Tools and Tech

Tools & Tech 2014

What are we going to do?

• learn to identify (or guessify) common 'building blocks' in a device
• understand some of the ways how a device knows about its surroundings
• understand some of the ways a device can influence its environment
• learn to work with a microcontroller platform
• learn basics of programming
• possibly learn soldering(?)

How to go about all that?

We'll need to fill up our tools & tech toolbox!

Tools & Tech ToolBox

basic knowledge of electronics like

• theory
• components
• sensors
• actuators
• displays
• ..

how to choose the right platform for your project

• Arduino
• Arduino compatibles
• Raspberry PI
• Beaglebone
• Gumstix
• MBed
• ...

basic knowledge on programming

• what programming languages are out there
  • C
  • C++
  • Java
  • Python
  • Ruby
  • Lisp
  • (Bash) Shell
  • ..

how do we actually prototype/make things

• breadboarding
• soldering
  • Throughole
  • SMD
  • Soldering iron
  • Reflow
• CAD / PCB layout
• etching

End project

• In groups of max. 8 make a battle machine, battle the other groups in the last week of Q1

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• Find a project to build and adapt
• Find an existing device and hack it to do what you want
• build from scratch

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Week Schedule

• Week 2
• Week 3

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Links

• http://www.instructables.com/id/What-Does-Fashion-Lack-MICROCONTROLLERS-but-WHICH/?ALLSTEPS
• http://littlebits.cc/browse-lessons/learning-concept-simplified-for-electrical-circuit
• http://www.adafruit.com/blog/category/circuit-playground/
• http://www.instructables.com/id/Basic-Electronics/?ALLSTEPS
• https://learn.adafruit.com/category/learn-arduino
• http://octopart.com/

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Previous years
2013