Electronics, Programming, and Robotics:
In the beginning of May and late April, our class was given a boatload of assignments. We were entering the world of electronics and programming. The final goal was to create a robot. In order to reach this mark, we needed to be educated on electric circuits and Python, a language of programming. Down the road, we had many labs and projects leading up to the big finale. We experimented with alligator clips and light bulb sockets, breadboards, multimeters, Code academy programming, and assembling circuits. With all this material to edify our electronics knowledge, we were kept busy.
In the beginning of May and late April, our class was given a boatload of assignments. We were entering the world of electronics and programming. The final goal was to create a robot. In order to reach this mark, we needed to be educated on electric circuits and Python, a language of programming. Down the road, we had many labs and projects leading up to the big finale. We experimented with alligator clips and light bulb sockets, breadboards, multimeters, Code academy programming, and assembling circuits. With all this material to edify our electronics knowledge, we were kept busy.
Electric Circuits:
We started our long trek with the basics of electricity. Ancient Egyptian texts even referenced the "Thunder of the Nile." The writings describe fish releasing an electric shock. This could trace back to catfish and torpedo rays. In 600 BC in Mediterranean cultures, Thales of Miletus researched static electricity and falsely thought that friction arose amber magnetic which needed no rubbing. Even though he was incorrect, later observations proved that there was a connection between magnetism and electricity. In the fifteenth century, Arabs mentioned the first words of lightning. The years in between was almost no mans land for the discoveries of electricity until 1600. English scientist William Gilbert discovered the lodestone effect after carefully observing the behaviors and relationships of electricity and magnetism. He named the property of two objects rubbing together the New Latin word electricus. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning had electrical current by attaching a key to a kite and flying it during a storm. He claims that there were indeed sparks. In 1791, Luigi Galvani introduced bioelectricity to the public. This stated the electric connection between nerve cells in the body. In 1887, Heinrich Hertz publicized how electric sparks are created easily with electrodes illuminated by ultraviolet light. In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed that light energy travels in energizing electrons, also known as the photoelectric effect. This theory is applied today to solar panels in the incorporation of photocells. In the 1930s, "cat-whisker detectors" were the first radio receivers. Many other electric explorations were also made to bring us to our knowledge of electricity today. There will always be more to discover about electricity.
We started our long trek with the basics of electricity. Ancient Egyptian texts even referenced the "Thunder of the Nile." The writings describe fish releasing an electric shock. This could trace back to catfish and torpedo rays. In 600 BC in Mediterranean cultures, Thales of Miletus researched static electricity and falsely thought that friction arose amber magnetic which needed no rubbing. Even though he was incorrect, later observations proved that there was a connection between magnetism and electricity. In the fifteenth century, Arabs mentioned the first words of lightning. The years in between was almost no mans land for the discoveries of electricity until 1600. English scientist William Gilbert discovered the lodestone effect after carefully observing the behaviors and relationships of electricity and magnetism. He named the property of two objects rubbing together the New Latin word electricus. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning had electrical current by attaching a key to a kite and flying it during a storm. He claims that there were indeed sparks. In 1791, Luigi Galvani introduced bioelectricity to the public. This stated the electric connection between nerve cells in the body. In 1887, Heinrich Hertz publicized how electric sparks are created easily with electrodes illuminated by ultraviolet light. In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed that light energy travels in energizing electrons, also known as the photoelectric effect. This theory is applied today to solar panels in the incorporation of photocells. In the 1930s, "cat-whisker detectors" were the first radio receivers. Many other electric explorations were also made to bring us to our knowledge of electricity today. There will always be more to discover about electricity.
The Alligator Clips:
Many students are visual learners, especially students who enjoy project based learning. The alligator clips, wires, and light bulb sockets allowed us to see how electric circuits work and don't work. For example, if one end of the wire is not connected to the battery, then it is not a complete circuit. Or if two ends of the wire are on the positive side or negative side of the battery, it is not a complete circuit. When the wires create a complete loop to both sides of the battery with conductors and resistors (light bulbs), then you have a complete circuit. The great part is when you have a complete circuit, the light bulb will light up.
After grasping the fundamental principle of electric circuits, we were introduced to objects in parallel and series. In series, they are purely linked with a conductor. In parallel, a connection lies between the resistor and the other resistors. Next, came voltage and current. Current is the amount of electric flow or energy. The current will stay the same when the bulbs are in series, but the current splits when the bulbs are in parallel. Voltage is the potential energy difference, or the "push" of electricity. The voltage will split between the bulbs when they are in series, and the voltage is the same in the bulbs when they are in parallel. From there on, we observed how resistors and position on a circuit can affect the voltage of a bulb and the current of a circuit. As a class, we drew schematic circuit diagrams using the symbols below. Our observations below can give you an impression on our research on electric circuits.
Many students are visual learners, especially students who enjoy project based learning. The alligator clips, wires, and light bulb sockets allowed us to see how electric circuits work and don't work. For example, if one end of the wire is not connected to the battery, then it is not a complete circuit. Or if two ends of the wire are on the positive side or negative side of the battery, it is not a complete circuit. When the wires create a complete loop to both sides of the battery with conductors and resistors (light bulbs), then you have a complete circuit. The great part is when you have a complete circuit, the light bulb will light up.
After grasping the fundamental principle of electric circuits, we were introduced to objects in parallel and series. In series, they are purely linked with a conductor. In parallel, a connection lies between the resistor and the other resistors. Next, came voltage and current. Current is the amount of electric flow or energy. The current will stay the same when the bulbs are in series, but the current splits when the bulbs are in parallel. Voltage is the potential energy difference, or the "push" of electricity. The voltage will split between the bulbs when they are in series, and the voltage is the same in the bulbs when they are in parallel. From there on, we observed how resistors and position on a circuit can affect the voltage of a bulb and the current of a circuit. As a class, we drew schematic circuit diagrams using the symbols below. Our observations below can give you an impression on our research on electric circuits.
The Breadboard:
After "perfecting" the basic material of electric circuits, we moved on to a more advanced project of the breadboard. A breadboard is an experimental model for electric circuits. This was more complicated because there were no light bulbs to identify that the circuit was complete and correct. We read schematic circuit diagrams to create different circuits. The picture to the left shows which group of wires are connected on the breadboard. We applied this knowledge to the creation of our circuits. Many different resistors were introduced, each have a different amount of resistance. Below is a chart demonstrating how to decipher the resistance of a resistor based off the colors on its band:
After "perfecting" the basic material of electric circuits, we moved on to a more advanced project of the breadboard. A breadboard is an experimental model for electric circuits. This was more complicated because there were no light bulbs to identify that the circuit was complete and correct. We read schematic circuit diagrams to create different circuits. The picture to the left shows which group of wires are connected on the breadboard. We applied this knowledge to the creation of our circuits. Many different resistors were introduced, each have a different amount of resistance. Below is a chart demonstrating how to decipher the resistance of a resistor based off the colors on its band:
Along with resistors, we worked with capacitors, LEDs, LM386 amplifier chip, potentiometers, and many linking wires. After we incorporated these devices in a circuit. we would measure the current, voltage, and resistance with a multimeter. We quickly found out that a multimeter can go in parallel with a circuit when calculating resistance and voltage. When measuring current, the multimeter needed to go in series with the circuit to conduct the current also. If the multimeter went in parallel with the circuit when measuring current, the battery would have burnt out since electricity follows the path of least resistance. As a final assessment, we had to read a schematic circuit diagram and follow its instructions to make a LED light up. Below is an example of all these devices and how we applied them. After all our experience with electric circuits, it was rewarding to see the LED light up.
Programming and The Robot:
In order to program a robot, we need to know a language of programming. Each student in our class endured a thirteen hour course to learn Python. It was a grueling and tedious process, but it sure paid off. The Rosetta Stone hieroglyphics are considered a type of programming language. In 1842, Ada Lovelace appended a set of notes into an Analytical Engine as a way to calculate Bernoulli's numbers. This was considered the very first computer.
A great amount of new material was introduced to me in the code academy Python course. One of the fundamental parts of Python is the "if", "else", and "elif" statements. For actions to trigger a reaction, we needed to set the situation. For example, if we are planning an itinerary for a vacation, we would do the following:
In order to program a robot, we need to know a language of programming. Each student in our class endured a thirteen hour course to learn Python. It was a grueling and tedious process, but it sure paid off. The Rosetta Stone hieroglyphics are considered a type of programming language. In 1842, Ada Lovelace appended a set of notes into an Analytical Engine as a way to calculate Bernoulli's numbers. This was considered the very first computer.
A great amount of new material was introduced to me in the code academy Python course. One of the fundamental parts of Python is the "if", "else", and "elif" statements. For actions to trigger a reaction, we needed to set the situation. For example, if we are planning an itinerary for a vacation, we would do the following:
If we wanted to convert number from base ten to the computer's base two. In this instance, we would write the following:
And if we wanted to create a game of battleship, we could do something like this:
We chose to learn Python because we were building our robots off one of the most basic of computers: the Raspberry Pi. A Raspberry Pi is a single board computer the size of a credit card. We connected the board to an old desktop to program the Raspberry Pi. Many of the resistors and wires needed to be soldered on to the board in order for the circuit in the Raspberry Pi board to work. Below is a picture of all the parts of the Raspberry Pi board that needed to be soldered on:
With the end of school coming rapidly, this was as far as our group got on the robot, but another group was able to program the robot so it could run with the control of a keyboard. Using Python, they were able to program the robot so that when you hit the arrow keys, the robot could spin and turn on command. They didn't even have time to run the robot autonomously. Below is a picture of the final Raspberry Pi robot:
Key Concepts of Programming and Robotics:
Syntax error - when a character or string is improperly placed in an instruction and the command fails to be executed.
Runtime error - a failure or mishap that occurs as the code is being processed.
String - a sequence of characters that are either variables or a literal constant.
Literal Constant - objects already given data type base don how they are written (Ex. 0x = (zero, x))
Variable - a storage location or symbol that contains and unknown value.
For Loop - programming language statement that permits a code to process repeatedly.
Boolean Operator - simple words that provide relationships between words and groups of words (Ex. OR, NOT, AND, AND NOT)
Binary Numbers - number expressed in the base-2 number system only using numbers 1 and 2; we use the base-10 number system (numbers 0 to 9); computers run on a binary system
Iteration - repeating a procedure in the code.
Dictionary - data type that stores objects in a list.
Raspberry Pi - a single board computer designed in the UK to teach students basic computer science.
Bus - a communication system to transfer data within and between computers.
Micro USB Power - a representative of cables, connections, and communications in a bus to communicate and provide a power supply between computers and electronic devices (Raspberry Pi board).
SD Card - a Secure Digital Card is a minute memory card used to create storage portable with various devices.
Syntax error - when a character or string is improperly placed in an instruction and the command fails to be executed.
Runtime error - a failure or mishap that occurs as the code is being processed.
String - a sequence of characters that are either variables or a literal constant.
Literal Constant - objects already given data type base don how they are written (Ex. 0x = (zero, x))
Variable - a storage location or symbol that contains and unknown value.
For Loop - programming language statement that permits a code to process repeatedly.
Boolean Operator - simple words that provide relationships between words and groups of words (Ex. OR, NOT, AND, AND NOT)
Binary Numbers - number expressed in the base-2 number system only using numbers 1 and 2; we use the base-10 number system (numbers 0 to 9); computers run on a binary system
Iteration - repeating a procedure in the code.
Dictionary - data type that stores objects in a list.
Raspberry Pi - a single board computer designed in the UK to teach students basic computer science.
Bus - a communication system to transfer data within and between computers.
Micro USB Power - a representative of cables, connections, and communications in a bus to communicate and provide a power supply between computers and electronic devices (Raspberry Pi board).
SD Card - a Secure Digital Card is a minute memory card used to create storage portable with various devices.
Key Concepts of Electric Circuit Inquiry:
Circuit - a completed loop made of conductors including a power source (battery).
Battery - container with one or more cells where chemical energy is transferred to electricity and used as a power source.
Conductors - material that transmits heat, electricity, or sound.
Current - amount of electric flow or energy.
Voltage - potential energy difference; "push" or "pressure" of electricity
Parallel - route for the flow of electricity that has a connection and a branched path for each load; more current than series because more resistance
Series - route for flow of electricity with a single path.
Resistors - device designed to have resistance against travel of electric current.
Ohm's Law - Voltage = Current x Resistance (V = IR)
Node - point on circuit where two or more circuit elements meet.
Kirchoff's First Rule - the total current out of a node equals the total current into a node.
Potentiometer - a three-terminal resistor that can be adjusted to the needed resistance.
Capacitor - device that can store electric charge with an insulator separating one or more conductors; charge and discharge energy when necessary
LM386 Amplifier Chip - a integrated circuit with a low voltage power amplifier.
Diode - semiconductor device with two terminals but only allowing in current from one direction.
Cathode - negative charged electrode which electrons enter; supplies current
Anode - positively charged electrode where electrons leave a device; supplies current
LED - light-emitting diode; semi-conductor that emits light when conducting current.
Multimeter - instrument that measures current(Amps), voltage(Volts), and resistance(Ohms).
Circuit - a completed loop made of conductors including a power source (battery).
Battery - container with one or more cells where chemical energy is transferred to electricity and used as a power source.
Conductors - material that transmits heat, electricity, or sound.
Current - amount of electric flow or energy.
Voltage - potential energy difference; "push" or "pressure" of electricity
Parallel - route for the flow of electricity that has a connection and a branched path for each load; more current than series because more resistance
Series - route for flow of electricity with a single path.
Resistors - device designed to have resistance against travel of electric current.
Ohm's Law - Voltage = Current x Resistance (V = IR)
Node - point on circuit where two or more circuit elements meet.
Kirchoff's First Rule - the total current out of a node equals the total current into a node.
Potentiometer - a three-terminal resistor that can be adjusted to the needed resistance.
Capacitor - device that can store electric charge with an insulator separating one or more conductors; charge and discharge energy when necessary
LM386 Amplifier Chip - a integrated circuit with a low voltage power amplifier.
Diode - semiconductor device with two terminals but only allowing in current from one direction.
Cathode - negative charged electrode which electrons enter; supplies current
Anode - positively charged electrode where electrons leave a device; supplies current
LED - light-emitting diode; semi-conductor that emits light when conducting current.
Multimeter - instrument that measures current(Amps), voltage(Volts), and resistance(Ohms).
Reflection:
My group has been working together for over a month now. We truly have become even closer then we were before. If I were to work with any group for such a long time, it would be this exact group. We collaborated excellently, and great ideas poured out of our heads. The only down side with this project was not one of us was educated with electric circuits and computer sciences. When working with the breadboards, we tried our best to follow the instructions step by step in order to reach the preferred outcome. During the final breadboard assessment, we were extremely flustered. Our circuit was the exact replica of the schematic circuit diagram, yet the LED yielded to illuminate. It didn't dawn upon us until much later that the LED's cathode was not in the negative bus of the breadboard. As you can see, we felt like pulling our hair when this was figured out. This experiment taught me how to keep my composure. Freaking out will only make the situation more tense and stressful. Taking a deep breath and counting to ten will relax your mind enough to think clearly and solve the problem. In some ways, I learned to forgive and forget. We swam through unknown waters and prevailed together.
The electric circuits lab opened my eyes of a quality about myself. I enjoy being aware and educated at the topic at hand. Sometimes I pretend to know something when I really am oblivious of that subject. How can I learn about a topic when I don't ask questions about it? People are going to know more about something than me, and it is okay. Instead of going along with the conversation and nodding my head, I should let people share their wealth of knowledge with me. No one cares who is smarter than who. We all can learn something from each other. In the future, I will look for help in a rough subject. Fake it 'til you make it won't take you that far.
As for the programming, it was our first independent project. After spending months depending on other group members to deliver, it was nice to power through the Python course at my own pace. Personally, I like to be efficient and try to stay on schedule. The first forty percent of the course was self-explanatory and easy to work through. Between forty and seventy percent, I was suffering. The hints were taken away and it was all on you to create a code in Python language. There were many days I wanted to chuck the computer at the wall. I definitely gained perseverance in this project. I was persistent and never lost hope. When life gave me lemons, I made lemonade. The light at the end of the tunnel did come. The last thirty percent of the course seemed like a piece of cake compared to the previous challenges and lessons. That feeling of finishing the Python course is in my top ten of most proud moments. When you work hard at something, it is certainly rewarding.
This Python course showcased my lack of confidence in my work and myself. When Mr. Williams was expounding upon the process of the thirteen hour coding course and programming a robot, I told myself no way. I would never think in a million years that I'd know how computers operate and function. Turns out it is not as complicated as I thought. We might have ran out of time, but I understood how people built robots. The Python language made sense to me. Doubting myself will only stop me from excelling at other things. For later projects, I will make sure to believe in my abilities and what I'm capable of. The only thing holding me back is myself.
Below are lists of the peaks and pits of the project. When you want something so bad, obstacles are only extending the time between now and your success. I've never seen someone more driven then LeBron James during the playoffs. He wants that NBA championship so bad that nothing will get in his way. He is invincible. Someday I'd like to ride on my peaks and push through my pits in a project analogous to the athlete that is LeBron James.
My group has been working together for over a month now. We truly have become even closer then we were before. If I were to work with any group for such a long time, it would be this exact group. We collaborated excellently, and great ideas poured out of our heads. The only down side with this project was not one of us was educated with electric circuits and computer sciences. When working with the breadboards, we tried our best to follow the instructions step by step in order to reach the preferred outcome. During the final breadboard assessment, we were extremely flustered. Our circuit was the exact replica of the schematic circuit diagram, yet the LED yielded to illuminate. It didn't dawn upon us until much later that the LED's cathode was not in the negative bus of the breadboard. As you can see, we felt like pulling our hair when this was figured out. This experiment taught me how to keep my composure. Freaking out will only make the situation more tense and stressful. Taking a deep breath and counting to ten will relax your mind enough to think clearly and solve the problem. In some ways, I learned to forgive and forget. We swam through unknown waters and prevailed together.
The electric circuits lab opened my eyes of a quality about myself. I enjoy being aware and educated at the topic at hand. Sometimes I pretend to know something when I really am oblivious of that subject. How can I learn about a topic when I don't ask questions about it? People are going to know more about something than me, and it is okay. Instead of going along with the conversation and nodding my head, I should let people share their wealth of knowledge with me. No one cares who is smarter than who. We all can learn something from each other. In the future, I will look for help in a rough subject. Fake it 'til you make it won't take you that far.
As for the programming, it was our first independent project. After spending months depending on other group members to deliver, it was nice to power through the Python course at my own pace. Personally, I like to be efficient and try to stay on schedule. The first forty percent of the course was self-explanatory and easy to work through. Between forty and seventy percent, I was suffering. The hints were taken away and it was all on you to create a code in Python language. There were many days I wanted to chuck the computer at the wall. I definitely gained perseverance in this project. I was persistent and never lost hope. When life gave me lemons, I made lemonade. The light at the end of the tunnel did come. The last thirty percent of the course seemed like a piece of cake compared to the previous challenges and lessons. That feeling of finishing the Python course is in my top ten of most proud moments. When you work hard at something, it is certainly rewarding.
This Python course showcased my lack of confidence in my work and myself. When Mr. Williams was expounding upon the process of the thirteen hour coding course and programming a robot, I told myself no way. I would never think in a million years that I'd know how computers operate and function. Turns out it is not as complicated as I thought. We might have ran out of time, but I understood how people built robots. The Python language made sense to me. Doubting myself will only stop me from excelling at other things. For later projects, I will make sure to believe in my abilities and what I'm capable of. The only thing holding me back is myself.
Below are lists of the peaks and pits of the project. When you want something so bad, obstacles are only extending the time between now and your success. I've never seen someone more driven then LeBron James during the playoffs. He wants that NBA championship so bad that nothing will get in his way. He is invincible. Someday I'd like to ride on my peaks and push through my pits in a project analogous to the athlete that is LeBron James.
Peaks
- Finishing the meticulous Python coding course - Creating a circuit so that the LED would light up |
Pits
- the "Practice Makes Perfect" section of coding(very difficult creating your own code alone) - the beginning of electric currents when our group felt like deer in the headlights |