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From: pattis@uw-june.UUCP (Richard Pattis)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: programming contest for beginners? - (nf)
Message-ID: <3021@uw-june.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Aug-87 15:25:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: uw-june.3021
Posted: Wed Aug 26 15:25:37 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Aug-87 06:23:23 EDT
References: <18100004@infbs.UUCP> <4873@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <4866@utah-cs.UUCP>
Organization: U of Washington, CSCI, Seattle
Lines: 12
Summary: Another contest for programming classes

I've supplied students with a simulator for landing a probe on a planet
(like a 1-d lunar lander, but a few extra constraints) and asked students to
write an autopilot that can read the probe's status and decide how much fuel
to burn (again under more realistic constaints - like you can't have 0 fuel
at one moment and have it open full throttle the next and then return to
0 the next). At the end of the assignment I change the planet (new size, mass
atmosphere, etc.) and have a contest to see who can land with the most fuel.
Of course, most programs crash either the probe or themselves.  This can be
done in a beginning programming course if the students know a bit of physics
and are instructed in simple feedback loops.

Rich