Purpose

There is no better way to discover the possibilities in engineering than to get your hands dirty on a technical project.  Like working on a home-improvement project, having the correct tools makes a world of a difference in the kind of work you can do.  At Basic Training, we will provide you with rudimentary tools to get started on technical work.

Additionally, these skills will be needed in the HAcK at Accelerator competition later in the summer.

What is Basic Training?

Basic Training is a series of workshops that will provide instruction on a set of design-skills and tools that students can use to work on technical projects.  Topics include: a) coding, b) circuits, sensors, and microcontrollers, c) Computer Aided Design (CAD), and d) prototyping and fabrication.

Workshops will be led by undergraduate Basic Training & HAcK mentors. 

Basic Training Schedule?

• Monday, June 24, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Welcome, Orientation, and skills-inventory,
• Tuesday, June 25, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding 1: Webdev using React.js
• Wednesday, June 26, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding 2: React.js & git
• Thursday, June 27, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – CAD 1: Intro to CAD: Sketching & Features Essentials
• Monday, July 1, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – CAD 2: Complex Modeling
• Tuesday, July 2, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – CAD 3: Assemblies & Drawings
• Monday, July 8, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Circuits 1: Intro to Circuits
• Tuesday, July 9, 2024 | 6 -9 PM – Circuits 2: Advanced Circuits
• Wednesday, July 10, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Circuit 3: Advanced Circuits continued
• Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding 3: Python
• Monday, July 15, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Raspberry Pi 1: Intro to Raspberry Pi
• Tuesday, July 16, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Raspberry Pi 2: Advanced Raspberry Pi
• Wednesday, July 17, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding Activity: Development in a team environment with git
• Thursday, July 18, 2024 | 6 – 9 PM – Engineering Design Process & Engineering Mindset
• Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 9 AM – 1 PM – Intro to UCLA Engineering MakerSpace (in-person) – Optional; but recommended for those participating in-person at HAcK)

Sessions are virtual with the exception of the in-person Intro to the UCLA Engineering MakerSpace day (see schedule above). Participants must attend all workshops.  Only those completing Basic Training will be invited to participate in HAcK.  Zoom session links are sent to registered participants-only.

Basic Training & HAcK mentors

Aniket Verma
Aerospace Engineering

Hello everyone! I’m Aniket, a rising Aerospace Engineering Junior at UCLA. I’m often described as a third culture kid (TCK), having been born in the US but raised in Delhi, India, with a stint in Singapore as well. During my sophomore year, I had the privilege of serving as one of the Engineering 96 Planes leads. Additionally, I’ve been involved in various engineering projects, including building my own electric go-kart and a Tilt-rotor Hexacopter. Beyond academics, I’m a tennis fanatic and enjoy playing the Indian Classical flute (Bansuri). I hope you all have a great experience this summer, and I’m looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you!

Ashley Juarez
Mechanical Engineering

Hello everyone!! My name is Ashley Juarez and I am a rising 3rd year Mechanical Engineering student. I’m from Compton, California and have also attended community college as a dual enrollment student during high school. During my time here at UCLA I have joined Bruin Formula Racing where I have worked in our powertrain team. (Previously we were an IC car but now we are EV!) I have experience in design and manufacturing through this club. I have also been involved in SWUG, Westwood SolidWorks User Group as a Workshop Lead. Here I have obtained my CSWA for SolidWorks and currently working to obtain my CSWP! (In this upcoming year I will be co-president!).  Ask me what all these acronyms mean!

Jaelyn Fan
Computer Science
Transfer from De Anza College

Hi there, my name is Jingwen Fan and I go by Jaelyn. I’m a 4th year computer science major at UCLA, expecting to graduate this fall. I’m also a transfer student from De Anza College, and a student staff working at the Engineering Transfer Center, so feel free to reach out if you have any questions about anything! I look forward to meeting you all!

Marvin Mok
Computer Engineering

Hi everyone! My name is Marvin and I’m a rising 3rd year Computer Engineering major. I’m interested in software, machine learning, and computer architecture. While at UCLA, I’ve done research identifying phones based on their Bluetooth signals using machine learning, participated in IEEE projects such as DAV and pocket racers, and just have learned so much in the past two years. Outside engineering, I love rock climbing, reading, and video games. I’m excited to work with everyone this summer!

Ryan Carney
Computer Science
Transfer from San Diego Mesa College

Hi! My name is Ryan Carney and first-year transfer majoring in Computer Science . I grew up in San Jose, but moved down to San Diego and enjoyed my first two years of the college experience at San Diego Mesa College. I enjoy working on developing different software projects in my spare time, but also enjoy going to the gym, playing sports with my friends, and hanging out with my dog.

I look forward to meeting you guys and am excited to help you along the journey!

Sina Ghadimi
Electrical Engineering
Transfer from West Valley College

Hey you all, My name is Sina and I transferred to UCLA in Fall of 2023 and am majoring in Electrical Engineering. I am originally from Iran but I live in San Jose. I am very excited to be your mentor this year and help you guys to learn new things. At UCLA I was part of BMES(Bio Medical Engineering Society) design team for a full quarter. I have done a lot of self directed projects and most of things I know are just from exploring YouTube and websites. Outside of school I love playing video games(mostly FPS lol), hanging out with friends or watching movies. I can’t wait to meet you all this Summer!

Registration Fee

Participant fee: $0 (free and open to the first 50 participants) –   A cancellation fee of $125 (to cover the costs of parts and supplies) will result if you drop out of Basic Training.  Participants will need to enroll in our Engineering 96 Summer Session and will receive a P/NP grade for completing Basic Training.  Campus has decided to waive the summer session fee for those that are invited to participate.

Student completing Basic Training will be invited to participate in the HAcK technical competition.

Deadline to apply: Friday, June 14, 2024

Supplies & Parts

Supplies and parts will be mailed to participants residing in the US via USPS on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Out of state and international participants – are encouraged to purchase their own supplies.  We will provide you a parts list for the training.

Basic Training parts-list (coming soon).

Basic Training session recordings, session slides, & resources

Welcome & Orientation | Monday, June 24, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)

Coding 1: Webdev using React.js | Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)
Ryan’s supplemental video on creating a personal website (below the session recording)

Coding 2: React.js & git | Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)
Supplemental video: keyboard interaction with React.js

Break for 4th of July holiday!

Circuits 1: Intro to Circuits | Monday, July 8, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)

Circuits 2: Advanced Circuits | Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)

Circuits 3: Advanced Circuits continued | Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (coming soon)

Coding 3: Python | Thursday, July 11, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)

Micro-controllers 1: Introduction to Raspberry Pi | Monday, July 15, 2024

Session slides
Setting up your Raspberry Pi Pico W
Session recording (to the left) 

Coding Activity: Development in a Team Environment | Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)

Engineering Design Process & Engineering Mindset | Thursday, July 18, 2024

Session slides
Session recording (to the left)

In-person Intro to UCLA Engineering MakerSpace | Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 9 AM – 1 PM
UCLA Engineering, Boelter Hall, Room 1805
(Optional; but, recommended for those participating in-person at HAcK. This will NOT be recorded)

Address to use for navigation: The Engineering 4 building address is 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Directions to Parking Structure 8: Take the Wilshire exit off the 405. Head east (or away from the ocean) off the freeway. Turn left on Westwood Blvd (~ the 3rd traffic light). Westwood Blvd turns into Westwood Plaza after Le Conte Avenue. Continue on Westwood past the UCLA hospital. The entrance to the roof top of Parking Structure 8 will be at the light after the intersection of Westwood and Charles E. Young Drive.  This is just before the UCLA parking kiosk that is located in the middle of the road on Westwood Plaza.  If you pass Strathmore, you have gone too far.  Take the ramp up to the roof top and look for a pay by the hour stall on the roof top.  Go to the parking kiosk and follow the directions on the kiosk to purchase your parking pass.  For information please visit the UCLA parking website: https://transportation.ucla.edu/campus-parking/visitors.

Walking Directions to the MakerSpace from Westwood Plaza: Locate Engineering 4 (420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA) which is at the intersection of Westwood Plaza and Strathmore Place.  Walk clockwise around Engineering 4 (between Engineering 4 and 5).  The building behind Engineering 4 is Boelter Hall.  The MakerSpace is located on the ground level.  Look for the Basic Training sign.

Attire & what to bring: Please bring your ID (only registered Basic Training participants will be allowed in) and some water.  Please wear closed-toed shoes, pants, and bring something to tie your hair up if you have long hair.  Please do NOT wear baggy clothing that could get caught in tools.