Physics 120b: Physical Meas. II (Projects, a.k.a. The Robot Wars)
Class meets MWF 1:00 to 1:50 PM, Mayer Hall 5301.
The lab session formally meets Tuesday and Wednesday: 2:00 to 6:00 PM in MHA 3544/3574
See
The UCSD Time Schedule for enrollment information.
Also see the
Academic Calendar for information on class dates and holidays.
Professor and Teaching Assistant Contact Info
Tom Murphy
SERF Buliding (930), Room 336, 534-1844
tmurphy / physics ucsd edu
Office hours: Monday 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (e-mail or call first to notify me!)
Office hours also by appointment (e-mail, phone, personal, drop by)
Han Lin
Office: will use MHA 3544 (lab) as office
Office hours: M 12–1 PM, F 2–3 PM
Office hours also by appointment
Petia Yanchulova
Office: will use MHA 3544 (lab) as office
Office hours: M 2–3 PM, Th 3–4 PM
Office hours also by appointment
Course Description
First, the terse catalog-style description:
A laboratory-lecture-project course featuring creation of an autonomous apparatus in teams of about two. Emphasis is on electronic sensing of the physical environment and actuating physical responses. The course will heavily utilize a microcontroller such as the Arduino.
Now an expanded version:
The first five weeks of the course will familiarize students with the Arduino microcontroller package, as well as various sensors and actuators. The second half of the quarter will focus on a creative project using manuy of these pieces. Weekly lab assignments in the first half will ensure that students are on track, and will account for a third of the grade. Midway through the quarter, a project proposal will be evaluated considering feasibility, appropriate level, and available resources. Discipline and steady progress (tortoise preferred over hare) will be important to seeing the project through, as well as good communication/coordination with partner. On Friday of finals week, a demonstration of all projects will take place, open to others in the department (popular event). Performance on the project will account for the remainder of the grade, with some consideration toward noted presence in lecture and lab.