Everyday we face the challenge of using computers. Using computers is simply second nature to many, to others it is a large hassle and is presented as a large challenge. However, most people who use technology, such as calculators and computers, do not know how they work, inside. They may know how to operate them and fix individual components by swapping them out with working ones, but they do not know the building blocks of a processor or simpy a full bit adder.
To put this into layman’s terms, we built a simple calculator from scratch, using only parts that FIRST sends us each year to build a robot for the competition. To begin we learned how computer processors work, what full bit adders were and how they worked. Throughout our research we learned that the processors, or CPUs (Centeral Processing Units) were composed of billions of tiny transistors. A transistor is an electronic switch, as seen by the NPN transistor below and an animation here. When power is applied to the base, electricity is allowed to flow from the emitter (ground) the the collector (+ voltage).
The calculator can add or subtract two numbers up to 15 each. The numbers are entered by sliding white and black strips (representing the binary form of the number) and the output is displayed in binary by turning on or off lights.
Technical documentation can be viewed here.
The FIRST® Robotics Competition is a high-school robotics competition that inspires students to pursue engineering and teaches them about the rewards and challenges of working together under pressure.
