MECH307 Syllabus (Fall, 2009)

Week
Lecture Topic, Laboratory Exercise
Reading
Assignment
Homework
Assignment

1

(8/24 - 8/28)

  • course introduction
  • Project assignment
  • mechatronics and measurement systems
  • electric circuit fundamentals
  • input and output impedance

Lab (starts this week):
Introduction to Lab policies and procedures
Lab 1: Introduction - resistor codes, breadboard, and basic measurements
(no quiz this week)

handouts,
Ch. 1;
App A.1;
2.1 - 2.4

 0: sign up for the MECH307-L
course Listserv

survey sheet
(due Fri, 8/28)

1: 2.2 [20 pts], 2.10 [10 pts],
2.15 [10 pts], 2.18 [20 pts], 2.20 [10 pts],
2.28 [10 pts], 2.29 [20 pts]
[100 points total]
(due Fri, 9/4)

2

(8/31 - 9/4)

group assignments announced

  • AC circuits introduction
  • semiconductors, diodes
  • transistors

Lab 2: Instrument familiarization and basic electrical relations

2.6 - 2.10;

 2: 3.1 [5 pts], 3.4 [10 pts],
3.11 [5 pts], 3.12 [30 pts]
[50 points total]
(due Mon, 9/14)

project
purchase a 3-ring binder and
set up "Week ##" dividers;
print, read, and insert the
project description
(due Week 3)

3

(9/7 - 9/11)

Labor Day (no class on Monday, 9/7)

  • digital electronics
  • number codes
  • combinational logic

Lab 3: The oscilloscope

Ch. 3;
6.1 - 6.5

project
watch videos of past projects;
brainstorm ideas and
document with rough
sketches and descriptions;
show evidence of evaluation
(e.g., a decision matrix)
based on project grading criteria
(due Week 4)

4

(9/14 - 9/18)

  • design of logic networks
  • sequential logic
  • flip-flops
  • project info

get ahead or catch up

originally scheduled: Lab 5 (not Lab 4): Transistor circuits
done instead: Lab 4: Bandwidth, filters, and diodes

6.6 - 6.9
3: 6.7 [45 pts], 6.13 [15 pts],
6.25 [15 pts], 6.33 [25 pts],
6.35 [20 pts], 6.42 [15 pts]
[135 points total]
(due Fri, 9/25)

5

(9/21 - 9/25)

  • flip-flop applications
  • counters, timers, oscillators
  • Exam I Review
  • microcontrollers and the PIC

Lab 7 (not Lab 6): Digital circuits - logic and latching

6.10 - 6.13
7.1 - 7.4

project
refine your project idea and
set realistic goals;
document your selected idea with
a detailed sketch of the overall system
and with detailed sketches of important
hardware elements
(due Week 6)

6

(9/28 - 10/2)

  • PicBasic Pro

EXAM I - Wednesday, 9/30

  • PIC examples

Lab 8: Digital circuits - counter and LED display

7.5 - 7.9

project
develop and document
project plans, define your problem,
draw a functional diagram,
list I/O requirements, start the proposal
(due Week 7)

7

(10/5 - 10/9)

  • PIC examples
  • PIC interfacing
  • measurement system characteristics
  • Fourier series
  • frequency response

Lab 9: Programming a PIC Microcontroller - Part I
Project work

4.1-4.7

project
complete the proposal,
research and order sensors,
actuators, and special
components (e.g., interface chips, and
additional or alternative PICs)
(due Week 8)

prepare file and schematic for the
"alternative design" in Section 10.3
of Lab 10
(in lieu of quiz)

8

(10/12 - 10/16)

  • system response (0th, 1st, 2nd order systems)
  • 2nd order system response
  • modeling analogies

Project proposal due (Wednesday, 10/14)

midterm group and course evaluations

  • operational amplifier
    • circuit analysis

Lab 10: Programming a PIC Microcontroller - Part II

4.8-4.11;
5.1-5.4

 4: 4.4 [10 pts], 4.6 [30 pts],
4.8 [10 pts],  4.10 [20 pts],
4.21 [15 pts], 4.26 [15 pts],
6.46 (from Ch. 6) [15 pts]
[115 points total]
(due Mon, 10/19)

project
finish researching and ordering
sensors, actuators, and special
components
(due Week 9)

prepare files for Lab 11
(in lieu of quiz)

9

(10/19 - 10/23)

  • operational amplifier
    • applications
    • characteristics of real op amps
  • data acquisition
  • digital to analog, analog to digital conversion
  • project info/advice/help
    • batteries
    • relays
    • power rating

Lab 11: Pulse-Width-Modulation Motor Speed Control with a PIC

5.5-5.14;
Ch. 8;
Lab 15

5: 5.5 [20 pts], 5.10 [20 pts],
5.14 [50 pts], 5.18 [10 pts]
[100 points total]
(due Mon, 10/26)

project
get basic components from your TA;
demonstrate a working PIC circuit
for your project with basic input and/or output
(due Week 10)

10

(10/26 - 10/30)

  • position measurement
    • switches
    • potentiometer
    • LVDT
    • digital encoder
  • Exam II Review

originally scheduled: Lab 4 (not Lab 12): Bandwidth, filters, and diodes
instead, do: Lab 5: Transistor circuits

9.1, 9.2

6: 8.5 [20 pts], 8.6 [15 pts],
8.7 [15 pts]
[50 points total]
(due Fri, 10/30)

project
start designing and testing
circuits for additional functional elements
(e.g., audio, sensor, actuator),
developing the PicBasic code
incrementally
(due Week 11)

11

(11/2 - 11/6)

  • motor fundamentals
  • stepper motor control

No class on Friday, 11/6 (PLI Day)

EXAM II - originally scheduled: Friday, 11/6
(moved to Monday, 11/9)

Lab 6: Operational amplifier circuits

choose a time slot for your Lab Practical Exam

Ch. 10

  project
draw functional diagram;
draw detailed wiring diagram showing
all components, wires, and used pin numbers;
work on mechanical components
and support hardware
(due Week 12)

12

(11/9 - 11/13)

EXAM II - Monday, 11/9

  • stress/strain introduction
  • strain gages
  • Wheatstone bridge
  • strain gage rosette
  • Strain Gage Lab analysis

get ahead or catch up

Lab Practical Exam (see Course Policies for more info)
(show up at the time scheduled with your TA)

App C;
9.3, 9.5

project
assemble the final circuits,
create a complete
software flowchart,
and continue to develop
PicBasic code incrementally
(due Week 13)

13

(11/16 - 11/20)

Project extra-early-bird award deadline (for +10 points)
(5 pm, Tuesday, 11/17)

  • signature analysis

No class on Wednesday, 11/18

  • piezoelectric accelerometers
  • temperature measurement - introduction
  • thermocouple relations

These Labs are for demonstration only. No analysis or summary sheets will be required. However, there will still be a quiz as usual.
Lab 12: A/D conversion
Lab 13: Strain gage
Lab 14: Vibration measurement with an accelerometer

Project work

9.4

7: 9.5 [15 pts], 9.9 [30 pts],
9.16 [25 pts], 9.21 [30 pts]
[100 points total]
(due Fri, 12/4)

 project
finish fabricating and programming
the entire system

14

(11/23 - 11/27)

Thanksgiving Break (no classes) 
 

15

(11/30 - 12/4)

Project early-bird award deadline
(5 pm, Tuesday, 12/1)
  • comprehensive case study example

Project work

project
testing, final tweaking,
finishing touches

16

(12/7 - 12/11)

  • comprehensive case study example (continued)

final group and course evaluations

  • Final Exam review
  • selected Project presentations

Project final reviews in Lab

Project final reports due (Friday, 12/11)

 
project
evaluation
  FINAL EXAM (Wednesday, 12/16, 7-9am)
in same room as lectures