ELECTRONICS

Electronics is a collaborative environment in which students work together to tackle challenging problems in engineering, technology, and (even) gaming! The course focuses on the design process through four major areas: tinkering, breadboarding, microcontrollers, and robotics. First year students will get to design, wire, solder various circuits to create circuit games, DC powered cars, night lights, and work their way up to creating their own mini-speaker system. After words, students will use Vex Cortex Robotics to explore gear ratios, drivetrains, and teleoperated robots to compete in various challenges such as tractor pull and a Mario Kart Themed Robotic Balloon Battle.

Second year students will build upon first year, exploring digital circuits and IC chips to create more advanced projects such as reaction time games, coding Arduinos to create their own arcade games, and using the more advanced Vex V5 kits to design, build, and code autonomous robots to solve mazes, navigate a “mine” field, and compete in a Mars Rover challenge.

A final option is for self-guided students to come up with a self-guided advanced project to follow their interests will documenting their successes, challenges, and failures. Some projects have included creating a Raspberry Pi virtual console with portable screen and working towards to global VEX competition

A passion for solving logical programs and science is recommended.