53-777 Physical Computing: Fundamentals

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

Have you ever wanted to bring your digital ideas into the physical world—to make something you can touch, press, or wear? In this course, you'll learn how to build full systems, with computation, electronics, and materials coming together. You will explore the fundamentals of fabrication (such as laser cutting and 3D printing) and physical computing (including sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers). Through readings, discussions, and hands-on lab work, you'll gain both conceptual understanding and technical fluency in designing and building interactive physical systems. By the end of the semester, you will have prototyped several projects that blend hardware, software, and fabrication—culminating in a final piece of your own design. No prior experience is required, and this class can be taken as a complement to Mini-3: Introduction to Arduino!

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Spring 2026

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