CRAFT Overlay — D7 — Finite State Machines¶

Date: Tue 6/2

🌍 Contextualize¶

"FSMs control everything from vending machines to the Metro's automated train doors. The HP engineers you'll visit this afternoon use FSMs in their product firmware."

⚠️ Reframe¶

"If You're Thinking Like a Programmer: an FSM is a switch statement in a while loop. Reframe: An FSM is physical flip-flops holding state + combinational logic computing next state + combinational logic computing outputs. The 3-block pattern separates these three concerns."

🔑 Key Insight¶

"The 3-block FSM pattern (state register, next-state logic, output logic) isn't just a coding style — it maps directly to the three physical components of the circuit."

🤖 Check the Machine¶

"Prompt AI: 'Generate a Verilog FSM for a traffic light controller with pedestrian button.' Does it use the 3-block pattern? If not, what pattern does it use? Refactor it."

🔗 Transfer¶

"Tomorrow: hierarchy and parameters — making your FSMs and counters reusable. Then memory on Thursday."

Visit/Activity Connection¶

PM: HP Barcelona — Ask about AI-assisted design tools. How is AI changing their product development workflow?

Back to Barcelona Day Plan Baseline D7 Materials

This overlay supplements the baseline D7 daily plan. All lab exercises and lecture content come from the baseline D7 materials.