6 (15-minute independent task that you’ll submit online)
  • Project 2 PCB by Wednesday 11:59pm
  • No Video Response this week! Please review for Quiz 1 instead.

Learning goals for Week 5:

  • Explain how an H-bridge motor controller works.
  • Improve your skills with PCB design strategies and software.
  • Compare different types of motors (DC, stepper, and servo).

What you should watch and read before Week 5 pods:

  • Motors (includes one mini-lecture video)
  • For Quiz 1 review: web notes on Voltage Regulation and Low Power/High Power
  • For Project 2 completion: If you’re feeling iffy about PCB design generally, or KiCad specifically, make sure you’ve reviewed the PCB design website notes.

Optional additional reading for Week 5:

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)
  • “Chapter 6: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Motor: Options for Creating and Controlling Motion” (pgs. 123-181) in Making Things Move (Dustyn Roberts), available online to Tufts students from Tisch Library

Attention Arduino newcomers! Save-the-date for special prep for Week 6:

The homework leading up to Week 6 (pods 10/13 and 10/15) will be to make sure you can send basic program to your Arduino (blink its onboard LED; flash an external LED). VR 6 (due 10/12) will be related to these tasks. Some of you have never programmed a microcontroller before. We’ll provide links to tutorials to support your work on VR6. But we will also hold three special office hour tutorials designed to walk you through the above two tasks and get you ready for pods on 10/13. Please plan to attend one if you are new to the Arduino.

  • Thurs 10/8 – 3:00 and 3:45pm start times for the tutorials
  • Sun 10/11 – 8:00 & 9:00pm start times for the tutorials
  • Mon 10/12 – 3:30 & 4:15pm start times for the tutorials

September 25, 2020 #

ME 30 Expectations for Week 4 (Weekly Update Email for Friday, 9/25/20)

Some notes about our course structure:
If you have the feeling in pods like, “Hey, they’re not really explaining this stuff to us. It’s like they’re assuming that we’ve heard this stuff before somewhere else,” you probably need to review how this unusual course is run:

  • Please be sure that you are reading the weekly update emails and that you are studying the web page notes and videos listed in that email. The weekly emails are archived on the website if you’ve missed a couple weeks.
  • ME 30 follows a sort of flipped classroom model, and it requires your viewing of the videos and notes so that we can devote pod time to circuit building, troubleshooting, and discussion.
  • The web page notes and videos are the “lecture” portion of ME 30. Because we’re only asking for 70 minutes of your time in pods each week, we’re expecting you will find at least that amount of time outside of pods to watch the videos and study the related notes. We’re designing the pod activities as learning experiences that build on the notes, videos, and Flipgrid Video Response exercises.

Things due in Week 4:

Learning goals for Week 4:

  • Explain how to use transistors to control high power with low power.
  • Begin to compare different types of motors (DC, stepper, and servo) and build circuits incorporating motors.
  • Explain how an H-bridge motor controller works.

What you should watch and read before Week 4 pods:

If you’re feeling iffy about breadboarding, make sure you’ve reviewed the website notes and videos on:

  • Prototyping
  • Voltage and current
  • Resistors
  • Series vs. parallel

For Week 4, an optional resources is the “Transistors” section of Scherz & Monk textbook (if you have it) (section 4.3, pgs. 429-467)

September 18, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 9/18/20

Project 1 wrap-up:

  • Thanks for all of your hard work!
  • We know some of you are still working on Project 1, and that is completely okay. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need more support on it. We will approach Project 2 a bit more gradually.
  • If your North or East pod breakout room on 9/17 created a list of take-aways/strategies you’ve learned about KiCad and PCB design, please send it to Kristen or Jared and we’ll compile them to share as a master list to inform everyone’s Project 2 work.
  • We’ll set up a location for PCB and component drop-off for those of you who would like to have the instructional staff solder on your components. More info on that process coming soon.

Things due in Week 3:

  • Video Response 3 by Monday 1:00pm, on Flipgrid (please post within the prompt for your pod)

Learning goals for Week 3:

  • Explain how to use transistors to control high power with low power.
  • Begin to compare different types of motors (DC, stepper, and servo) and build circuits incorporating motors.

Resources for your learning for Week 3:
For Week 3, these are the resources we’re suggesting:

  • Website notes: Low power/high power (includes two mini-lecture videos)
  • “Transistors” section of Scherz & Monk textbook (if you have it) (section 4.3, pgs. 429-467)

Have a great weekend, Brandon and Kristen

September 11, 2020 #

ME 30 Weekly Update Email for Friday, 9/11/20

Thanks for a great first week in ME 30.

Project kit housekeeping:

  • If you’re remote and your kit hasn’t arrived by the end of the day Saturday, please let us know.
  • If you’re in Massachusetts and don’t have a kit yet, please also let us know.

Things due in Week 2:

  • Video Response 2 by Monday 1:00pm, on Flipgrid (please post within the prompt for your pod)
  • Project 1 Final: Use KiCad to design a PCB for your breadboard power supply. Email to OSH Park by Wed. 11:59pm. Canvas deliverable: Upload a screenshot of your email confirmation from OSH Park.

Learning goals for Week 2:

  • Deepening your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to your voltage regulator circuit
  • How to take a breadboard prototype and turn it into a PCB design using KiCad software

Resources for your learning for Week 2:
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 2, these are the resources we’re suggesting:

  • Website notes on concepts: Voltage regulation, Voltage & current**, Series vs. parallel, Resistors, Capacitors**
  • Website notes on skills: Prototyping, PCB design, Demo videos
  • PCB design section of Scherz & Monk textbook (if you have it)
    ** These pages include mini-lecture videos.

Have a great weekend, Brandon and Kristen

September 2, 2020 #

Greetings, ME 30!

Please check out this video about how we’ve been getting ready: https://mediaspace.tufts.edu/media/t/1_rlmn097b

And, here are answers to some of the questions you might have about how the course is going to work.

How and when is class happening?

The “live” portion of our class will take place during our scheduled Tues/Thurs class time, over Zoom, in four small groups that we are calling pods. Following this email, you’ll receive an email indicating your ME 30 “pod” assignment (North, South, East, or West). Please make a note of your pod. It’s important. Each pod includes 16 or 17 students and will meet up over Zoom with one instructor and one LA for half of our scheduled class time.
You can find the Zoom meeting link for your pod on the ME 30 Canvas site.
North and South pods meet Tues/Thurs 1:30 to 2:05.
East and West pods meet Tues/Thurs 2:10 to 2:45.
Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday, Sep. 8, at 1:30 (North and South pods) or 2:05 (East and West pods)!

Why is the course Canvas site so sparse?

Because we have a course website! It’s http://andnowforelectronics.com
We’ll just use Canvas as a way to accept and keep track of your assignments, and to organize Zoom meeting links.

If we are meeting by Zoom, then why is this class listed as “hybrid”?

We have reserved classrooms for you to use during your pod time if you’d like to be physically present with classmates. These classrooms are sized for 17 of you at a time, with physical distancing. Going to a classroom is totally optional! The instructors and LAs will NOT be present in the classrooms. Your pod assignment email will provide location information. Please, please, please do not go to the other pod’s classroom or stay in your classroom past your assigned time. That will bring the rooms over safe capacity. And, it will be confusing because you’ll be in a room with a bunch of people on a different Zoom call.

Is there anything students should do before the first day of class, Sep. 8?

Yes! Here’s what we’d like you to do, if you can:

(1) Go to our course website and carefully read the Syllabus and Course Norms sections under “Logistics.” The syllabus is somewhat lengthy, so please give yourself some time to digest it. Please contact us if you have questions.

(2) Join our course Slack workspace by responding to the invitation email we send you. Try saying hello to everyone.

(3) If you’re on campus or in town and able to leave your room, pick up your project kit from the table outside of Nolop on Sep. 6, 7, or 8, ideally before 1:30pm on Sep. 8.

(4) If you’re on campus, decide whether you will stay home or go to the reserved classroom during your Sep. 8 pod session. Remember, if you choose to go to the classroom, you need a mask and you need to stay 6 feet apart from each other.

(5) If you’re going to be on campus but aren’t moving in until Sep. 8 or afterwards, don’t worry! Just send us a note on Slack or email when you arrive, and we’ll get you a kit. Please come join the Sep. 8 and Sep. 10 pod sessions anyway. We know it is not your fault if you can’t pick up your kit earlier!

(6) If you’re remote for the whole semester, look out for your project kit being delivered to the address you provided us.

(7) Once you have your project kit, plan to have it with you during every pod session.

Best, Brandon Stafford and Kristen Wendell

June 26, 2020 #

Hello,

This email is from Brandon Stafford and Kristen Wendell. We’re co-teaching ME 30 this fall, and you’re enrolled in the class. Welcome! You’re going to love it.

On SIS, ME30 is described as “Hybrid: In Person/Remote.” That’s a little vague, so we wanted to give a little more explanation.

The plan is that ME30 will be a virtual/hybrid model, with no required synchronous activities but opportunities for (a) real-time interaction with the instructors during scheduled class times and (b) in-person gathering with other students for those who wish. There are 9 pillars to the course:

  • we mail/give you a project kit and plan for PCB fabrication and assembly
  • collection of pre-existing resources: a textbook plus other stuff on the website
  • short, topical videos, incrementally released, specific to our class
  • central website for syllabus, links to everything else
  • some kind of chat, probably Slack
  • Zoom “pod” sessions held during scheduled class time – pods are small groups of 16 students, each pod will do real-time Q&A with one instructor for half of each class session; students may choose to join remotely or to gather physically in our reserved classroom while participating, but instructors will run the pod sessions remotely
  • community enrichment activities, like streaming electronics teardowns
  • email status updates weekly, crossposted to website and chat
  • some form of assessment

But just to be clear, this is all just a plan that we have been emailing back and forth about. The textbook is selected, the first 5 kits are ordered, and the first video has been recorded, but the editing has only just begun.

At the bottom of the message, you can see the pile of stuff we’re getting ready for you. The kits will include two different microcontrollers– an Arduino MKR 1010 Wifi and the new Raspberry Pi 4, plus all the stuff you’ll need for prototyping electronic systems, controlling motors, and hooking up sensors. During the semester, you’re also going to be getting printed circuit boards that you design professionally fabricated, probably in China.

We also have 3 awesome LA’s for the course: Jared Jaramillo, Libby Albanese, and Jeremy Kanovsky. They have all either taken my electronics course previously or are the co-president of Tufts Robotics, or both.

If you have questions about the course, we’re happy to answer them. My guess is that we’ll get a lot of questions, so we’ll collect them via email until Monday, and then send you all the answers at once. (If you have a question you’d rather have answered privately, or no questions at all, that’s okay too.)

With great excitement, Brandon Stafford and Kristen Wendell