Week 3: CMU
This past week I have been at Carnegie Mellon University west at NASA Ames. There are about eight interns working on different aspects of a Mars rover. Right now we are working on the finishing touches because this is their last week. The finishing touches include a robotic arm, a soil collector, and a laser pointer. Some of the programming they are doing is beyond me, but going into this, they didn't know what they were doing either, which made me feel a little bit more confident.
I am learning about computer programming, making circuitry boards, and saudering. I learned how to use C, which is a computer program that transfers commands that you type in to the board that is linked to your computer. I did the basics just to get started, such as making a light blink, two light blink, switching off, timing, and simple things like that. Then I was able to make a board that might be used if they can't get the one being fixed right now to work. I watched them run too much electricity through the board repeatedly and therefore fry it, so maybe mine will be used! To make a board, you have to get all the parts together: wires, chips, lights, and other components. Then after you get part after part into the right holes on the board you have to sauder it together. For those who don't know what that is, that was me a week ago so don't worry, it is melting metal and solidifying it to hold it together and potentially conduct electricity.
It was fun but kind of tricky because I am not too good was small items and my fingers. I felt better about the struggle when after a day of working on it, another intern asked me, "So how's your board going?" and I replied nonchalantly "Oh, I'm done with it" and he looked up startled from him laptop, "Really?!? It took me five days to make mine." I was quite surprised too. He had taken something around seven AP classes and scored all fives but one four on the tests. Sounds like a smart kid to me...
This week has been a bit of a change for me. I have been actually helping out and learning new tools that I never thought I would enjoy. I am bummed that this is the last week I can work here, but that seems to be how things go around here. Hopefully I can pick up some more tips and continue lending a hand while I have the chance to.
That's all for now!
I am learning about computer programming, making circuitry boards, and saudering. I learned how to use C, which is a computer program that transfers commands that you type in to the board that is linked to your computer. I did the basics just to get started, such as making a light blink, two light blink, switching off, timing, and simple things like that. Then I was able to make a board that might be used if they can't get the one being fixed right now to work. I watched them run too much electricity through the board repeatedly and therefore fry it, so maybe mine will be used! To make a board, you have to get all the parts together: wires, chips, lights, and other components. Then after you get part after part into the right holes on the board you have to sauder it together. For those who don't know what that is, that was me a week ago so don't worry, it is melting metal and solidifying it to hold it together and potentially conduct electricity.
It was fun but kind of tricky because I am not too good was small items and my fingers. I felt better about the struggle when after a day of working on it, another intern asked me, "So how's your board going?" and I replied nonchalantly "Oh, I'm done with it" and he looked up startled from him laptop, "Really?!? It took me five days to make mine." I was quite surprised too. He had taken something around seven AP classes and scored all fives but one four on the tests. Sounds like a smart kid to me...
This week has been a bit of a change for me. I have been actually helping out and learning new tools that I never thought I would enjoy. I am bummed that this is the last week I can work here, but that seems to be how things go around here. Hopefully I can pick up some more tips and continue lending a hand while I have the chance to.
That's all for now!
Comment
-
Comment by Sonchia Jilek on August 12, 2009 at 5:09pm
- Great post Mackenzie! Thanks - sounds cool.
About
© 2009 Created by WonderDog on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of Pinhead Institute 2009 Interns to add comments!
Join this Ning Network