Syllabus	CpSc 226: Computer Architecture	Spring 2007

About this Course

Computer Architecture (aka The Robotics Course): Computers are not just the hulking box/monitor/keyboard things you see around you on desks and in classrooms. Computers permeate nearly everything in our society. Your car has a computer in it that monitors the engine and exhaust. Your microwave, TV, cellphone, stereo, digital camera, etc, etc, all have a computer inside. Even the soda pop machine in the hall probably has a computer wired into it's circuitry. Many of the computers in these everyday items are of a type called microprocessors. These microprocessors are really just small computers, and many can be programmed, much like a desktop computer. In this course, Computer Architecture, we will explore how hardware (in this case a microprocessor and associated peripherals) and software work together to perform useful computations. We will approach this exploration through much hands-on work with electronics and the building of "programmable" robots. You will in fact, build two robots. The first will be controlled strictly with hardware components. Even these simple robots will appear to be intelligent. The second robot will utilize a programmable microcontroller, and its "behavior" can be changed through software. Neither of your robots will be an NS-5, but hopefully you will find the creation of your own "autonomous" creatures challenging and rewarding.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this course is to help you develop an increased understanding of the capabilities of computers and of the hardware/software interaction that takes place when computers perform computations. But who are we kidding? The main reason you are taking this course is to have some fun building some cool robots. And I think you will.

Textbooks and Resources: Robot Programming, A Practical Guide to Behavior-Based Robotics, by Joseph Jones, and 123 Robotics Experiments for the Evil Genius, by Myke Predko. These texts are very readable and it is expected that you will read them. The Evil Genius book has an included printed circuit board which will become part of your robots, and the book itself will be used primarily as a lab resource manual. During the semester, there will also be various handouts, and pointers to other resources, which are to be considered required reading.

Supplies: (Batteries not included.) Although most of the the parts and equipment for building and testing your robot will be furnished, you will need to purchase a few batteries for the various experiments and for powering your robot. At a minimum, you will need a couple of 9V batteries, and about a dozen AA rechargeable NiMH batteries. You will also need some quad ruled paper for drawing (and submitting) circuits.

Electronics/Robotics Labs: This course has a scheduled lab component for "hands-on" activities. Although labs are scheduled for each Friday, there will be other days that we meet for lab (in place of lecture) as well. Most labs will be held in Eaton 116, where you will spend your time building circuits, soldering components, building robots, and in general exploring the various topics introduced in the textbooks or discussed in class. Sometimes, worksheets will be provided to supplement the lab manual. You will rarely have time to complete the lab activity and prepare a lab report (when required) during lab time. Completing the activity and preparing the lab report is to be considered homework.

Assessment Policies

Lab Reports: You will sometimes be required to submit a written lab report, or to demonstrate the results of your lab work after completing a lab. Due dates will be announced in each lab and a score will be assigned to each report or demonstration. Reports and demonstrations will not be accepted late. The cumulative value for lab reports and demonstrations will be weighted as 25% of your course grade.

Midterm Exam: There will be one in-class, midterm exam. The midterm exam will count as 25% of your course grade.

Final Project: Completion of a final project will be required. This project will be in addition to the robots you build during the course. Suggested topics for projects and project submission details will be available by midterm. The final project will be weighted as 25% of your course grade.

Final Exhibition: Instead of a final exam, you will be required to enter your robot in the 2007 CpSc 226 Robot Festival. Your robot will autonomously navigate a course, and perform various maneuvers, all against the clock, and with hundreds (at least tens) of spectators watching. The performance of your robot will be evaluated and the results will count as 25% of your course grade. Details of the Festival will be provided as the time draws near.

Evaluation of Projects, Code, and Labs: I will occasionally ask you to meet with me in person to present a project, lab report, or computer code, and answer specific questions about it. In that case, your grade for that work will be partly based on your presentation and answers.

Attendance And Make-up Policies: You are expected to attend every class and lab, and attendance will be checked regularly. A grade of zero will be assigned for any lab report or presentation not submitted on time and for any exam not taken when administered to the class. The opportunity to "make-up" work missed will NOT be available except in instances required by The Colleges. In such cases, it is the student's responsibility to arrange for make-up work as soon as possible.(See HWS Catalogue, pp. 38-39.) This make-up policy will be strictly enforced. This make-up policy will be strictly enforced.

Grading Scale: The lab report score, midterm exam score, final project score, and robot festival score will each be weighted as 25% of your course grade. Your initial course grade calculation will then be determined by the overall percentages:

The final course grade calculation will include consideration of factors such as attendance, conscientiousness, and level of participation. This consideration may change the initial course grade by the appending of a "+" or "-" .

Other

• Hobart and William Smith Colleges' Principle of Academic Integrity will be upheld. (See HWS Catalogue, p. 33. See also HWS Handbook of Community Standards.) Specifically, work that you submit for a grade must be your personal work.

• All work submitted must be detailed and neat in order to receive full credit.