HOME | TEXT | GRADING | STAFF | PROGRESS | LECTURES | LABS | CIRCUITS |PROGRAMS

GRADING

    10% Midterm Exam

    5% End of Week 11 "Quiz" for 1st operational tests of all categories, sensing and actuating, from Trainer using Hornby and Echo

    55% Project Performance (team)**

    10% Oral Exam (individual)*

    20% Written Report

*Individual performance

**Project grading criteria

• All projects must sense, actuate, and sequence events.
• Robustness � hands-free, reliable operation � is the most important factor in grading.
• Projects must meet all rules and specifications � it is important that three trains are allowed to operate simultaneously and that projects support the block control concept.  The basic idea is that projects are part of a modular railroad and as such must allow trains to pass through blocks unimpeded regardless of their speed and markings.  All specialized magnets and labels must not interfere with the smooth flow of traffic. Simultaneous operation means that any train can pass through a project. This feature means in particular that trains can operate on the NORTH track, the SOUTH track and the EXPRESS track at the same time.
• Workmanship is an important factor.
• Documentation is an important factor.
• Meeting project timetables is an important factor.
• Projects are to be presented at the end of the term at a date to be announced. There will be an opportunity to present late projects, but there will be 1/2 letter grade penalty.
• Degree of difficulty and degree of effort will be considered as part of the grading process, but they are not as important as robust operation.
• Presentations should review all working aspects of projects even if the complete project falls short of expectation or has bugs.

The process of design allows for the creation of challenging plans.  Sometimes (even often) plans surpass what can be achieved in limited time.  It is OK for the project to be redefined (de-scoped) in the final days or hours of a project so long as the basic criteria for robustness and meeting of all specifications are met.