Engineering Physics

4U04 Computer Systems Laboratories

Faculty coordinator: Dr. D.T. Cassidy, JHE/A323

Lab manager: G. E. Leinweber, BSB/B102

Term II: 2012

The department is offering five 4U04 labs under the computer systems title. The labs will be offered second term. Lab sections for 2012 winter term.

Two labs must be completed. The labs are:

1. Real-time Programming of a Teaching Robot
Students will be required to write code to control a six-axis robot. A pen mounted in the grippers shall print text under computer control, onto paper fixed to a flat surface. The surface may be placed at various angles from horizontal to vertical. BASIC language recommended.

2. Feedback Control
Computer controlled temperature controller. Students will be required to develop an algorithm to minimize the step-impulse response time while maintaining a zero offset in a closed loop temperature controller (thermo-electric cooler, thermistor, Cu block, current source). The cooler-resistor combination is often used in diode laser modules for optical communication systems. "C" or FORTRAN recommended.

3. Vision System
Given a CCD camera and an image grabber for the computer, students will be required to write code and to adjust lighting and geometry to determine, e.g., size and location of a part, find a fault on a circuit board, locate an object. "C" programming language required.

4. RS-232 Serial Communication
Two PC computers connected via a serial cable must be programmed to transfer a file from one disk to the other. A robust packet protocol must be implemented that can deal with intentionally forced hardware errors. Since we require you to write low-level routines that deal with the PC's hardware registers directly, the "C" programming language is recommended.

5. Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
Students will be required to write code on a PC to implement an AM demodulator from data generated by a sound card, in real time. Analog source material consists of weather satellite images in a facsimile format. Output data forms a computer screen image. UNIX operating system - "C" programming language recommended.

Reporting and Marking
The report will consist of a short memo that outlines the approach taken, an appendix with a documented ASCII version of the code written for the lab, and a one page self-evaluation. The report is to be given to the TA at least 24 hours before a demonstration of the code is given to the TA. The mark will be split evenly between the written report and the demonstration/discussion that the TA and students have.

Sign up for the 4U04 Computer System lab

POLICY REMINDERS:

Academic Ethics

Attention is drawn to the Statement on Academic Ethics and the Senate Resolutions on Academic Dishonesty as found in the Senate Policy Statements distributed at registration and available in the Senate Office. Any student who infringes one of these resolutions will be treated according to the published policy.

The following material is adapted from the Senate Statement on Academic Ethics: Appendix A

Work submitted for credit in a course, and which is not referenced, footnoted, or acknowledged, is assumed to be the independent work of the student submitting the work. The submission of work without references, footnotes, or acknowledgements and which is not the independent work of the student submitting the work is plagiarism and is one form of academic dishonesty.

Work that is copied directly must be enclosed in quotation marks and the source documented by giving the author, title, page, and date of the source.

Materials that have had a strong influence on the work but that have not been copied directly must be referenced with a footnote or endnote that documents the source of the material. It is also expected that the material be introduced with sentences of the form `Kreyszig, on page 865, shows how to solve a similar problem. I have adapted his work to ...' to identify clearly the source.

The forms of acknowledgement described above is to be used for conversations.

Students who allow their work to be copied are as guilty of academic dishonesty as those who copy.

Labs are an opportunity for students to obtain practical experience. It is expected that the work in the lab is performed by members of the group or individuals that are assigned to the lab. Students may obtain help from the TA's assigned to the lab, the LAB SUPERVISOR responsible for the lab, or the instructor. Procuring or accepting help in performing the lab from others will be considered academic dishonesty. This interpretation treats labs similar to tests or exams where the work submitted is expected to be the work of the student.

Discrimination

The Faculty of Engineering is concerned with ensuring an environment that is free of all adverse discrimination. If there is a problem that cannot be resolved by discussion among the persons concerned, individuals are reminded that they should contact their Department Chair, the Sexual Harassment Officer or the Human Rights Consultant, as soon as possible.

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.

POLICY REMINDERS:
Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/senate/academic/ac_integrity.htm

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one's own or for which other credit has been obtained.
2. Improper collaboration in group work.
3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.