Teach Engineering: Rotary Encoders & Human Computer Interaction

Students learn about rotary encoders and discover how they operate through hands-on experimentation. Rotary encoders are applied in tools to determine angle measurements and for translations of angular motion. One common rotary encoder application is in a computer's ball-type mouse--the ball itself is a type of rotary encoder. In this activity, students experiment with two rotary encoders, including one from a computer mouse and one created using a LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 kit. They collect data to define and graph the relationship between the motion of the rotary encoder and its output.