Robotics Class 2009 Syllabus Overview
Lee von Kraus

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   10 spots total    

    0 left         
contact  Leevonk@gmail.com if you're still interested in signing up,
I'll keep you posted if I add a weekend class or do another class in the future
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                    updates:                      
may 4: on may 6th we'll have the last class, we'll add bump sensors, and two or three lines of code to make the robots feel and respond to their environment.
april 2:
class was good, everyone got their basic PIC circuits done. next class we'll write a simple program and put it on the PIC using the PICStart Plus programmer. If we have time we'll incorporate the motor controller chip (H-bridge) into the circuit.
march 28
: class went well, little long but covered a lot of stuff and got some nice 7805 voltage regulated LED circuits working.
Next class
we'll go over sensors and programming and then put together our basic PIC circuits and if we have time, program them to flash an LED (or other simple stuff).

march 25: class today, bring your electronics stuff you bought from the list
march 24: class tomorrow
march 16:
to everyone that didn't sign up in time for these classes, I'm planning on doing another set of classes during the summer (june/july), if you email me, you'll be on the email list and will be notified ahead of anyone else about the class. If you already emailed me, you're already on the list.
march 15:
ok, fixed the capacitor link, and added a link to a $7.99 multimeter with free shipping from ebay. I bought one of these from ebay when I first started electronics/robotics over 6 years ago and it's served me well without even having to changing the battery. I have a multimeter that people can use but you'll absolutely need your own multimeter after the class if you do any electronics or robotics, and the one I listed will work great. I'll buy two from ebay so people can test them out and buy one for 7.99 or order their own.
march 14:
sorry, I listed a capacitor that is unavailable in small quantities, I'll fix it tomorrow
also, you may want to buy a multimeter too (about $5), not required but will definately be used on any robotics/electroics project you do. I'll post a link too

notes to self: add wire wrap sockets and wire wrap tool. add zif socket. add servo motors. add wire stripper, wire, multimeter. maybe my pcb board?


Your Teacher:
Hi, I'm your teacher. I have a background in robotics and cybernetics. Here are some of my robots and things:
[ roborat ]
[ cockroach cyborg ]
[ furby hijack ]
[ submarine robot for environmental research ]
[ small walker robot ]
[  internet controlled pet caregiver  ]
[ big jiggly thing ]
[ solar powered 'robot' ]
[ robot brain debug board ] 
some of the stuff I've worked on has been published in 'best of instructables''the hungry scientist handbook' , make magazine, on hackaday.com , engadget.com , lifehacker.com , and has been shown at Eyebeam Gallery , and at the Van Alen Institute , and has been shown on the history channel "Monster Quest" super rats episode. not sure if that helps, but whatever.


Important Stuff:

Location:
my apartment
392 15th street, apt 2R
Brooklyn NY, 11215
take the F train to 15th street/Prospect Park, then walk one and a half blocks.
[map]

Seating:
in order of comfortableness, first come first serve:
couch, barber chair, wheelchair, 3 plastic folding chairs, ikea chair, wooden bench

Syllabus:
intro presentation rerun

overview of power
    voltage, current, resistance
    +, -  
    direction confusion,
    series/parallel circuits
    isolation:
        transformers
        optical
    AC
        motors
        safety
    DC  
        digital electronics
        motors
        AC/DC converters
        DC/DC converters
        calculations (figure out motor current)
    connector plugs (always two rule)

electronic components
    resistors
        pencil lead
        toaster
        nichrome fuses
    capacitors
        can be used as a battery
    switches
       manual
       electronic: transistors
            light switch with an electric "hand"

overview of computers
    programming
        math
        if, while
    hardware execution
        logic gates
            and
            or
            etc... see website/pdf
        real life, electronic logic gates
            encoder/decoder (addressing) ICs
    memory to hold programs (either internal or external disk memory)
    clock

Tools
    soldering basics
    wire wrap basics
    surface mount basics
    adapt 7805 for breadboard (ww to pins, ww to bent wire)

make simple LED circuits
make simple logic circuits
practice tools
piezo oscilloscope demo
wire wrapping, soldering,
multimeter use
disection and repurposing of components from scavenged vcrs

   
sensors
    bend sensors (variable resistors)
    light sensor (variable resistor)
    phototransistor
    microphone
    tilt sensor (switch)
    radar emitter/detector
    IR emitter/detector
        rotational sensor
        distance sensor
    water level sensor (switch, rocket launcher)

Periferal ICs
    laa110
    uln2803
    7805
    pac for pwm
    max232
 

PIC microcomputers
    basic computer organization
        stack
        RAM, ROM
    reading the pinout diagrams
        ao, ai, dac,adc, io, etc
    programming
        assigning variables
        assigning pins
        if then
        while
        other functions
        registers
        bitwise operations   
        subsumption architecture
        object oriented programming
        Lisp
            artificial intelligence algorithms
    analog/digital pins
        software pin assignment
            input output

1) put together the basic PIC circuit
        then if time permits   
2) write program to flash an LED flash
3) connect that LED pin to an input pin, have PIC listen to itself and flash LED when hears input.


pulse width modulation
    coprocessors
servos
h bridge motor controller circuit diagram

basics of info transfer
    headers, footers,
    error checking
    binary to base 10 conversion
    bits, bytes
addressing
   
encoder/decoder ICs
    memory addressing
serial communication
    rs232 +12/-12v
    converter chip
    common ground
RF communication
    IC basics, input, output
    baud rate
    start bit, stop bit

continue working on the collision detecting robot started previously
if your robot is working, add on additional sensors and actions (light sensor, RF transmitter receiver, motorized weapons, etc)

applied robotics
    high power
        deep cycle rechargable battery
        batts in parallel/series
        fuse to break at high amps
    motors
        worm gear motors
        gearing matters
        need to know voltage and current requirement
    how to buy electronics:
        digikey, jameco, mouser, allelectronics, radioshack
        reading spec sheets
            motors
            transistors
            microcontrollers
    wheel configurations
        wheely legs
        legs
        wheels
        caster wheels
        slippy surfaces
        carpet vs hardwood vs grass
    visual processing
        cmu cam
        matlab/laptop
    web control
        cgi progamming
        my flashlight control   
    BEAM robots
    grippers
        diagram
    electromagnets
    flying
        blimp
            wind effect
        airplane
            RF transmitter and receiver and switches
    cybernetics
        easy to make, cheap electrodes
        CNS, PNS
        mutlielectrode
        intra vs. extracellular
        encoding/decoding
        necessary equipment
        applications
        etc..


start working on a robot that can drive around and respond to collisions by backing up and turning around
same thing, diff level:
    listen to two bump sensor inputs
    when get input send output to appropriate pins
    connect H bridge to outputs, verify works
    connect motor to hbridge

start work on final project, whatever you want, can be extension of robot we were making in class or something totally different
can have a final meeting where I'll help with everyone projects 





stuff you'll need for your robot:
2 switches ($1.94 each)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=SW243-ND
1 package LEDs ($1.68)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=P374-ND
1 light sensor ($2.14)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=PDV-P8001-ND
2 100k potentiometers ($0.36)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=D4AA15-ND
1 2n2222 transistor ($1)http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=497-3106-5-ND
optional 1 laa110 optical isolator ($5)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CLA103-ND
1 5v regulator ($8.00)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=102-1709-ND
1 PIC16f877A ($8.40)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=PIC16F877A-I/P-ND
optional 1 PIC programmer ($35.00)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=PG164120-ND
1 mini or big breadboard ($8.73)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=438-1045-ND
1 h bridge chip ($2.75)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=296-9519-5-ND
1 9v batteryduane read, wherever
1 4mhz crystal oscillator ($0.72)
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CTX006-ND
2 22pf capacitors
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=P4841-ND
1 package hook up wire ($6.99)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049742   (you can just buy this in store)
find old DC motors
you can find these in anything with motors that runs off batteries (cell phone, toy, walkman, hard drive, etc)
optional (but highly recommended) 1 multimeter ($7.99, free shipping))
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DIGITAL-MULTIFUNCTION-MULTIMETER-NIB-NICE_W0QQitemZ170309262597QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item170309262597&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1307|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
40pin wire wrap socket ($3.95)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=94503&
33 LEDs, (0.15 each)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=1870091&
2 extra wire wrap sockets? (3.25)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=200716&
1 ZIF socket ($11.95)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=104030&
1 wire stripper ($3.95)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=215889&
1 multimeter ($8.95)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=1928476&
1 hook up wire ($6.99)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=36881&
1 wire wrap wire ($6.59)
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=22665&
1 wire wrap tool ($5.99)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103243



maybe useful: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

approx price of everything without the PIC programmer: $51.26

all of this stuff is general purpose stuff, you will use it for your future robot projects even if you drop out of class after the first day.
the bigger items are:
the breadboard (used for prototyping circuits),
the 5v regulator (used for any circuit involving a digital IC),
and the PIC microcontroller (the brains of your robot). The PIC is very cheap as far as brains go but if you want you can get the PIC free as a sample from microchip but you have to send them an email from a university email (you could get a friend to do this for you if needed), shipping is pretty fast on samples.

If you want to program and debug your robot at home you can buy the PIC programmer too, otherwise you may have to wait to program your chip in class cause I only have one and other people may be in line. The programmer is a one time investment and will work as a programmer for almost all of the PIC microcontrollers, it's easy to use, reliable, and pretty cheap compaired to other programmers. You can buy cheaper programmers (I have one that might still work) that may work but they're more iffy, and have to use special software etc, gets very annoying.


zif: 11:95
wire wrap socket ($3.95)
wire wrap socket for additional components (resistors, LEDs, power connector, etc)
wire wrap tool: 5.99
great cow basic
wire wrap wire
LEDs
resistors
laa110?


recommended:
multimeter
wire wrapper
wire connectors