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Physical Computing

Code 16780
Year 1
Semester S2
ECTS Credits 6
Workload PL(30H)/T(30H)
Scientific area Informatics, Automation and Control
Entry requirements The prerequisites for the subject are that students have already acquired the ability to know how to program and to know a priori basic concepts of programming and algorithms.
Learning outcomes The general objectives of this course are as follows:

1) to provide students with the skills to explain and demonstrate how the environment can be monitored by analogue electrical and mechanical sensors.

2) to provide students with the skills to interface between the digital (computers) and the analogue (environment).

3) to provide students with the skills to experiment, invent, think and explore connections between art, culture and technology.

Regarding the specific objectives, and by the end of the semester, students should be able to:

1) design and build interactive physical devices (e.g. Python on the Raspberry Pi) that sense and control parts of the physical world around them;

2) deliberately choose techniques and strategies in different media, not as gimmicks for the sake of “cool effects”, but as means and metaphors for conveying ideas and concepts;

3) understand computer code and how it can be used as a tool for creative expression.
Syllabus 1) Introduction to Physical Computing: definition, principles and examples; brief presentation of the Raspberry Pi project: Raspberry Pi, environment, language.
2) Physical Computing Components: microcontroller, sensors and actuators; Language: variables, control structure, I/O operations.
3) Computer-Raspberry Pi Communication: serial, bluetooth; computer language: Processing.
4) Advanced Sensors and Actuators: ultrasonic telemetry sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors; motors: servomotor, DC motor (H-bridge), stepper motor.
5) Creative projects using the Raspberry Pi and different sensors/actuators.
Main Bibliography 1) D. O'Sullivan and T. Igoe (2004), Physical computing sensing and controlling the physical world with computers, Boston: Thomson.
2) M. Banzi (2011), Getting started with Arduino. Sebastopol, CA: Make:Books/O'Reilly.
3) M. Margolis (2012), Arduino Cookbook. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.
4) C. Reas and B. Fry (2014), Processing, second edition: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists, The MIT Press.
5) T. Floyd (2015), Digital Fundamentals (11th edition), Kindle, Amazon.
6) J. Culkin and E. Hagan (2017), Learn Electronics with Arduino: An Illustrated Beginner's Guide to Physical Computing, Make Community, LLC.
7) S. Panchal (2018), Mastering Arduino from Beginners to Core Advance: Learning the Concept of Physical Computing and Embedded System, Kindle, Amazon.
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria Teaching methodologies:

- Theoretical classes (T);
- Practical-laboratory classes (PL);
- Project-based learning;
- Independent work;
- Tutoring to clarify doubts and accompany the student in the development of their project.
Language Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
Last updated on: 2025-04-02

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