Author: Russell

FIRST Robotics Society, its Student Board, and BusBoard Prototype Systems (www.BusBoard.com) are hosting a day-long basic electronics class on Sunday Oct 15 at Bow Valley College, downtown Calgary. Space is available for up to 175 students. We are recording this event to use as a later webinar for off-site students (date TBD).

Preliminary Class Outline:

The first half of the day will focus on basic electricity, wiring, and troubleshooting skills. Each student will receive a Junior Genius Kit #1-Blinky Lights with 60 page manual which we will work through as a group. The presenter (Scot Kornak from BusBoard) will lead everyone through this hands-on course step-by-step with a powerpoint presentation, but each team should have a mentor or leader present to help students as needed.

Topics covered include:
• Introduction to basic parts, LEDS, resistors, capacitors, transistors
• series & parallel circuits, wiring and connections
• how a breadboard works to build prototype circuits
• basic LED circuits, light up LEDs, series & parallel circuits
• voltage and current
• reading assembly diagrams and schematics
• transistors and electronic switching
• make the 2 transistor blinky light circuit

The second half of the day will explore how to connect circuits to a controller like the FIRST roboRio or a simpler controller like an Arduino or Teensy. These simpler boards may be used to add robot features (non-movement or control features, as per the rules). Various input and output circuits will be built to see how they work (without programming or connecting to an actual controller).
• digital vs. analog electronics, digital logic
• introduction to integrated circuit (I.C.’s) and gates
• switches, transistors, relays, and diodes
• a simple on-off motor H-bridge drive using relays
• transistor H-bridge motor drives and PWM
• making devices talk: introduction to serial data, SPI, I2C, CAN

Cost: $30 CDN – Participants will receive a Junior Genius #1-Blinky Light kit (with breadboard and 60 page manual) and supplemental FIRST training day bonus parts including a DC motor with gearbox and wheels.
Links:
www.JuniorGeniusKits.com/FIRST
www.frcwest.com
www.BusBoard.com

Tickets are available through EventBrite to purchase spots for your team at this event.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/basic-electronics-training-day-tickets-37744338332

To get more information about the FRC/FTC training day, send an email to info@busboard.com and we’ll let you know further details when available.

Note: Mentors and teachers may take a seat and work through the kit along with the students to get hands-on electronics practice. We highly recommend it if you haven’t assembled circuits before. Please buy the extra tickets on-line when you purchase tickets for your students.