81678 - Laboratory of Making

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able to design and build objects composed of microsystems, sensors, and actuators, as well as to study and develop the related software components for interfacing, processing, and communication. The purpose of the course is to integrate knowledge of computer science with the basics of analog and digital electronics for interfacing, processing, and communication, including radio transmission. The course also introduces the principles of operation of tools for the physical 3D realization of objects through constructive or subtractive synthesis, and provides skills related to software for the innovative use of 3D printers. In this way, the student is capable of formulating and carrying out digital craftsmanship projects to deliver original and creative solutions for specific practical problems or artistic purposes. Additionally, skills will be provided for designing and developing teaching methodologies in computer science based on the concept of Making, as well as constructive problem-solving techniques

Course contents

Module 1

• Introduction: Digital Artisans

• Electronics with passive components: electric current, intensity, potential, power, energy, Kirchhoff's laws, resistors, Ohm's laws, capacitors, inductors, transformers.

• Semiconductors: diodes, transistors

• Use of laboratory instruments: multimeter, oscilloscope, logic analyzer

• Digital Electronics

• Radio Waves

• FPGA and HDL: verilog, workbench/simulation

Module 2

The course contents include the following topics, ranging from electronics to computer science:

• Arduinos and microcontrollers

• Raspberry Pi e Systems-on-Chip

• Serial communication protocols (OneWire, I2C, SPI, UART)

• Engines and H-bridges

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• VoIP telephone exchanges (Asterisk)

• Principles of 3D Printing

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture slides, teacher handouts.
“Electronics for Makers - Second Edition” by Paolo Aliverti, LSWR Editions

Teaching methods

Lectures in the classroom and/or in the lab, with the use of design materials. Depending on the number of students enrolled/attending, the use of simulators will be considered.

Given the type of activity and teaching methods adopted, attendance at this training activity requires all students to first participate in Modules 1 and 2 of the e-learning course on workplace safety [https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/].

Assessment methods

Final Exam: Demo and discussion of an original making project created by the candidate or by groups of up to three people. The project requires submission of the code and all documentation necessary to reproduce the project in its entirety. Half of the evaluation will be based on the quality of the submitted material, the other half on its presentation and demonstration.

The evaluation parameters include, in addition to functionality, the originality of the project, the replicability of the prototype, the configurability,

Teaching tools

The teaching material will be accessible via Virtuale, starting from the professor's page.

Office hours

See the website of Renzo Davoli

See the website of