Week 5

Hands-on, Minds-on

Create an electrical circuit that contains a DC-motor, lamp, and an ON/OFF switch powered with an electric adaptor, so that the motor and lamp are both optimally ON at the same time when the switch is ON, and are both OFF when the switch is OFF?

Description

• Use the crocodile wires to connect the components together (as indicted in the photos above)

• Try to power the Lamp and Motor separately at first, with and without the ON/OFF switch, in order to make sure that they are functional, before putting them together in one circuit

• Connect the DC Jack to terminal block converter to the DC Jack of your DC Power adapter. 

• Use a screw driver to loosen the two  bolts in the terminal block (green)

• Insert the two jumper wires inside the terminal block and use the screw driver to tighten the screws. And now you can use the crocodile wires to connect any component to the DC Power adapter very easily (as indicted in the photos above)

• Plug the DC Power adapter in the wall outlet only when you completed your connections and ready to power your circuit. 

• 3.. 2...1 and..... ZzZzT! Just kidding :D RELAX! Don't feel intimidated to plug it! The DC power adapter has a current limiter, so it only draws very small amount of electricity, just enough to power your components. 

Reflect & Share

• Did you succeed in powering all the components at the same time? 

• How many approaches did you try to connect the motor and lamp together? 

• Did you notice any difference in the speed of the motor or brightness of the lamp when you changed the approach? 

• What was the optimal approach? Why?

Midweek Self-Practice

Follow the video tutorials below (in order) to learn how to power a single component:

Deadline: Before MidWeek Session

EOWeek Self-Practice

Follow the video tutorials below (in order) to learn how to power multiple components, use an Avometer to troubleshoot circuits, and regulate the voltage in the circuit

Deadline: Before EOWeek Session

Makeathon #1

Objective: Build a simple Sumo RC Car by designing, fabricating, wiring and integrating all the components together. Fight your opponents in a Sumo Car tournament!

Team: 2 - 3 people

Car Chassis: Design a simple RC Car chassis and fabricate it using Laser Cutting 

(For Inspiration: Assembled RC Car Chassis - Commercial Chassis Design)

• Base: The base of the chassis should be around 20 x 15 cm (preferably not just a rectangle)

• DC Motor Mounts (Rear): The base should contain Two rectangular slots for the fixation of the 2 DC motors using Zip Ties (Gluing is NOT allowed)

• Caster Wheel Mount (Front): The base should contain two holes at the front for the fixation of the caster wheels using Screws and Nuts.

• Custom Bumper: Consider that the car will compete in a Sumo battle, so you need to:

  • Design an extension part that would serve as a bumper in order to help flip the opponent or push it away. 

  • Assemble the bumper with the base part using T-slot technique in design and fix with screws and nuts in the physical parts

Car Controller Circuit: Build 2 H-bridge Controller Circuits

• Breadboarding: Build two h-bridge circuits on Two separate large breadboards to control each of the DC motors separately, follow this Wiring Diagram 

• Wires Management: 

  • Knot the jumper wires on the breadboard to make them shorter, in order to keep the circuit clean and easier to debug for problems

  • Extend the DC motor wires by connecting multiple Jumper wires end to end, and secure them using tape

• Powering: Use 9V adaptors to power each controller separately from a nearby power plug

Assignment

Design, simulate, and build a simple electronic device that performs two actions. The device may serve a need at your home, or just fun to build!

Examples for previous rounds: Blender - Hover Craft - Electrical Pencil Sharpener - Buzzer Wire

Description

• • Think of an idea for a simple device that you can build. You may go through these sample project Ideas to be inspired with or to replicate: Operation toy - Buzz Wire - Coin Eater - Electrical Egg Beater - Drawing Bot

(Please DON't repeat any of the ideas from week tutorial examples or exercises, as it will not be accepted)

• • Simulate your circuit on Tinkercad and make sure it is functional

  • Build your circuit on a breadboard and test it

  • Integrate your circuit within the device enclosure, you may also use other craft or scrap materials at home to demo the non-electronic parts of your device

  • When you face a challenge or a problem that you can't understand, the Avometer is your FRIEND!

Technical Requirements

• • The device is designed to perform 2 outputs at least at the same time (contains two different types of output components): emits light, makes noise or sound, and/or makes movement. 

  • The output components are optimally connected (in parallel NOT in series)

  • The electrical circuit is simulated using TinkerCad

  • The electrical circuit is prototyped on a breadboard

  • The device has an enclosure from cardboard and the non-electric parts are prototyped from cardboard or any scrap material (You are not required to use any CAD or digital fabrication)

  • The device contains a power ON/Off switch (push button is not accepted)

  • The voltage source's voltage value is clearly defined and justified with consideration of the used output components    

  • The device is functional and the final outcome is demonstrated

Maker Journal

Make sure to document your Assignment for Week 5 in the Maker Journal covering the following requirements:

Process Documentation:

• Ideation: Describe how you came up with the idea for the electrical device. Were you inspired by a certain reference? or did you custom design it to fulfil a certain personal need?

• Tools: Describe software, components, materials, and tools that you used in your assignment

• Design: Describe the design of your circuit. What are the action components that you used? Which voltage source did you choose? Why? How did you simulate your circuit on Tinkercad. (Make sure to include a screenshot of your circuit wiring on Tinkercad and a video recording for your circuit simulation on TinkerCad)

• Implementation/Fabrication: Describe how you implemented your circuit on a breadboard and integrated it within the device. And most importantly, show us the final outcome of the assignment (Make sure to include a video recording for your device while functioning 

• Media: Provide supporting images and videos to demonstrate the design and implementation processes

Learning Documentation:

• Learning from Mistakes: Describe problems and challenges that you faced, and briefly describe solutions. How did you use the Avometer to troubleshoot problems?

• Community of Learning: Highlight an advice or idea provided by a peer or an instructor that helped in solving a problem or a challenge. Or an advice that YOU provided to help your peer(s)