CS-358 / 8 credits

Teacher: Koch Christoph

Language: English

Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.


Summary

The course aims at teaching the prototyping of intelligent physical artifacts. It aims to solve real-world challenges by a combination of microcontroller programming, electronics, and computer -aided design and manufacturing. Student teams choose their own challeng in consultation with the teachers.

Content

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

CS-101 Advanced ICC I; CS-173 Digital System Design

Important concepts to start the course

Basic programming skills.

 

This course is a project course with a limited capacity for 50 students.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Apply a design thinking methodology in a project of inventing and prototyping an intelligent thing
  • Design and develop simple microcontroller-based electronic circuits with sensors and actuators
  • Provide constructive feedback on other groups' projects
  • Evaluate how to best integrate computational methods and digital fabrication tools to achieve project goals
  • Assess own project progress and devise adaptations of the project plan if necessary
  • Design a suitable format and material for public presentation of project outcomes
  • Apply a design thinking methodology in a project of inventing and prototyping an intelligent thing
  • Design and develop simple microcontroller-based electronic circuits with sensors and actuators
  • Evaluate how to best integrate computational methods and digital fabrication tools to achieve projects goals
  • Assess / Evaluate own project progress and devise adaptations of the project plan if necessary
  • Prove constructive feedback on other groups' projects
  • Design a suitable format and material for public presentation of project outcomes

Teaching methods

  • (Video) lectures on background technology.
  • Hands-on tutorials on digital fabrication technologies in collaboration with the DLL
  • Tutoring throughout the project.
  • Regular project critiques in a weekly forum - students will be encouraged to give each other feedback in addition to teachers' feedback.

Expected student activities

  • Take an entrepreneurial approach to create and develop a new idea under physical constraints such as the feasibility and cost of fabrication.
  • Coordinate a project team and engage in collaborative problem solving
  • Build basic microcontroller-driven electronic circuits with sensors and actuators.
  • Deal with resource constraints prevalent in microcontroller programming.
  • Program sensors and actuators; implement low-level timed protocols, such as pulse-width modulation.
  • Fabricate and evaluate prototypes using 3d printing and related technologies.
  • Discuss project progress in class
  • Provide constructive criticism and feedback to other groups
  • Present project outcome in a public forum

Assessment methods

20% Individual project grade (phase 2)

60% Team project grade (phase 3)

20% Course Participation / Critiques

Supervision

Office hours Yes
Assistants Yes
Forum Yes
Others COUNSELLING BY DISCOVERY LEARNING LABS STAFF & AFFILIATE COUNSELLORS

Resources

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Making intelligent things
  • Project: 8 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Making intelligent things
  • Project: 8 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks

Reference week

 MoTuWeThFr
8-9     
9-10     
10-11     
11-12     
12-13  BC03  
13-14    
14-15    
15-16     
16-17     
17-18     
18-19    
19-20     
20-21     
21-22     

Tuesday, 17h - 19h: Project, other

Wednesday, 12h - 15h: Project, other BC03

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