Engr 171 -- Summer 2000 -- Syllabus

The official source of all class related information is the Web documents referenced via the following URL:

• http://www.cs.unca.edu/engr/171/

Many class handouts and assignments will be distributed only through this medium.

Instructors

Meetings

ENGR 171 meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to about 9:00 PM in Robinson 142. Most class meetings will start with a short instructor presentation. The remainder of the time students will work on their robotics experiments in small groups.

Texts

• What's a Microcontroller? Student Guide, Version 1.5 by Parallax.
• Robotics! Student Workbook, Version 1.2 by Parallax.
• Basic Stamp® Manual Version 1.9 by Parallax.

Grading

There are ten written assignments and two quizes. Each assignment counts 7% of the total grade and the two quizes count 15% each. Written assignments will be performed in groups as described below. Because the summer schdule is so tight, late assignments will not be accepted.

Assignments

Assignments consist of the following components:

Reports

Each group is required perform some experimental exercises on their own and write a concise report about the exercises.

Demonstration

Each group may be required to demonstrate one experiment to the instructor and class. Otherwise, selected experiments must be observed by the evaluation group.

Teamwork

Experimental groups consist of two students formed by mutual consent.

Each experimental group is required to evaluate specific exercises completed by another experimental group. These evaluation groups will be determined by the instructors.

Each group may borrow a Boe-Bot kit, Robotics! Student Workbook Version 1.2, and Basic Stamp® Manual; Version 1.9 from the NC State Engineering Program at UNCA. In the event that these items are lost or damaged, the group is responsible for paying for these items. What's a Microcontroller? Student Guide, Version 1.5 may be downloaded from the Parallax web page (www.stampsinclass.com). In addition, each group will need to purchase a small number of parts from Radio Shack or electronics supplier. These items include a 555 Timer, a 100 kΩ potentiometer, and a 1 μf capacitor.

Quizzes

All Quizzes will be closed notes and books. Test absences are excused only with doctor's excuse, true emergency, or prior approval by instructor. There is no final exam.

Schedule

The following schedule is tentative and may change.

Topical Outline

• Introduction to Mechatronics, Robotics, Embedded Systems, and Microcontrollers
• The Stamp Activity Board, the BASIC Stamp, and PBASIC ( Exp. #1, What's a Microcontroller)
• Sensors Principles, Tactile Switches, and Analog and Binary Systems ( Exp. #2, What's a Microcontroller)
• Servos and Movement Control ( Exp. #3, What's a Microcontroller)
• Automation and Photocells ( Exp. #4, What's a Microcontroller)
• Integrated Circuits, the 555 Timer, and Input Detection ( Exp. #5, What's a Microcontroller)
• Using a Digital Potentiometer ( Exp. #6, What's a Microcontroller)
• Boe-Bot Construction (Exp. #1, Robotics!)
• Basic Movement Using Subroutines and Memory (Exp. #2, Robotics!)
• Following Light (Exp. #3, Robotics!)
• Infrared Object Detection (Exp. #4, Robotics!)