Unit 5: Computer Technology - Culminating
The culminating will include major topics: computers, circuit calculations, digital logic, and the boe-bot .
Course Units and Descriptions
Use this table for an overview and navigate to each of the course unit pages.
| Unit | Description |
|---|---|
| Review course outline for more details | |
| 1 | Careers & Safety- Intro, computers, organization, safety, and research careers |
| 2 | Computers- organization, hardware, design, software, maintenance, building, repair, and troubleshooting |
| 3 | Circuits- Electrical characteristics, calculations, components, digital logic design, project build, and troubleshooting |
| 4 | Tetrix-Bot- micro controllers, electronics, robot builds, circuit building, programming, robot navigation, testing, and troubleshooting |
| 5 | Web Portfolio- Showcase course work, projects, and understanding with web portfolio and presentation |
Unit Content Activity Quick Links, Click to Jump to Specific Activity!
- Unit 5, Act. 1: Computers
- Unit 5, Act. 2: Circuit Calculations
- Unit 5, Act. 3: Digital Circuits
- Unit 5, Act. 4: Boe-bot
Unit 5, Act. 1: Computer Design Build 
Situation:
Class has completed a tear-down and rebuild of a computer with partners. Through this process and a researched power point presentation have gained a lot of good practical experience. Familiarity with hardware components and the theory behind those components gives students a great insight into how and why computers are designed the way they are.
Problem/Challenge:
Your task is to design a custom desktop computer system from scratch. The design is to include the following:
- System type/category - list requirements and what type of system
- Cost limit $2, 000 in general - system type will determine reasonable price points
- Component picture, local best price and supplier(s)
- Cost analysis- why this part works well in your system based on price an needs including a quick explanation and support review links
- Build process steps
- Total component power wattage and cost breakdown
- Summary breakdown
- References - resources and supplier
Investigation/Ideas:
Using the SPICE model, Situation- what is the big picture, the first thing you need to figure out your current and future requirements would be, then come up with specific computer type. Here is a 
handout that outlines this project in a couple of pages. Below is a list of some computer types that you may consider.
- Budget Desktop
- Home Office
- Gaming System
- Media Center
- Workstation
- Web Server
- Audio System
- NAS Server
When looking at building a system from scratch, there are many things that need to considered in part of your planing. It is easy to copy or pick a preconceived set-up, but you will need to research and explain why you have selected those particular components based on price, performance, specifications, compatibility, and needs. Here is a video showing a new computer build with some details as to why certain products were selected: ULTIMATE Build a Better $1500 Gaming PC Computer "How To" Guide 
Create/Construct:
Create/Construct points-steps:
- List of uses you will need the system for, and the type of system (prove your system need)
- Depending on your needs, determine your components in priority of importance, example - gaming system depends a lot on graphic output, so graphic cards would be a place to start
- Resource links above will help, use PC Part Picker to select your components
- Each component is to have picture, description/specs, explanation, wattage, local price, and supplier
- A slide representing your build process steps and explanation for those steps
- Create a power point presentation to show off your system of design and include your introduction, overview, component details, build process steps, summary chart with wattage and prices, conclusion, suppliers and references
- Overview should explain system type based on your requirements
More Information & Support
Below are some related images to give you an idea on PC Part Picker build page, summary page, and Power point.
Build Page
Summary
Evaluation:
Below shows a repeat of the breakdown that was used to evaluate your computer design presentation.
| Evaluation Breakdown Component Descriptions For Presentation | Marks |
|---|---|
| Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks. | |
| Computer Info - Intro and overview -system type based on req. | 5 |
| Components - Components with images, descriptions, explanations, specs, and price | 20 |
| Build Process - Steps outlined to take during the build process including safety | 5 |
| Summary Chart - components, descriptions, price, wattage | 5 |
| References & Suppliers - List all support links, reviews, and suppliers | 5 |
Unit 5, Act. 2: Circuit Calculations
Series Parallel Calculation
This project you will be handed out a calculation sheet similar to what we did in class. You will calculate and show all work the same way we did in class for previous calculations. You will have one period to complete the calculation during class to be handed in at the end of the period. It is suggested to review your past calculation sheets.
Evaluation:
Each servo built will have different results because they are slightly different in the quality and build of their internal components. Using someone else's work will make your programing in later projects difficult as you will not have values recorded for your own servos, making those projects twice as hard both time and effort.
| Evaluation Breakdown | Marks |
|---|---|
| Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks. | |
| Series Circuit 1 - Formulas, units of measure, rough calculations, answers circled, & chart | 20 |
| Parallel Circuit 1 - Formulas, units of measure, rough calculations, answers circled, & chart | 20 |
Unit 5, Act. 3: Digital Logic
Logo!soft - Forward/Reverse Motor Control Circuit Build
- With LOGO!soft using the following circuit diagram given (power cct), create the digital logic equivalent using any of the common logic gates following the same process as last circuit design
- One additional step will require a 4 second timer delay between switching directions.
- Once you have a finished and circuit is working correctly, wiring organized, and labeled have your partner double check it and hand-in both the .lsc and an exported .jpg file
Evaluation:
Circuit must have a centred header with a title, name, and detailed description of the circuit requirements and operation, and include the three major sections of the circuit sub-titled: Inputs, Functions, and Outputs. Circuits are to be handed in both a LOGO!Soft Comfort Drawing file .lsc and an exported .jpg
| Evaluation Breakdown Component Descriptions | Marks |
|---|---|
| Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks. | |
| Forward cct - latched for interlocked cct starting with forward button | 10 |
| Reverse cct - latched rev interlocked cct, start with reverse button input | 10 |
| Timer delay - 4 second delay between stops | 10 |
| Cct layout - Title, description, sub input/function/outputs, labels, org. | 10 |
Unit 5, Act. 4: Boe-Bot
Custom Dead Reckoning
You will complete the custom dead reckoning map as instructed in unit 3 activity 3 for one of your culmination marks
Evaluation:
Each task program must be handed in with appropriate formatting, comments, and proper file naming. The bot must complete it's task accurately with in half the width of bot itself, i.e. end target goal location must have it between the wheels, every 1/2 inch of inaccuracy will cost marks
| Evaluation Breakdown of Boe-bot Navigation Tasks | Marks |
|---|---|
| Always double check that you have completed all components for full marks. | |
| Course Graph Map - Relevant course info, scaled to full page | 10 |
| Bot Custom Course - Boe- bot dead reckoning run accuracy | 40 |
| 3d Bot Report - Title page, map, program code, and learning | 10 |