MPG REMOTEMPG REMOTESAC / GOLD 2012

Jason Long, P. EngEngenuics Technologies

A Broad Audience…

• IEEESBs that have no ideaIEEESBs that have no idea what MPG is

• IEEESBs that have some level• IEEESBs that have some level of knowledge about MPGGOLD (di f MPG• GOLD (ditto on range of MPG knowledge)

• IEEE Canada ( “    ” )

Logos copyright of their respective ownersLogos copyright of their respective owners

The $5 Bill ExperimentPart 1

What’s the Point?

• Risk vs reward: how the perceived level ofRisk vs. reward: how the perceived level of value relates to the perceived level of effort

• Both are context sensitive and circumstance• Both are context‐sensitive and circumstance‐sensitive and therefore different for everybody and can change over timeeverybody and can change over time

To do…

• A little about JasonA little about Jason• What in the world is MPG and why am I here?here?

• MPG Past to Present• Post mortem: MPG Remote 2011• Post mortem: MPG Remote 2011• Pre‐natal: MPG Remote 2012Vid (ti itti )• Video (time permitting)

• Questions

Jason LongJ g

• U of C ENEL 2002,      ,4 years with IEEE SB

• BW Technologies• General Dynamics Canada

• BlackLine GPS• BlackLine GPS• Engenuics Technologiesg

• And all the while: MPG

What in the world is MPG?

• MicroProcessor Group – thanks Sean Hum!MicroProcessor Group  thanks, Sean Hum!• Started during Internship in 2000

i i• Motivation: – Trying to learn how to speak– Desperate for hands‐on– Adding value to the U of C IEEE Student Branch

ll hBut really, what is MPG?

MPG Mission Statement

MPG offers hands‐on experience in embedded systems design with 

t d l fguaranteed value from learning industry‐applicable informationapplicable information while giving students the opportunity to grow aopportunity to grow a strong personal network. 

What is MPG?

• Discover and understand how real hardwareDiscover and understand how real hardware works in real designs

• Learn how a design is created and captured• Learn how a design is created and captured• Build it using latest technologies used in i dindustry

• Use it: learn real‐world firmware authoring• Grow it: write your own code and projects• Take it all home and keep learningTake it all home and keep learning

MPG Year 1

• there was PIC…there was PIC• Breadboards!?! S d l !• Scared every lecture!

• Establish a routine and find the fun

• Start to see results!

MPG: In the beginning…g g

• 20 pages of hand‐written notes20 pages of hand written notes• $0 in equipment$ 00 i i• $100 in inventory

• $150 in industry support• $300 in sales• Over 200 hours investedOver 200 hours invested• Total course fees paid by students: $0

MPG 2001 ‐ 2011

• Consistently provided every yearConsistently provided every year• 2006 changed to ARM7 with new dev board20 0 i ? ’ !• 2010: quit or grow?  Let’s grow!

• Add MPG Level 2• 2011 revamped MPG Level 1 and did first run of MPG Remote

MPG Todayy

• Two extracurricular full‐year programsTwo extracurricular full year programs featuring the latest embedded technologies with custom development boardswith custom development boards

MPG Today: Level 1y

MPG Level 1 (MPGL1) is the starting point whereMPG Level 1 (MPGL1) is the starting point where you bridge the gap between academics and the real worldreal world•Real hardware in real embedded system: learn the development boardsystem: learn the development board circuits.  Optional SMT soldering.

•Learn the firmware dev tools L k t l l l fi d i f•Look at low‐level firmware drivers for basic operation and peripherals that you’ll find everywhere in industry

MPG Today: Level 2y

MPG Level 2 (MPGL2) is a complete productMPG Level 2 (MPGL2) is a complete product development cycle and presented in a way that MPGL1 is NOT a prerequisiteMPGL1 is NOT a prerequisite.•Real hardware in real embedded system: learn the development boardsystem: learn the development board circuits

•Look at driver APIs to understand h t th i ti thow to use the existing system

•Write a high‐level application: wireless Pong

MPG Todayy

• More than 750 pagesMore than 750 pages of notes online

• Thousands of lines of• Thousands of lines of code written and documented for MPGdocumented for MPG

• Schematics, PCB d i d lidesigns and parts lists

MPG TODAY

• 2010 MPG Level 12010 MPG Level 1 and Level 2 classes: 120 students! Ditto instudents!  Ditto in 2011

ll hBut really, what is MPG?

“MPG actually has almost nothing to do withMPG actually has almost nothing to do with populating parts on a PCB and writing code. I assure you I know how to solder resistors andassure you, I know how to solder resistors and make LEDs blink, yet for 12 years I’ve kept 

running MPG ” ‐ Jasonrunning MPG.   Jason

The Wonders of MPGf

• Continuous learningContinuous learning• Powerful network

l bl i• Valuable equity• So many opportunities and potential

• Even a fancy award… ywww.apegga.org/Members/Awards/SA2012/mentoring.html/ / g

MPG

• It makes sense to share thisIt makes sense to share this resource: how do I do that?

• MPG is my initiative how• MPG is my initiative, how do I make it other’s initiatives? In other wordsinitiatives?  In other words, how do I communicate the value of MPG to gainvalue of MPG to gain adoption of the program? 

MPG

• Answer: MPG RemoteAnswer: MPG Remote• Go back to the roots of MPG

h “b f h b ” h l f• Tap the “best of the best” – the volunteers of IEEE Student Branches who are established in l i i i N h A ialmost every university in North America.

• Package MPG up (‐‐Jason) and see if other IEEESBs can make it work

To do…

A little about JasonA little about JasonWhat in the world is MPG and why am I here?here?MPG Past to Present• Post mortem: MPG Remote 2011• Post mortem: MPG Remote 2011• Pre‐natal: MPG Remote 2012Vid (ti itti )• Video (time permitting)

• Questions

MPG Remote 2011

• Presented at SAC last year: 100% interest = 15Presented at SAC last year: 100% interest = 15 universities each provided with about $300 in free hardwarefree hardware

• Rough plan, rough expectations, rough resourcesresources

• How’d it go?  Don’t be offended by the next lidslide.

MPGR 2011: Scorecard

The glass is half…g f

• Full?Full?• Empty?

MPGR 2011

• UBC Okanagan:UBC Okanagan: provided the proof that  MPGR is absolutelyMPGR is absolutely possible

• Engineering is always:• Engineering is always: Investigate, Plan, Create EvaluateCreate, Evaluate

To do…

A little about JasonA little about JasonWhat in the world is MPG and why am I here?here?MPG Past to PresentPost mortem: MPG Remote 2011Post mortem: MPG Remote 2011• Pre‐natal: MPG Remote 2012Vid (ti itti )• Video (time permitting)

• Questions

MPGR 2012

• The goal of MPGR is to provide an extremely g p yvaluable, nationally accessible program.

• MPG promotes year‐over‐year engagement and grows virally Jason is driving growth andgrows virally.  Jason is driving growth and promotion and, frankly, won’t go away.

• Growth in MPG = growth (or at leastGrowth in MPG   growth (or at least sustainability) in IEEE SB.  And in GOLD. 

• The importance and power of equity is immense!• The longer term goal is to give IEEE Canada a very good reason to be proud of their investment.

MPG at your branchy

• What you need – same as last year:What you need  same as last year:– Someone to take the lead – two or three people even better! Can GOLD help here?even better!  Can GOLD help here?

– Weekly commitment: 1 to 2 hours to learn material before each meeting + 1 hour to deliver +material before each meeting   1 hour to deliver   1 hour (spread out) for questions, admin, etc.

– Time and place for weekly meetingsp y g• Computer lab or students with laptops

– Soldering equipment if you build kits

Important differences!p ff

• MPG at U of C has evolved to be a set ofMPG at U of C has evolved to be a set of courses taught by an industry professional with over 10 years of experiencewith over 10 years of experience

• MPG Remote is a student‐led interest group where students gather to learn together Thiswhere students gather to learn together.  This is how MPG got started, however you have vast resources at the get go to help youvast resources at the get‐go to help you succeed

Turning the scorecard greeng g

• Improvements planned thisImprovements planned this year: help manage the show‐stopping obstacles soshow stopping obstacles so that you can get the MPG ball rollingball rolling

MPGR 2012: Resources

• www.engenuics.com/mpghome.php• Engenuics forum• www.facebook.com/Engenuics• mpg@engenuics.com• NEW! Google drive ready to share• NEW! Google drive ready to share• NEW! Google+ Hangouts• NEW! Engenuics Youtube channel• NEW! ECE chair support?NEW! ECE chair support?• NEW!  Local MPG alumni: don’t let them 

escape!• NEW!  You!• NEW! Jason: 403‐998‐1422, Skype: 

jason.r.long, Room 409• NEW! Train‐the‐trainer at SAC

MPGR 2012: Schedule

• Outline shows plan with events that must takeOutline shows plan with events that must take place (but there is flexibility).  

• OMG it starts now Yep• OMG it starts now.  Yep.• “We can’t do that.”  Secret: there is an “I” in TEAM A i l h iTEAM.  As simple as a choice.

MPGR 2012: Softwaref

• Detailed instructions on software installationDetailed instructions on software installation that can be provided to your IT with a USB stickstick.

• “It’s too late to change the builds on the PCs.”N it’ t– No it’s not.  

– Don’t be discouraged by                                inhibitors: find the enablers!inhibitors: find the enablers!

• Reference from U of C?

MPGR 2012: Advertisingg

• Sample MPG promotion posterSample MPG promotion poster• Steps for class announcementsS f i f i• Steps for info session

• Sign‐up sheets• Hard copies in booklet• Soft copies on GdriveSoft copies on Gdrive

MPGR 2012: Hardware

• IEEE SB collects money and orders fromIEEE SB collects money and orders from Engenuics: 10% discount  – use this for fundraising or IEEE member promotionfundraising or IEEE member promotion. 

• Parts price list: make this part of your display –build a “store” and become a reliable resourcebuild a  store  and become a reliable resource for students. F hi i b h fi d• Free shipping to branch on first order

MPGR 2012: Industry Sponsorsy p

• Raising money is hardRaising money is hard• Sample proposal: customize and then try it.

k h h h d• Let me know who you approach, how, and what their response was

• Ask for help

MPGR 2012: Tangible Incentives!g

• Want visible recognition / record of effort putWant visible recognition / record of effort put into MPG:– Co curricular record: MPG student– Co‐curricular record: MPG student– Co‐curricular record: MPG leader$500 student bursary– $500 student bursary

– $500 MPG lead bursarySt di $50 d i fil d– Standing $50 design profile award

• New to MPG Remote?  Free demo hardware!

MPG Remote

• Why this will work:Why this will work:– Engineering programs are similar across the country and students crave REAL skillscountry and students crave REAL skills

– IEEE students are notoriously motivated, intelligent, driven and recognize the value of thisintelligent, driven and recognize the value of this effort

MPG Remote

• Why this will work:Why this will work:– You have branch members looking for events and activities: MPG runs weekly all yearactivities: MPG runs weekly all year

– You don’t have any money: MPG is self‐sustaining– Your executive graduates and the branch– Your executive graduates and the branch dissolves: MPG promotes year‐over‐year engagement and grows virally.  Jason is driving g g g y ggrowth and promotion and, frankly, won’t go away for at least 5 years.

Deliverables

• Most important: communicationMost important: communication• The rest? See the checklist.  

G i t dd thl “t h ll ”– Going to add monthly “town halls”

Summaryy

• It is almost easy to get MPG goingIt is almost easy to get MPG going• Tons of resources

G li b h ff i• MPG compliments your branch offerings –don’t change your other plans!

• Tonight: hand me your slip of paper if you’re interested and introduce yourself. 

Win‐Win‐Win‐Win

• IEEESBsIEEESBs• GOLD

C d• IEEE Canada• Engenuics

The $5 Bill ExperimentPart 2

To do…

A little about JasonA little about JasonWhat in the world is MPG and why am I here?here?MPG Past to PresentPost mortem: MPG Remote 2011Post mortem: MPG Remote 2011Pre‐natal: MPG Remote 2012Vid (ti itti )• Video (time permitting)

• Questions

Video

• The Future is Ours: vimeo com/44658040The Future is Ours: vimeo.com/44658040• “The yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves ” Peterof something larger than ourselves.  Peter Diamandis, Founder, Chairman of X PRIZE

Q ti ?Questions?