ME430 Mechatronics

Calendar Labs Project Courseware

Day Date Due Class Topics To Do for Next Class
Week 1
1 Dec 2
  • Identify a partner for the labs and the project
  • Watch "Introduction to Transistors" video and prepare for a quiz (29:48)
  • Bring $25 cash to purchase lab kits.
2 Dec 3
3 Dec 5
  • Lab 1
  • Receipt for PIC chips (submit with quiz)
  • Check off Lab 1
  • Quiz on "Snubber Diodes, Decoupling Capacitors, and H-Bridges"
  • Work on Lab 2
Week 2
4 Dec 9
  • Quiz on "Motors"
  • Discuss 3 project ideas with instructor
  • Work on Lab 2
  • Watch "Intro to MPLABx" video and prepare for a quiz (42:42, need green board)
  • EVERYONE MUST BRING A LAPTOP WITH MPLABx INSTALLED TO CLASS ON DAY 5
5 Dec 10
  • Quiz on "Intro to MPLABx"
  • Remaining teams discuss 3 project ideas with instructor
  • Work on Lab 2
  • Watch "Intro to C" video and prepare for a quiz (35:10)
6 Dec 12
  • Quiz on "Intro to C"
  • Work on Lab 2
Week 3
7 Dec 16
  • Quiz on "Number Systems"
  • Check off Lab 2
  • Discuss selected project idea with instructor
  • Work on Lab 3
8 Dec 17
NIGHT EXAM 1
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Periods 1-2 in C111
Periods 3-4 in O159
Periods 6-7 in O157
(more details)
Set Up Your Exam Project
9 Dec 19 No class due to night exam No class due to Tuesday's night exam
Christmas Break
Week 4
10 Jan 6
  • Quiz on "Instruction Cycles and Special Function Registers"
  • Discuss Exam 1
  • Work on Lab 4
11 Jan 7
  • Quiz on "Functions and Debugging"
  • Work on Lab 4
12 Jan 9
  • Quiz on "Timers"
  • Overview of Interrupts
  • Work on Lab 4
  • Watch "Interrupts" video and prepare for a quiz (41:08 plus 7:00 optional, need green board)
  • Lab 4 must be ready for check-off first thing next class.
Week 5
13 Jan 13
  • Quiz on "Interrupts"
  • Check off Lab 4
  • Work on Lab 5
14 Jan 14
15 Jan 16
  • Quiz on "Light Sensors"
  • Work on Lab 5
  • Watch "Pulse Width Modulation" video and prepare for a quiz (47:52, need green board)
  • Lab 5 must be ready for check-off first thing next class.
Week 6
16 Jan 20
  • Quiz on "Pulse Width Modulation"
  • Check off Lab 5
  • Work on Lab 6
  • Watch "UART Communication" video and prepare for a quiz (43:26 + 7:21 optional, need green board, YOU ALSO NEED ONE PIECE OF WIRE from your lab kit.)
17 Jan 21
  • Quiz on "UART Communication"
  • Work on Lab 6
18 Jan 23
  • Quiz on "Intro to PLCs and Ladder Logic"
  • Check off Lab 6
  • Work on Lab 7
Week 7
19 Jan 27
  • Quiz on "Picosoft Markers, Timers, and Counters"
  • Work on Lab 7
20 Jan 28
  • Quiz on "Finite State Machines for PLCs"
  • Soldering Day (all day, in lab). Bring your computers anyway.
21 Jan 30
  • Quiz on "Finite State Machines for PICs"
  • Work on Lab 7
  • Lab 7 must be ready for check-off first thing next class.
Week 8
22 Feb 3
  • Check off Lab 7
  • Work on Lab 8
  • Study for Exam 2
23 Feb 4 No class due to night exam
NIGHT EXAM 2
8:00 PM - 9:15 PM
Periods 1-2 in C111
Periods 3-4 in O267
Periods 6-7 in O103
Extra time room O101
(more details)
Set Up Your Exam Files
24 Feb 6
  • Tank and Conveyor Demonstration
  • Work on Lab 8
  • Create an FSM for the Lab 9 tank
Week 9
25 Feb 10
  • FSM of tank
  • Discuss FSMs for Lab 9
  • Work on Lab 8
  • Lab 8 must be ready for check-off first thing next class.
26 Feb 11
  • Check off Lab 8
  • Work on Lab 9
27 Feb 13
  • Work on Lab 9
  • If you've finished Lab 9 then it's a project work day, bring your project to class!
  • Lab 9 must be ready for check-off by the end of class tomorrow.
Week 10
28 Feb 17
  • Finish Lab 9 and get it checked off by the end of class
  • If you've finished Lab 9 then it's a project work day, bring your project to class!
  • Finish project (make sure it is programmed and ready to go)
29 Feb 18
  • Project Demonstrations!
--
30 Feb 20 --
  • Course Evaluations
  • Overview/Review of Course
  • Discuss Final
  • Donate spare PIC chips to ME430 (optional)
  • Clean out lockers
  • Confirm your white tub kits have all parts and check them in to Jerry
  • Bring green board kits for inspection:
    • All parts in photo present
    • Small loopback test wire present
    • Small screwdriver present
    • Purchase buzzers and screwdrivers if those are missing
  • Donate any unwanted parts to the free parts room