MiniDC and Workshop 3 Time/Place

Hey folks,

We will be starting the judging for the MiniDC at 6:30pm tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan 23) in Clark C142.  If you need an extension cord to power your project, please bring one.  After we get through the judging, we will jump right into the third workshop on motors, solenoids, and motor control. Please bring a fully charged laptop, everything in your kit, and your servo. If you haven't picked up your servo yet, those will be available for pickup as well.

I plan on ordering pizza putting up a movie during judging, so if you don't have a project, you should still come in, get a slice, and check out other folks' mini projects.  There will also be door prizes for the folks that show up before the workshop.

See you there!

Austin

Workshop 3 and MiniDC

Hey folks!  

The MiniDC and next workshop will be this upcoming Wednesday (the 23rd) at 7pm.  I'll get the room to you when I have it (still waiting on room confirmation), but it will likely be in one of the Clark classrooms.

If your MiniDC project needs an external power source (ie needs to be plugged in), it would be smart to bring an extension cord if you have one. If you are unable to make it but have a project to submit, make a video of you explaining and demonstrating your project and send it to me.  We will be awarding a Raspberry Pi and 3D printed prizes for the best projects.

The workshop will focus on motors and motor control as well as how to work with solenoids.  I had planned on doing a servo workshop and posting it online over break, but I decided against it.  Servos are very simple things to work with and I thought it would be better to show you guys everything in person and be able to answer questions than to put an ambiguous video online.

As always, email me with any questions.

Best,

Austin

Workshop 2

Hi folks,

Workshop 2 will be in Clark A201 starting at 7pm tonight (Wednesday November, 28).  Make sure you bring a fully charged laptop and your kit.

We will have breadboards for sale and will be handing out the servos that are a part of your kit.  If you haven't picked up your kit yet, we will have that available for you.

The mini-project for this workshop is the Pirate Security System.  We will go over analog to digital voltage converters, voltage division, and serial connections as well as the serial monitor.

We will also talk about the first Mini Design Competition (MiniDC) that takes place over Winter Break.

First Workshop

The first workshop will be Wednesday, November 14th at 7pm in Engr 100.

Please bring a fully charged laptop if you have one.  You will need to install the software and drivers found here: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

The agenda for the workshop:

• General business
• Get everyone their kits
• Talk about the Arduino and its capabilities
• Go over current limiting and diode circuits
• Go over noiseless button circuits
• Go over Arduino programming basics
• Make our first mini project!!!!

It will take approximately an hour and a half, so get there a few minutes early so we can start on time.  If you have a test, class, or other conflict, we will be recording the workshop and putting it online on our resources page under the "Workshops!" tab.  You can find the resources page by clicking on the link on the left hand banner.

The next workshop will be Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm.  The room is TBA.

See you there!

Austin

Kits and Registration Deadlines

The deadline to register AND order a kit is Friday, November 9th at 10pm Mountain Time.

You will need a kit for the competition. If you have not paid for a kit before the deadline, you will not get one and will have to buy all of the parts yourself (see the link in the update below).  As we are selling the kits at less than it costs to purchase them, it will be more expensive to buy everything yourself.  The kits through us are $35 and can be ordered via Etsy below.


Link to register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BDQCTG3

Link to order kit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/113105618/csu-open-design-competition-kit



UPDATE:  For people that will be registering late and want to take advantage of the workshops or want an extra kit, you will need to order the parts included in this link http://www.sparkfun.com/wish_lists/51061

Informational Meetings

Hi folks! We are going to have two different informational meetings, Monday, October 29th and Tuesday, October 29th, both at 7 in Engr E203.  Both days will have the same information, so you don't need to attend both sessions.

We will talk about the competition, the workshops, the rules, how the competition is judged, and a variety of other things. We will also be registering teams that haven't registered yet and voting on your budget. We are preordering kits this year, so we will be selling those as well.

For your convenience, here are links for the last couple posts in one place and event links for the info nights.

Registration link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BDQCTG3

Order kit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/113105618/csu-open-design-competition-kit

Info meetings: http://www.facebook.com/events/346008452162862/

and http://www.facebook.com/events/283361211782107/

Kits! Get your kits!

To participate in the Open Design Competition, you will need a kit.  The kit contains everything you need for the workshops and to get you started on your team's project.  Make sure your team is registered before ordering a kit.

In the kit you'll find:
- An Arduino      (a microcontroller, like a mini-computer)
- A servo motor      (robots anyone?)
- A DC motor      (go go Speed Racer!)
- LED's     (a must)
- A temperature sensor      (bring on the heat!)
- Resistors     (not so futile)
- Diodes     (make the world go round...one direction)
- Transistors    (yeah, we go there)
- A USB cable and other goodies

The kit costs $35.  You can order it using the link below.  After registration closes, we will order the kits and they will be ready for pick up during the first workshop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113105618/csu-open-design-competition-kit


-Austin