Lecture 1: Course
Introduction
Overview of Computers and their
Applications in MAE
BJ Furman
01SEP2012
The Plan for Today
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Welcome to ME 30
Learning objectives
Roll call
Highlights from the syllabus (aka, ‘greensheet’) 
Overview of computers and their applications in
MAE 
Introduce structured programming, algorithms,
pseudocode, and flowcharts 
Form of a C program
Data types and variables
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lecture you should be able to:
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Explain the focus of the course
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Describe where and how computers are used by
mechanical and aerospace engineers (MAEs)
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List some of the software commonly used by MAEs
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Describe what the major elements of a computer are
and what they do conceptually
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Explain what is meant by ‘structured programming’
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Describe the structure of a C program
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List and describe the important data types
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Declare a variable
Roll Call
Back
Syllabus Highlights and Where to Find Things
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Available at
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www.engr.sjsu.edu/bjfurman/courses/ME30/ and
sjsu.desire2learn.com
My contact and office information
My background
Course information
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Course goals and learning objectives
Textbook
Policies and protocol
Grading
Resources
Course schedule
Back
Focus of ME 30
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Solving problems with computers
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Learn structured programming using the C
language
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Learn the process for formulating a computational
solution to a problem
Practice the process
Get prepared for learning about mechatronics
Gain familiarity with other software used by
MAEs for technical computing
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Matlab
Excel
Where and How are Computers Used in MAE?
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??
Where and How are Computers Used in MAE? 1
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Technical and Personal
Communication
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Email
Word processing
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(reports, procedures, etc.)
Presentations
Conferencing
Computation and
Analysis
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Arithmetic
Equation solving
Data analysis and
visualization
Multiphysics and
numerical modeling
sin(r)/r
Where and How are Computers Used in MAE? 2
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Design
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Solid modeling (ME 165)
 Finite Element Analysis (FEA) (ME 160)
 Dynamic modeling and simulation
(ME 147, ME 187, ME 190)
 Design tradeoffs and analytical modeling
of mechanical components and systems
(ME 154, ME 157)
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Gathering Information
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Web searches
Patent searches
Databases
Vendor and other websites
Datasheets
Where and How are Computers Used in MAE? 3
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Testing and Experimental Work
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Data acquisition from sensors (ME 120)
Laboratory and Factory Automation
and Control
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Dynamic systems (ME 187, ME 190)
 Factory automation video
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Instrumentation and Product Design
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http://las.perkinelmer.com/Content/Images
/smallImages/janusLabAuto.jpg
Embedded controllers (ME 106, ME 190)
MRP, Inventory, and Document Control
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Drawings
Procedures
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Specifications
Engineering change orders (ECOs)
http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/teamcent
er/solutions_by_product/mechatronics_process_management.shtm
What Software is Most Often Used? 1
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Technical and Personal Communication
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Email (MS Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird)
Word processing (MS Word, Open Office)
Presentations (MS Power Point, Open Office)
Computation and Analysis
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Spreadsheets (MS Excel, Open Office Calc)
Mathcad/Maple/Mathematica
Matlab/Octave/Scilab
TK Solver
Maxima
What Software is Most Often Used? 2
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Design
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Solid modeling (Solidworks, ProE, Inventor, Unigraphics)
Finite Element Analysis (Cosmos, ProMechanica, Nastran)
Dynamic modeling and simulation (Matlab/Simulink, )
Design tradeoffs and analytical modeling of mechanical
components and systems (Excel, Mathcad, Matlab,
TK Solver)
Gathering Information
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Web searches (Google, other search engines)
 Patent searches (Google Patent, USPTO website)
 Databases (see the SJSU Articles & Databases website:
http://www.sjlibrary.org/research/databases/index.htm?getType=3
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Vendor and other websites (Google, other search engines)
 Datasheets (Google, vendor websites)
What Software is Most Often Used? 3
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Testing and Experimental Work
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Lab View, C, Matlab
Laboratory and Factory Automation
and Control
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Lab View, C, Visual Basic
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Instrumentation and (Mechatronic) Product Design
 C, Matlab, Lab View (see “Real Men Program in C”)
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Product Data Management
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Siemens PLM
 Oracle Agile
 Dassault Enovia
The Bottom Line
Mechanical and aerospace engineers use
computers widely
 You need to know how to use computers
to help you be successful
 ME 30 will help you especially in the area
of computation and analysis
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Focus will be on the C language
 Exposure to Matlab and Excel
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I hope it will also whet your appetite to
learn about mechatronics
Next -->
Networking
Introduce yourself to someone you DO
NOT know
 Find out one thing about them that they
like to do in their spare time
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Two minutes!
Back
What do computers actually do?
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Perform arithmetic operations
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Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
Compare two values
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And decide among alternative courses of action
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If a > b, then do action c
Move data around internally (memory and
peripherals)
Input data (keyboard, mouse, sensors, etc.)
Output data (display, I/O ports, etc.)
And do all of this really fast ….
Robot Programming Problem
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Write a program to make a robot follow a
square course
What’s Inside and How Does it Work?
Personal Computer (PC) Anatomy
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Case or housing
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Power supply
Motherboard
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CPU
Memory
Video and audio chipsets
Networking
I/O ports
Hard disk
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Embedded computers
likely not to have
Solid state sometimes now
Peripherals
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CD or DVD drive
Computer Block Diagram
Disk
controller
CPU
Memory
USB,
Serial,
Keyboard,
Mouse, etc.
Ports
Video
chipset
Display
Audio
chipset
Speakers
Networking
chipset
Bus
Hard drive,
CD/DVD
Internet
Memory
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Stores program instructions and
data
Each location has
an ‘address’
Each location stores
the information as ‘bits’
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Binary ____its
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Zero or one
Memory (8-bit)
Address
0x10FE
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0x10FF
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0x1100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0xFFFF
Bit
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8 bits is one byte
Information is ‘coded’
Memory is ‘written’ or ‘read’
CPU
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The ‘brain’ of your computer
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Carries out the instructions of your program
Essential components:
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Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
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Does arithmetic and logic functions
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Controls the actions inside the CPU
Registers
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Add and subtract (sometimes
multiply and divide)
Bit-wise logic:
 AND, OR, NOT, XOR
Bit shift (left or right)
ALU
CU
Control Unit (CU)
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CPU
Temporary locations to store data,
instructions, and addresses
Clock
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Synchronizes operations in the CPU
Clock
Registers
Instructions
Data
Memory
Adapted from Fundamentals of Computer Organization and Architecture, M. Abd-El-Barr, H. El-Rewini, John Wiley and Sons, 2005
Ports
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Connection to the
external world
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USB
 Serial
 Keyboard
 Monitor
 Pins on a
microcontroller
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http://media.digikey.com/photos/Atmel
%20Photos/453-64-TQFP.jpg
Voltage level
determines whether a 0
or a 1
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Ex. 5 V logic:
 < 1.5 V = 0
 > 3.5 V = 1
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2467.pdf
Software
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The intermediary between you (the user)
and the hardware
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Operating system (OS) see the next page
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Windows, OS X, Linux
Application programs
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End-user applications
Word processor, solid modeler, etc.
 Mathcad, Matlab, etc.
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Application development software
(programming languages)
 C, Matlab (sort of), Lab View (sort of), Python, Java,
FORTRAN, etc.
Operating System (OS)
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A program that:
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Acts as an intermediary between
hardware and application
software
Provides a consistent, stable way
for applications to interact with
hardware
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APIs, so you don’t have to do it all
yourself
Examples:
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Windows XP/Vista
Linux
OS X
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Operating_system_placement.svg
Create/Edit
source files
(your program!)
Program Development
from Figure 1.11, p. 32 in HK
note additions!
Compile
source files
Link
compiled files
Load
executable file
Run
your program!
Test
Repeat process
Correct
Not correct
Review
References
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http://www.karbosguide.com/
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Asus_a8n_VMCSM02.jpg
/645px-Asus_a8n_VMCSM02.jpg Fir0002/Flagstaffotos. Retrieved 22MAY2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system. Wikipedia. Retrieved 23MAY2009.
http://www.embeddedsys.com/. Visited 23MAY2009.
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Embedded Computers and Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers
ATtiny10 microcontroller,
with 1K bytes of
programmable Flash
memory, and 32 bytes of
internal SRAM
http://media.digikey.com/photos/Atmel
%20Photos/313-64-TQFP.jpg
http://media.digikey.com/photos/Atmel
%20Photos/453-64-TQFP.jpg
Single-board computer
http://www.electropages.com/articl
eImages/large/12813.jpg
http://www.oxisso.com/Microcontrollers/At
mega128TinyBoard_Show.jpg
Back
http://www.embeddedsys.com/subpages/products/images/pdf/microsys_sbc1586_datasheet.pdf
Power Supply
ATX power supply
MFG: ECHO-STAR
P/N: ES-450-24
STYLE: ATX-20/24
Input: 110/220 VAC 50-60Hz
Output #1: +3.3V @ 28A #2:+5V @ 34A
#3: +5VDCSB @ 2A #4: +12V @ 14A
#5: -12V @ .8A #6: -5V @ .5A
(450W Max combined output)
http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16581+PS
Back
Motherboard
Asus a8n VMCSM02
- Supports AMD Socket 939 Athlon
64FX / Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64
- NVIDIA GeForce 6150 + nForce 430
- Dual-channel DDR400
- PCI Express architecture
- Integrated GeForce6 GPU
- Dual VGA Ouput:DVI-D & RGB
- NVIDIA Gigabit LAN with NVIDIA
ActiveArmor Firewall
- 4 x SATA II (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID
0+1, RAID 5)
- 1394a Support
- High Definition Audio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asus_a8n_VMCSM02.jpg
Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
Back
My Background
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Almost native SJ
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Willow Glen High School class of ’76
Education – first round
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UC Davis
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Industry experience – first round
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IBM GPD – 1982 - 1986
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Stanford University 1986-1991
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IBM SSD 1991 – 1993
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3390 product engineering
Spindle motor development
Academia
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Non-contact rotor balancing
Industry experience – second round
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3390 actuator development
Education – second round
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BSME – 1980
MEME – 1982
SJSU MAE – 1994 to pres.
Personal
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Married
13-year old daughter
Hobbies: build things, fix things, garden, read, hike, amateur radio (ARES)
Most significant: relationship to God through Jesus Christ
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www.leaderu.com  Faculty Offices (under Academics)
Back
Robot Programming Problem
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Write a program to make a
robot follow a square course
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How do you go about
the programming task?
Method for Developing a Program
Note: these steps are to be done BEFORE you write any program code!
1. Define the problem:
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State the problem you are trying to solve in clear and
concise terms.
2. List the inputs and the outputs
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Inputs: information needed to solve the problem
 Outputs: what the algorithm will produce as a result
3. Describe the steps needed to convert or manipulate the
inputs to produce the outputs (develop the algorithm)
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Begin at a high-level first
 Refine (subdivide the high-level) steps until they are
effectively computable operations.
4. Test the algorithm:
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choose data sets, and verify that your algorithm works!
Structured Programming
Sequence
 Selection
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IF
 IF – ELSE
 SWITCH
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Repetition
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WHILE
 DO – WHILE
 FOR
Flowchart constructs
Algorithm
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What is an algorithm?
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A recipe
 A procedure
 Definition:
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“well-ordered collection of unambiguous and
effectively computable operations, that when
executed, produces a result and halts in a finite
amount of time.”
definition from: An Invitation to Computer Science (Gersting/Schneider) via
http://www.cs.xu.edu/csci170/08f/sect01/Overheads/WhatIsAnAlgorithm.html (visited
19JUN2009)
Characteristics of an Algorithm
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Well-ordered:
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Unambiguous:
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the steps are in a clear order
the operations described are understood by a
computing agent without further simplification
Effectively computable:
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the computing agent can actually carry out
the operation
Pseudocode
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natural language-like statements that precisely
describe the steps of an algorithm
Statements that describe actions
Focuses on the logic of the algorithm
Avoids language-specific elements
Written at a level so that code can be generated
almost automatically from each statement
Steps are numbered
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Subordinate numbers and/or indentation are used for
dependent statements in selection and repetition
structures
Pseudocode example
Note: English-like statements that describe the actions of the algorithm,
and indented to show the logical structure of the algorithm.
Flowcharts - 1
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Flowcharts
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A graphical tool that diagrammatically depicts
the steps and structure of an algorithm or
program
Symbol
Name/Meaning
Symbol
Meaning
Process – Any type of internal
operation: data transformation,
data movement, logic operation,
etc.
Connector – connects sections
of the flowchart, so that the
diagram can maintain a smooth,
linear flow
Input/Output – input or output
of data
Terminal – indicates start or
end of the program or algorithm
Decision – evaluates a condition
or statement and branches
depending on whether the
evaluation is true or false
Flow lines – arrows that
indicate the direction of the
progression of the program
Flowchart Constructs - Sequence and Selection
Control Structures
from Deitel & Deitel, 6th ed., p. 122
Flowchart Constructs - Repetition
from Deitel & Deitel, 6th ed., p. 122
Control Structures
Example: D&D 3.15c - 1
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“Obtain a series of positive numbers from the keyboard, and
determine and display their sum. Assume that the user types the
sentinel value -1 to indicate "end of data entry"
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Define the problem
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Statement pretty well defines the problem
List inputs and outputs
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inputs: number entered from keyboard
 outputs: sum of number
Example: D&D 3.15c - 1
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“Obtain a series of positive numbers from the keyboard, and
determine and display their sum. Assume that the user types the
sentinel value -1 to indicate "end of data entry"
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Develop the algorithm
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High-level first, then refine:
1. Start
2. Declare variables: ________
3. Repeat while number not equal to -1
3.1. get number
3.2. add to sum
4. Display sum
Does this work?
Example: D&D 3.15c - 2
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Develop the algorithm, cont.
 Refine
1. Start
2. Declare variables: ________
3. Repeat while number not equal to -1
3.1. get number
3.2. add to sum
4. Display sum
1. Start
2. Declare variables: num, sum
3. while num not equal to -1, continue doing:
3.1. Display prompt “Enter positive number”
3.2. Read number from the keyboard
3.3. Display number entered
3.4. add to sum
4. Display sum
Are we there yet?
Example: D&D 3.15c - 3
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Develop the algorithm, cont.
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Add a test to exclude negative numbers
1. Start
2. Declare variables: num, sum
3. while num not equal to -1, continue doing:
3.1. Display prompt “Enter positive number”
3.2. Read number from the keyboard
3.3. Display number entered
3.4. if num less than zero, then
3.4.1 continue
3.5. add to sum
4. Display sum
Are we there now?
Flowchart
Start
Declare variables: num, sum
Intialize variables: num = 0, sum = 0
1. Start
2. Declare variables: num, sum
3. while num not equal to -1, continue doing:
3.1. Display prompt “Enter positive number”
3.2. Read number from the keyboard
3.3. Display number entered
3.4. if num less than zero, then
3.4.1 continue
3.5. add to sum
4. Display sum
if num ! = -1
No
Display sum
Yes
Display "Enter
positive integer"
Read num from
keyboard
Display num
Stop
Test the algorithm!
if num < 0
No
sum = sum + num
Yes
Structure of a C Program

A formal letter has a
structure

So does a program in C
Burford Furman
Title
Professor
Dept. of Mech. and Aero. Eng
San José State University
San Jose, CA 95192-0087
block
July 20, 2009
Date
Dear Prof. Furman,
Salutation
I’m writing you to see if I can get into ME 30…
…
Body
Sincerely,
Closing
Jane Student
Signature
C Code for D&D 3.15c
Programmer’s block
Pre-processor directive
Main function (statements go between { } )
Declare and initialize
variables
While loop
(repetition structure)
return statement
Programmer’s Block
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Include important information (comments)
to document the program:
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Title
Date
Author
Description
Inputs/Outputs
Algorithm
Revision history
Add comments using one of two methods:
1. /* put comment between */ (note: traditional C)
2. // comment (note: single line only)
Full program
# include (pre-processor directive)

Includes a library file for ‘standard io’

functions for things like printing, etc.
Full program
main() function

Your program needs a
main() function

Statements go between
the braces { }
 main() ends with the
return keyword and
usually the value zero

If main() runs
successfully, it returns
a value of zero
Full program
Declare and initialize variables

Variables must be declared before you can use them
Full program
while() Repetition Structure

while (condition)
repeat statements
between { }
Full program