--- Wednesday, June 10th, 2pm-7.30pm, in the Digital Humanities Lab (Silverstone 2nd floor) ---


This workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to technical methods and collaborative design practices in Physical Computing by building a series of modular micro-robots using the popular Arduino micro-controller.

The workshop will build upon the first Physical Computing Workshop held on March 9th, although participation in that workshop is not a prerequisite. We will start from a beginner's level, introducing the Arduino, breadboard, signal flow, capacitors, transistors and sensors, in order to equip students with knowledge of mapping sensor data to control motors or parameters in software. Students with a sonic bent may opt to explore sound libraries within Arduino.

The workshop will introduce various sensors, motors and wireless technologies. The idea is to build a project using sensors, motors and materials resulting in an input-processing-output mechanism in the form of a Drawbot (Drawing Robot). The project will be planned, designed and built over the 5 hours in a group of 2 or 3 people.

During the workshop you will:
    • get an introduction to electronics
    • get an introduction to microcontroller programming using Arduino
    • learn how to read data from analogue sensors
    • write to analogue outputs to control motors
    • use ultrasonic sensors for distance sensing
    • do audio analysis in Arduino

We will be using the Spark Core (https://www.particle.io) Wireless Internet of Things technology.

The workshop is an interdisciplinary cross-campus initiative, lead by:

Marianna Obrist (Interaction Design):
    Sussex profile: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/328262
    Personal page: http://obrist.info/wp/
Chris Kiefer (Informatics):
    Sussex Profile: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/208667
    Personal page: http://luuma.net
Alice Eldridge (Computer Music):
    Sussex profile: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/127749
    Personal page: http://ecila.org
Thor Magnusson (Music):
    Sussex profile: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/164902
    Personal page: http://www.ixi-software.net

Places are limited. To register interest, please fill in this form, stating why you would like to attend and how it relates to
a) your course and
b) any extra-curricular interests you may have

Snacks and drinks will be provided.

*** DEADLINE FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (using this form): June 1st  ***
There are 15 spaces available. Decisions will be announced on June 5th.