Nutchip@School

Nutchip on the Textbooks

Nutchip has made its first appearance on high-school textbooks. In the book "Sistemi2: Sistemi programmabili e analogici" (A. De Santis, M. Cacciaglia, C. Saggese, published by Calderini, Italy) the Authors describe the schematic diagram, details and printed-circuit board of a circuit suitable for many Nutchip experiments, besides a porgramming interface board based on the popular MAX232 level-converter chip. Together, the two boards constitute a launching platform for countless Nutchip hands-on experiences.
The textbooks details two applications. The simpler one implements a toggle-switch automata; the other implements a garage door control automata, which counts the presence of two distinct cars by means of two light barriers, capable to discriminate whether a car enters or exits the garage. Each implemetations is explained with a (bubble type) state diagram and the respective truth table. A short introduction about how to edit truth tables with Nutstation is also included.

Artek has announced a development and evaluation board for the Nutchip, nicknamed BOENUT1. This board is well suited for schools for both lab and classroom activities. Besides the Nutchip, the board includes the PC programming interface and a regulated power supply, and allows for experimenting without even resort to the soldering iron. A solderless breadboard and compatible headers allow direct insertion of resistors, capacitors, dual-in-line integrated circuits , PTC, LDR, transistors and many other electronic components.
The board includes also 4 LEDs for displaying Nutchip outputs, 4 pushbuttons for driving the inputs, and a potentiometer for a rapid connection to the analog comparator. The board accepts both types of remote control receivers (and both are supplied with the kit), and the Nutchip is fitted on a socket doubling the circuit as a Nutchip programmer. For more robust assemblies (although requiring some soldering), the breadboard can be remove to reveal the undrlying perf board.

The unit accepts power ranging from 7.5 to 15Vdc, usually from a wall-wart type transformer; for classroom use, a convenient alternative could be a 9V battery (batteries an power adapter not included). The kit includes many extra parts, as a couple Nutchips other than the one fitted on the board, a 4 key radio remote, RF and infrared remote control receivers, and a flexible antenna already tuned to the frequency of 433 MHz.

As an outstanding effort to help those schools with limited budget (and those classes wanting to put in practice PCB fabrication) Artek has made public the schematic diagram and PCB artwork in PDF format (non-commercial uses only).

The University of Catania (Sicily, Italy) developed two robots named ETNA and TRINITY for the EUROBOT 2004 championship. The coconut-rugby match is played with 8 standard rugby balls and two "coconut trees" (carrying 3 extra balls each) randomly placed on the play field by the referees. Goals (poles and net) are located on each side of the playing zone. In order to win, each robot must score the most drops or tries in the opponent's in-goal zone. Robots are autonomous, no remote controls or external PCs are allowed. Etna, the big robot, employs two Nutchips to decode the signals coming from the active beacons placed on the net. A video camera (CMU-CAM) recognizes rugby ball shapes, and a Microchip microcontroller unit controls motor movements. As regards a the ball-loading mechanism a simple relay was sufficient!

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Students of the third year of the Degree in "Phisical Information Technologies" from the Univiersity of Rome "La Sapienza" can now examine thoroughly Nutchip theory and applications. The opportunity is for developing the thesis proposal from professor Franco Meddi. The assignment, which will require about a semester's work, consists of a study of Nutchips and the development system and requires the devolpment of some control systems. The thesis is intitled "Dispositivi logici programmabili di tipo NUTCHIP" and requires the development of a 30...50 pages report to be presented for discussion to the Faculty.

The Nutchip has been supplied to the Science Museum "Leonardo Da Vinci" as part of a large batch of robotics materials for the EST Project. Based in Milan, Italy, the Da Vinci is the most important Science Museum in the Country.

The EST Project (Education for Science and Technology) is sponsored by the bank foundation Cariplo, and will impact on 1000 Northern-Italy schools, with the objectives of training 3000 teachers and to strengthen the educational potential of a network comprised of hundreds of Schools and 40 Museums.

Central to the project is the hands-on approach, popular among Science Museums worldwide but traditionally less practiced in italian Schools. Scientific concepts are presented interactively, in order to attract the interest of young minds and to deny the misconception of complexity and abstractness of Science.

The initiaitve includes three laboratories: "La bottega dei robot" (The robot workshop), "Dalla cellula al DNA" (From cell to DNA), e "Dal telegrafo a internet" (From telegraph to the Internet).

Because of the extension of the territory and the high number of teachers involved, not to mention the role of Museums as a local reference for continued education, the EST Project is a state-of-the-art educational initiative even when considered from a worldwide perspective.