Instructor Prof Jeff Thompson
Email jeff.thompson@stevens.edu
Office/hours Morton 208, Mon/Wed 10am-12pm
Meeting times Tuesdays 9am–12.50pm
Location Visual Arts & Technology Studio
This semester, we will explore electronics, code, sculpture and fabrication to build interactive projects. You’ll learn to use the popular, open-source Arduino platform, allowing you to get input from the world into your computer (buttons, knobs, sensors) and let your computer interact with the world (LEDs, motors, speakers). You’ll also learn basic CAD for laser-cutting and 3D printing, how to use woodshop tools, and to design and solder electronic circuits. Along the way, we’ll consider the interfaces and objects used historically to connect people with computers, we’ll build speculative and exploratory projects, and work to refine those projects from rough prototype to finished work.
For info on grading, attendance, etc see CoursePolicies.md
For a list of required materials, including URLs to where you can buy them, see the PartsList.xlsx. Please note! You'll need some materials for the second week of class, so order them right away, please! All other parts will be needed by mid-February.
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTIONS
In-class: Syllabus, intro, materials to order
Homework: Ideation drawings, install Arduino drivers if necessary
Reading: Programming primer from Joshua Noble's book Programming Interactivity
WEEK 2: BUTTONS + LEDs #1
Feedback: Small-group feedback on ideation drawings
Demos: Arduino IDE, println(), uploading sketches, digital pins, pin setup, HIGH/LOW, delay(), PWM, button input, input pullup, basic control structures
Homework: Refined sketches and breadboard prototype
WEEK 3: CLASS VISIT TO FRIDMAN GALLERY [map to the gallery]
In-class: Visit John Driscoll’s Slight Perturbations show
Homework: Continue working on project prototype
WEEK 4: SNOW DAY, NO CLASS :(
See the assignment page for an updated schedule for the project
FEB 19: MONDAY SCHEDULE, NO CLASS!
WEEK 5: LED + BUTTONS #2
Feedback: Small-group feedback on prototypes
Demos: Variables, if/else, button state change, soldering basics, CAD design in Illustrator, laser-cutter demo
Homework: Finish Buttons + LEDs project, be sure your other parts arrive by the next class!
WEEK 6: BUTTONS + LEDs DUE / ANALOG SENSORS #1
Critique: Group crit of Buttons + LEDs projects
In-class: Documenting projects with video
Demos: Reading analog sensors, basic voltage dividers, mapping values to another range
Homework: Ideation drawings and working prototype of project
WEEK 7: ANALOG SENSORS #2
Feedback: Small-group feedback on prototypes
Demos: Sound and video generation, sending messages to other software, intro to the bandsaw, sander, and chopsaw
In-class: Work day
Homework: Finish Analog Sensors project
MAR 19: SPRING BREAK, NO CLASS!
WEEK 8: ANALOG SENSORS DUE / PASSAGE OF TIME #1
Critique: Group crit of Analog Sensor projects
Demos: DC motors, driver circuits, servo motors
Homework: Ideation drawings and breadboard prototype
WEEK 9: PASSAGE OF TIME #2
Demos: Stepper motors, end-stops
Homework: Finish Passage of Time project
WEEK 10: PASSAGE OF TIME DUE / FINAL PROJECT #1
Critique: Group crit of Passage of Time projects
Demos: Controlling things with relays, basic 3D modeling for printing, using the Makerbot
In-class: Model a 3D-printable bracket
Homework: Ideation drawings and final project proposal, finish modeling your bracket
WEEK 11: FINAL PROJECT #2
Feedback: Presentation of final project ideas
Demos: Preparing files for 3D printing
In-class: Work day
Homework: Breadboard prototype and refined proposal, print your bracket in the Fab Lab
WEEK 12: FINAL PROJECT #3
Feedback: Small-group feedback on prototypes
In-class: Work day, circuit design basics in EagleCAD
Homework: Working prototype
WEEK 13: FINAL PROJECT #4
Feedback: Small-group feedback on prototypes
In-class: Work day, demos as needed
Homework: Finish Final Project
WEEK 14: FINAL PROJECT DUE
Critique: Group crit of Final Projects
Homework: Record documentation of your project
EXAM PERIOD: MAY 10, 5PM
DOCUMENTATION DUE ONLINE: Turn in documentation of your finished project