ENGR 121 Laboratory Lab coordinator:​
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howard.lukefahr@ecs.vuw.ac.nz​
, CO­252. The ENGR 121 laboratory is designed to help you understand the lecture material and use it in practical, real­world applications. The laboratory is also meant to be a fun environment, emphasising collaborative learning and creativity. Laboratory Safety We will discuss safety in the labs. But more broadly, making the labs as safe as possible is an on­going effort that requires active participation by everyone involved including you. Check with a tutor and/or the lab coordinator before doing anything not described in the script, and discuss any and all safety concerns with a tutor and/or the lab coordinator before proceeding. Be aware of your surroundings and be proactive in ensuring the environment is tidy and safe. Note that the environment varies from one laboratory to another and one activity to another, so take note of the particular circumstances in which you are working. Labs There are four laboratory exercises, each of which takes two weeks to complete. They involve a mix of work with computers and other equipment. Lab 1: Digital Logic Lab 2: Plotting in Python and Lissajous Figures Lab 3: Robot Locomotion Lab 4: Wireless Communication Engineering Day to day in the laboratory As with nearly all of your first year engineering assignments, the ENGR 121 labs have three levels of material. The CORE material is required to get a passing mark, the COMPLETION material gets you a good mark, and the CHALLENGE material gets you the opportunity to get that A+. The Challenge material often extends the lab exercise, connecting it to topics from outside the lab. Note that the scripts are often divided in to sections, and each section will typically have core, completion, and challenge subsections. In some parts of the lab exercises you will work individually, although discussion with other students is strongly encouraged. At other times you may be asked to work together with lab partners. In any case, each student submits work individually. There are no formal lab reports. Instead, you will be given an on­line script that you can complete on Google Docs or download as a PDF, ODF, or other format you like and complete on the local machine. If you need to write notes by hand just use a cell phone or camera to photograph it and insert it into your script. The completed script is then submitted through the usual assignment submission channels by the due date. Note that the lab scripts have areas delineated by asterisks where you should type/insert your work. An example is shown below. Example section of a lab script, taken from the first lab exercise. • Note the part numbers for each of the other chips on the board and find their data sheets online. •​
From the data sheets, draw a pin out diagram for each chip. ******************************************************************************************
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* Getting Help Your demonstrators (tutors) are your first resource for help in the labs. Make use of them. Ask them questions about the lab exercise if you wish, but also ask them broader questions about applications of the lab material and/or connections with your other classes. For help outside of lab times, please contact the lab coordinator. Late Work As discussed in the course outline, lab scripts (and assignments) submitted late will not generally be marked except in cases of special circumstances and/or prior arrangements. However late work will count toward course requirements. Attending Alternate Sessions Due to enrolment increases our lab sessions are fairly full. It may be possible for you to attend an alternate lab session if necessary but this must be arranged through the lab coordinator.