Humanity has a long history of utilizing natural processes for the production of power, but it has underutilized these processes for computation. Can we unlock the latent computational potential that exists in nature? If we can, we might improve the relationship between nature and machines, and radically increase total global compute.
A chipsat is a spacecraft which is small enough to fit in your wallet. Each is a printed circuit board equipped with a collection of sensors, a processor for gathering measurements from those sensors, and a radio for communicating those measurements to one another and to data-aggregating receiver stations. Because they are so tiny and cheap, chipsats can be launched and deployed in massive number. This makes them fabulous tools for conducting certain kinds of science in space. They're particularly well suited for distributed sensing experiments which involve deploying a bunch over a broad area of space or on the surface of a planet/comet/etc., and gathering measurements from that whole area.
This list includes both personal projects and projects generated for assignment to students. I have provided all source code for personal projects. The code for projects which may be assigned to students is not posted publicly, but I'd be happy to send it to you if you email me.
RP2040 (Raspberry Pi Pico) projects
PIC32 microcontroller projects
DE1-SoC FPGA projects
CC1310 microcontroller projects
Raspberry Pi projects
Machine learning projects
Mathematical projects
The projects listed below were conducted in collaboration with an outside organization.
For my own future reference. Intended audience is myself.
Prepared as supplemental course material for MAE 5160 (Spacecraft technology and systems architecture). Intended audience is senior/masters level mechanical engineers.
Prepared as supplemental course material for Astro 1101 (From new worlds to black holes). Intended audience is non-technical students.
I am experimenting with the new Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller. Keeping track of my notes in the pages below. Intended audience is myself.
Instructed courses
ECE 4760 (Digital Systems Design Using Microntrollers): This is a microcontroller laboratory and design course that uses the Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040). Started in Spring, 2021.
ECE 5760 (Advanced Microcontroller Design and System on Chip): This is an FPGA laboratory design course using the DE1-SoC. Started in Fall, 2020.
Project and writing courses
ECE 6930 (Masters of Engineering Independent Design Projects): The centerpiece of the M.Eng. program is the professional project, in which students apply theory to a real problem, with the guidance from faculty, and often in collaboration with other students. The page below describes projects of my graduated advisees.
ECE 4920 (Technical Writing Seminar): This course fulfills the College of Engineering Technical Communication requirement, and may also be used as an advisor-approved elective. In this class, you will rewrite your final project for ECE 4760 or ECE 5760 for publication in a magazine or journal of your choice.
TA'd courses
Other talks/posters
Dissertation
- Video of talk (recorded at a later date)
- Slides
- Video demonstrations of chipsats
- University video about some of this work
First author
Contributing author
Thinking about the programs that people generate, and vice versa. These are playful, not rigorous.
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