91.450 Robotics I Fall 2003

Contact
Prof. Fred G. Martin
http://www.cs.uml.edu/~fredm/
fred_martin@uml.edu
Olsen 208 (office) x1964
Olsen 306 (lab) x2705

Schedule
Monday, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, OS 311 (lecture) and OS 306 (lab)
Friday, 1:30 – 2:20 pm, OS 306 (lab)

Office Hours
Monday 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Wednesday 1:30 – 3:00 pm

Web Site
http://www.cs.uml.edu/~fredm/courses/91.450/

Discussion Board
The class will use the ikonboard system for web-based threaded discussions of lectures, assignments, and other course-related material. All students are expected to create an account for themselves on the discussion board, and use it when appropriate. Before sending me a private email, please consider posting your question to the discussion board. Look for the link to the course board at the top of any course web page, in the pink resources menu.

Text
We will use two textbooks, Robotic Explorations: A Hands-On Introduction to Engineering, (C) 2001 by Fred G. Martin, ISBN 0130895687, Prentice-Hall, and An Introduction to AI Robotics, (C) 2000 by Robin R. Murphy, ISBN 0262133830, MIT Press.

(Click on each book’s cover image to go to its respective web site.)

Course Description
We will learn about mobile robots by building them. The course will make use of the LEGO Technics (R) construction system and the Handy Board robotics controller. In a series of labs, you will build and program a mobile robot. In the middle portion of the semester, a competitive robot contest event will be run. In the latter portion of the semester, students will design and implement a robotic system of their own conception.

Project Sequence
This course together with Robotics II in the spring is a project sequence.

Syllabus
Most work will be done in labs, which are due weekly. Here is the sequence of topics and projects:

• Lab 1: Introduction to the Handy Board. This lab will introduce work with the Handy Board, a Motorola 68HC11-based robotics controller that runs Interactive C. Also, in this lab you will build the first robot for class use, called the HandyBug. Due Fri, Sept 12.

• Lab 2: Introduction to Robot Programming. In this lab, we will program the Handy Bug to avoid obstacles by backing up and turning when one of the bump sensors is hit. Then we will modify the Handy Bug to include a light sensor so that it can follow a black line. Due Fri, Sept 19.

• Lab 3: Braitenberg Vehicles, Emergence, Meta-Sensing and Randomness. In this lab, we will learn about Valentino Braitenberg's ideas of evolving robots with wired programs, and other topics in biologically-inspired robot control. Due Fri, Sept 26.

• Lab 4: Wall-Following. In this lab, we will use a distance sensor and build a closed-loop feedback control to track the wall. Due Fri, Oct 3.

• Lab 5: Shaft Encoders and Gears. In this lab, we will continue the study of closed-loop control by employing shaft encoders. Also, we will focus on geartrain design and performance evaluation. Due Fri, Oct 10.

• Lab 6: Sonar Sensor and Servo Motors. In this lab, we will use the sonar sensor and a servo motor to create a robot that drives towards open space. Due Fri, Oct 17.

• Robot Contest: Egg Hunt. We will run a robot contest based on Rich Drushel's “Egg Hunt” design (see the CWRU LEGO 375/475 course web site). We will have a “mock contest” in lab on Monday, October 27 and the public contest on Monday, November 3. The contest report is due Friday, November 7.

• Student Projects. The last portion of the course is for open robotic project designs. These do not have to be mobile robots – any sort of project that involves sensing, control, and action is welcome. I am particularly interested in projects that directly involve human interaction with robotic system. The timeline for these projects is the following:
  • Wed, Nov 12 – project kickoff meetings (Monday classes this day)
  • Fri, Nov 21 – detailed project plan due
  • Mon, Dec 8 – open project demonstrations
  • Fri, Dec 12 – final project reports due

Exams
Midterm: Fri, Oct 24, in class
Final Exam: To be determined by the Registrar

Grading
revised Mon Dec 8 16:47:10 2003
Homework and Labs 30%
Midterm Exam 20%
Projects:
  Contest&Writeup 30%
  Final project 20%

Collaboration Policy
Labs will be done in groups of two students each. You may choose your own partners, but I reserve the right to regroup people as the term progresses. For the labs, I expect that each person will do his or her own equal share of the work. To learn, you must actually build and program the robots – not watch another person do it.

Homework assignments should be written up by yourself. You may discuss the questions with your classmates, but you must write them up individually.

Exams are also to be an individual proposition.

Robots
Students will work in pairs with with robot building kits provided in lab. All robot work will be done in lab; the robot kits are not to leave campus.

Lab
The lab is in Olsen 306. The door has an ID lock, so you will have 24 hour access to the lab via your UML ID. You must enter with your ID.

Each group will have their own workbench with a computer for building and programming their robots. This area will occasionally be shared with other people, so it is important to keep your workspace and the lab neat.

Food policy – food is permitted with the condition that all food must be cleaned up immediately at end of the work session in which it was consumed. Only bottled drinks with caps are permitted—no cans of soda. Violations will result in loss of food privileges. We have rodents in this building, so I have little tolerance for food mess.