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Projects :
Three Experimental-Based project assigments are an essential part of this course.
You will also need to be able to analyze this data in MATLAB or
in a form that can product MATLAB-style plots
(e.g. Scilab, using the MATLAB functions in Python, etc.)
The level of MATLAB or related programming knowledge should be past beginner level,
but not much further.
In addition, the data aquisition likely can make use of some of these features,
or at least you can save your data in a readable format (e.g. csv)
to read it into your analysis code.
Excel plots, etc, are never acceptable in this course.
Each unit we will have one experimental project.
The point of the experimental projects is to develop intuition about linear circuits,
as well as develop confidence in experimentally building these circuits.
Circuit concepts are directly tied to actual physical structures,
and nothing quite connects the depth of the concepts like actually seeing things work.
Therefore, the course will go through three experimental projects tied to our unit material.
These labs will use your existing laptop.
Remember every student is required to have a laptop of particular hardware capabilities.
Items you need to obtain: To do the labs you need obtain two items:
A solderless breadboard and passive components:
One option is ordering a {Sparkfun KIT-13953 kit for ECE 2040 (Around $14 per kit).
You might also be able to get the small components at the HIVE, although you will want to at least have a solderless breadboard already if you take that route (many places you can obtain one if you don't already have one)
A data acquisition device:
Two potential possiblities are:
- Analog Discovery 3):
These devices are excellent USB powered
devices
that work across all
laptop OS (PC, Mac, Linux).
The educational
price is typically around $300.
The software can be downloaded.
If you were to buy an aquisition device,
I would by an Analog Discovery 3
(or 2 if you can still find them).
-
A MyDAQ data aquisition device:
The advantage is the device can be checked out from the library
(Info Desk on the ground floor of Price Gilbert) ,
as well as there is an open lab in Klaus 1446 (30 computers with a MyDAQ connected).
Some students might still have such a device that they can loan you for the semester.
The software can be downloaded
here;
Strong warning: the software only works on certain windows OS platforms.
The disadvantage is that it might not be fully useful for all of the labs,
and historically ECE 2040/ECE 3710 has had issues with these devices
not being
sufficient for the experiments.
I would strongly discourage from buying this device
(they are being discontinued).
If you want to buy a device, I would advise buying an Analog Discovery.
You can also use equipment in the HIVE or other areas if that is helpful for your experiment.
Other options are also possible, although if you plan to use other options,
it would be good if you talk with me first about the approach.
Personally, I find it important for every ECE student
to have their own electronics tools and to become a master at those tools,
as it gives you a great advantage professionally
(e.g. interviewing for jobs).
MATLAB: We will use the computer program MATLAB for analyzing data;
therefore your projects will require a simple understanding of MATLAB.
We will use only a small fraction of MATLAB's capability in this class.
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