Dec09-11 Embedded Systems Design Though Curriculum Jacqueline Bannister Luke Harvey Jacob Holen Jordan Petersen Client: Computer Engineering DepartmentAdvisors: Akhilesh Tyagi – Jason Boyd

Need Statement Design an inquiry-based learning module that focuses on the use of course curriculum in the area of embedded systems for the Computer Engineering department. As outlined in the ADEPT proposal this program should: Motivate students to learn new material Provide alternate learning methodologies to address different learning styles Increase the design experience in the computer engineering program Motivate students to create a community of learners focused around problem solving 2

System Design - Requirements Projects must effectively integrate knowledge expected of students for that given year The courses will define checkpoints and milestones for students while still allowing for a design experience The proposed modules must engage student interest Should accommodate for various levels of skill sets and learning styles Should demonstrate area of embedded systems using robotics application 3

Concept Sketch 4 Knowledge learned during the Freshman and Sophomore years is used as input to the First Term course (CprE 286X) Knowledge learned from the Junior, Sophomore and Freshmen years as well as the CprE 286X course is used as input to the second term course (CprE 386X)

Platform Approaches 5 Autonomous Vehicle Build your own robot Cell phone MP3/Video Player Lego Mindstorm Robotic Competitions Wii-Motes Wireless Sensor Networks Etching System Autonomous Sentry Gun Robotic Arm IR Tracker

Market Survey 6 -Gave survey to computer engineering students currently taking embedded systems courses (Cpre 388 and Cpre 488) -Asked them to “Please pick three projects below that you find the most interesting and exciting. Rank 1-3, with 1 being the most interested.” -A more detailed description of the projects was given on the survey form.

Dry-Erase Bot Competition 7 Goal: Autonomously color more squares than opponent in time limit Requirements & Restrictions: – Avoid obstacles, boundary and enemy robot – Robot design will be each team’s choice using given supplies – Limited battery supply, forcing efficient design implementation – Robots start outside course, therefore must locate entrance to course

Deliverables Completed robot prototype built from scratch Example competition for first semester Vision recognition software for the first semester competition Example robot control algorithm for the competition Recommendation for a platform to be used for the second semester course Documentation for students and TAs consisting of: – Goal of the 286X course – Description of the final competition – How to use and modify the vision recognition software – Example of how to construct the robot – How to program the robot using labview 8

Robotics Platform - Deliverables Custom Power System Custom PCB 24v, 12v, 5v supplies Student-friendly configuration 9

Robotics Platform - Deliverables FPGA control module Top level control VI Controls sensors, motors Links FPGA to c module 10

Vision Recognition - Deliverables Created VR for first competition Created interface for C code to interact with vision data 11 Data structure for a robot’s location Data structure for which robot is winning a given square location *Bit 7 denotes which robot is winning that square (1 = Black, 0 = Green) Smart Camera

Vision Recognition - VB Screen Shots 12 Original Picture from Smart Camera Screen Shot of Running Inspection

Dry-Erase Bot Competition - Deliverables 13 Completed course construction Created prototype robot Competition rules and requirements Completed Whiteboard Grid -Two 4x8 sheets of melamine

ADEPT Planning - Deliverables Learning modules Technical documentation for future students Platform recommendation Learned from difficulties with platform Recommend changes to current platform and recommend an alternative 14 Initial Robot Prototype

Platform Complications Software complications cRIO platform does not allow direct access to VxWorks – No operating systems concepts cRIO only allows for c modules to be placed into LabVIEW – Limited algorithm control in c – No interrupts, low level programming – Thread concept only available in LabVIEW blocks 15

Test Plan Completion of a prototype robot in one semester Department offering 286x Feedback surveys from students taking 286x 16

Schedule and Workload 17

Cost 18