ADA525 Rapid prototyping using computational tools

Contents and structure

This course provides students with a hands-on introduction to tools and resources for designing and fabricating prototypes of smart systems. The course is divided into three different themes:

Digital Fabrication

Learning how to create 3D models using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software and fabricating them using digital fabrication equipment like FDM 3D printing, CNC machining and laser cutting.

Physical Computing

How to design and implement electronic circuits and embedded software systems. This includes using circuit design software, circuit fabrication, microcontroller programming and integration with input (sensors, signals) and output (actuators, speakers, light).

Interfacing

How to create front-end interfaces and setting up simple communication architectures. The students will learn to code simple webservers that communicates between their devices and front-end applications.

The course put emphasis on learning to use these resources through projects, where students are using them individually and jointly to create functional prototypes. The different techniques are divided into weekly or bi-weekly modules. Each module requires the students to make use of the tecnique to implement something and document their approach and result.

The final part of the course will require the students to integrate techniques learned in the different moduels into a final project that is presented as a writted report by the end of the semester.

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge

• understand the difference between different digital fabrication techniques and be able to evaluate what is the most appopriate technique for different scenarios.
• have introductory knowledge about how to design and make circuits boards.
• have introductory knowledge about how sensors and other embedded input devices can be incorporated into an embedded application and used to sense and monitor physical environments.
• have introductory knowledge about how output devices can be used to act upon physical environments (actuators, motors, etc).
• have introductory knowledge about creating interactive software applications that can communicate with physical prototypes.

Skills

• model 3D parts and assemblies of part usign a CAD software. introductory knowledge about using digital fabrication techniques like FDM 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC milling.
• design simple circuit designs using a PCB design software and fabricating the circuit either using in-house tools or using external fabrication houses.
• be able to make physical prototypes consisting of both digital and physical resources.
• develop front-end application development using nodejs and html/css/javascript.

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

• Basic programming skills, preferebly C (for embedded) and Javascript (for front-end)
• Basic knowledge about electric circuit design.

Teaching methods

The course provides a hands-on introduction to the resources for designing and fabricating prototypes. Teaching methods is a combination of lectures, hands-on demonstrations, instructions from supervisors, peer-reviews from fellow students and independent work. Other teaching and learning means applied are video resources and open discussions.

Compulsory learning activities

8 of 10 learning portfolio submission are required to pass.

Assessment

The course is evaluated by portfolio assessment. The portfolio will consist of two main parts: Weekly reflection of each of the weekly submodules are documented in a learning portfolio. By end of semester students will select topics from the teaching portfolio and integrate them into a final assesment portfolio that will be evaluated and graded A-F where F is not passed

Examination support material

All support material is permitted

More about examination support material