Science

Basic Electronics/Arduino Workshop

Instructor: Michael Shiloh
SF / SCNCE–200–01 / 000 /15 sessions
Prerequisite: high school algebra
May 26–June 30 (no class 5/30), MWTH, 6:15–9:15 p.m.

Combining electronics with art continues to be more and more accessible, as new products reduce both barriers of price and complexity. What once required an engineering degree is now within the reach of anyone with a little basic electronics background. This hands-on course, combining a solid foundation in electronics and micro-controllers with practical exercises and projects, allows students to apply this knowledge to their chosen artistic field.

New sensors enable artists to create objects that can sense motion, location, light, color, sound, smell, magnetic fields, gestures, where a subject is looking, and much, much more. Motors, LEDs, valves and other actuators allow artists to create and control motion, light, or sound. Miniature electronics and even embedded computing devices are affordable and, most importantly, designed to be used by non-engineers.

While clearly identifying the artistic application of these technologies, this class focuses on the theory and application of basic electronics and the application, interfacing, and programming of the Arduino micro-controller.

Arduino is an electronic controller that was designed for those with little or no programming or electronics background. It is perfect for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Sensing the environment through input from a variety of sensors, Arduino can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. Arduino is also capable of communicating with other Arduinos as well as personal computers and the Internet.

This course satisfies the Science requirement or an H&S elective.

Michael Shiloh has a BSc in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. After many years designing hardware and software for the high tech industry, he became a consultant to artists, inventors, designers, hobbyists, and students, often creating unusual devices and contraptions.

Shiloh joined Survival Research Labs in 1990, designing and installing control systems for the groups' large industrial performance machines, and started teaching electronics and animatronics to the artists working in the fields of machine art, kinetic sculpture, physical computing, and robotics.

In 2005 he founded Teach Me To Make, an educational organization dedicated to the principle that technology, and construction techniques, should be open, public, and accessible to all. In 2008 Judy Castro, artist and designer, became a partner at Teach Me To Make. Together and individually they have taught classes and workshops around the world in rapid prototyping, tinkering, and many aspects of electronics, robotics, computer control, and Arduino. BSc, UC Berkeley

www.teachmetomake.com