Fall 2014 |
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Instructor: Monica Nicolescu | ||||||||
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Time and Place | ||||||||
| Lectures: 9:30-10:45am, SEM 344 Labs: 9:30-10:45pm, LME 321 | ||||||||
Textbooks | ||||||||
| The Robotics Primer,
2007. (required) Author: Maja Mataric' |
 | Robotic Explorations: An Introduction to Engineering Through Design,
2001. (optional) Author: Fred G. Martin |
Course description |
| This is a hands-on course on introduction to robotics, relying on the use of LEGO-based robots. The course will present the basic concepts in robotics, such as sensors, actuators, and will describe the most important approaches to robot control. Students will have the opportunity to apply the concepts covered during the lectures in the laboratory sessions, by constructing their own robots and developing controllers for various robotic tasks. The class will have a lecture and a laboratory component. Each week, the lectures will be held on Tuesdays, and the laboratory sessions will be held on Thursdays. More details regarding the lectures and the laboratory sessions will be posted on the web page soon. |
Prerequisites |
| The class requires good programming skills and that you should be familiar with the C programming environment. For the undergraduate section, a letter grade of B+ and better in CS 201 is recommended. |
Laboratory | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The laboratory sessions will be focused on building and programming LEGO based robots.
Resources: NXC tutorial; NXC user guide; User manual (smaller scope than first two); Install. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Syllabus |
| Following are the topics that will be discussed, listed in the approximate order in which they will be covered. |
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Class schedule |
| The topics presented and the lecture notes for each class will gradually be posted below as we cover them in the class. The assignments and their due dates will also be posted in this table. Please check this web page regularly for updates. |
| Date | Topic | Readings | Assignments |
Aug 25 |
Introduction | --- | --- |
Sep 8 |
Brief history of robotics | --- | --- |
Sep 15 |
Effectors and actuators | --- | --- |
Sep 22 |
Locomotion, manipulation and the perceptual problem | --- | --- |
Sep 29 |
Perceptual problem (simple and complex sensors) | --- | --- |
Oct 6 |
No class today - moved to lab session. | --- | Hw1 |
Oct 13 |
Perceptual problem (complex sensors), feedback control, algorithmic control | --- | --- | Oct 20 |
Reactive architectures, behavior-based architectures | --- | --- |
Oct 27 |
MID-TERM | --- | --- |
Nov 3 |
Reactive Architectures, behavior based systems | --- | --- |
Nov 10 |
No class. | --- | --- |
Nov 17 |
Coordination and expression of behaviors, emergent behavior. | --- | --- |
Nov 24 |
Deliberative architectures, hybrid systems, robot learning | --- | Hw2 |
Dec 1 |
Robot Learning, multi-robot systems, future directions | Videos | --- |
Dec 8 |
Final exam - in class | --- | --- |
Assignments and grading | |||||||||||||||||||
| Evaluation for this class will be based on your performance during
the laboratory sessions, two mid-term exams and a final project. Regular participation in the
laboratory sessions is required. If you are unable to attend a lab session
you must inform me in advance.
Grading policy (tentative, subject to change):
Late policy: No late submissions will be accepted. Exam policy: Permission to take exams on other dates than scheduled will not be given, except for extreme medical emergencies. Academic integrity: Students are encouraged to study together, however each student must individually prepare his/her solutions. Cheating or plagiarism are not permitted and will be sanctioned according with the UNR policy on Academic Standards. You should carefully read the section on Academic Dishonesty found in the UNR Student Handbook (copies of this section are on-line). Your continued enrollment in this course implies that you have read it, and that you subscribe to the principles stated therein. Disability Services: Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me or the Disability Resource Center (Thompson Building, Suite 101) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations. Academic Success Services: Your student fees cover usage of the Math Center (784-4433 or URL), Tutoring Center (784-6801 or URL), and University Writing Center (784-6030 or URL). These centers support your classroom learning; it is your responsibility to take advantage of their services. Keep in mind that seeking help outside of class is the sign of a responsible and successful student. Audio and Video Recording: Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may have been given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments during class may be recorded.
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