Student "edition" found at {csi dot journalspace dot com}.

Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

Just to finish off last Saturday’s topic, each 16 bit register is actually composed of two 8 bit registers, and two of the 16 bit registers can be used as one 32 bit register.

So to be able to transfer a 16 bit register’s contents to an 8 bit one, they just have to make sure that the higher 8 bits of the 16 bit register is equal to zero by using a compare command then they just call on the lower 8 bit register.

The same procedure is used with putting a 32 bit register’s value in a 16 bit one.

When it’s moving a value from a smaller register to a larger one, it’s not a matter of checking the value of the higher bits, but of assigning it to zero before operation.

@@ Now, on to my Introduction to Robotics class. Their new project, which is required for the next two weeks, is to make a tossing or slinging robot.

I limited each group to using only two motors, and they have to lob a 4 by 4 by 4 block.

The first trial will be longest distance, the second and third will be to a specific point which is the center of the two soccer fields from the goal post.

These are 1.5 feet and 2.5 feet in distance, since the fields are 3 by 3 feet and 5 by 5 feet in length.

I also specified that the block has to move through the air and not just slid across the floor, although if it slides across the floor after being thrown, that’s not counted against the group. Distance from first contact with the flour will be measured.

In their progress notebook, I asked them to draw their preliminary design, which may change in the next few meetings depending on what they find out works or not.

I also asked them to put up their posters by the next meeting to be held in the more spacious science lab.

Most are contemplating a catapult design, but actually for specific distances, they should consider a pushing slide where the angle can be changed. I believe the two week deadline prevents them from slacking off during the first meetings, and some groups even continue work after class has ended.

Session 1695 has gotten used to arriving in class late because there’s no lecture. Class dismissed.