Methods and Systems for Self-Test of Educational Electronics:

We now disclose methods and systems for enhancing individual construction of electronics, including through additional electronics and/or firmware providing for step-by-step test and confirmation of successful assembly steps, with the additional electronics and/or firmware performing measurement, assessment, diagnosis, confirmation, recommendation, explanation, documentation, and guidance data to the builder.

In the context of the present application, a system that an individual electronics builder can construct (a constructible system) will tend to involve some or all of the following. First, such a system generally will not require robot pick-and-place and soldering apparatus to install electronic components. Rather, the system will comprise parts that are possible to see, that have readable markings, and for which human fingers are sufficient to handle, position, hold in place, and attach with manual tools. Attachment should be possible using reasonably non-toxic materials (such as solvents, glues, solder) and in conventional home or office ambient physical environments (no clean room or deadly gases, no extremely high or low temperatures required). Parts should be identifiable and distinguishable with the naked eye or with commercially available low-power magnifying tools. Assembly should be reliable, that is, parts must be designed with connecting components and tolerances that cause them to fit together properly so as to meet the physical and operational specification of the product each and every time they are assembled, including by non-expert and first-time builders of all ages, including youths who may lack prior assembly experience and elderly who may have vision or dexterity challenges.