Date

Class: Monday, 4:30pm to 6:10pm

Homework

Class: Thursday 4:30pm to 6:10pm

Homework

--, 1/24

Introduction to subject and course. Variability.

Take survey

1/28,1/31

Work in teams to build standard robot.

Create iconic program: sound, forward, sound.

Posting(s)

Levels of language. Exercise. Motors. Actuators. Sensors. Basic physics. Event driven programming. NXT-G logic.

Mechanics tutorial: write summary.

2/4, 2/7

Motors and sensors in Mindstorms.

Move vs. motor.

Add touch sensor to robots. Program.

Formulate new (small) robot application. Can do programming in computer lab.

Posting(s)

Types of manufacturing. Fabrication versus assembly. Miniaturization. Industrial examples. Car painting. Safety/health issues. Hard (fixed) automation vs. robotics vs. manual operation.

Posting(s)

2/11, 2/14

Add light sensor. Calibration. Robot follows line.

Posting(s)

Anthropomorphic fallacy. Very brief discussion of AI. Illusions of intelligence. Histor systems. Google search.

Identify instances of problems with human solution same & with human solution very different.

2/18, 2/21

Followup discussion on problems.

Add ultrasonic (proximity) sensor. Robot follows wall.

  Posting(s)

Sound sensor. Program robot to stop on command.

Posting(s)

2/25, 2/28

Coordinate systems. Articulated joints. Kinematics and reverse kinematics. Location and orientation.

Posting(s)

Program robot finding objects using appropriate sensor(s), including rotation sensor.

Robot: creation of file for later upload.

Work on strategies for mapping challenge.
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3/3, 3/6

3D CAD. Use in applications: Robodoc project. Circuit Board testing. Google SketchUP. Lego Digital Designer (if Mindstorms bricks available)

Prepare model using Google SketchUP.

Continue with mapping challenge.

MyBlocks. Macro vs. function.

  Build new robot with claw.

Posting(s)

Continue work on Google SketchUp project: due next class.

3/10, 3/13

Levels of language. Collisions. Movement in crowded workspace.

Study for midterm

MIDTERM

  Have a great Spring break. Think about library research project.

3/24, 3/27

Go over midterm. Brief survey: home health care, autonomous vehicles, space exploration, art installation, soccer, camera control, vacuuming, mail delivery. Critical issues driving designs.

Post proposal for (library) research project.

Catch up: grabber, mapping, sound exercises?, point turns.

Challenge: find parking space and park (use MyBlock).

Posting(s)

3/31, 4/3

Lab: Bluetooth communication. Catch up/review switch block, arithmetic, loop.

Prepare team report on assignment.

Lab:: program application with use of MyBlocks to detect and distinguish between objects. Pick up and transport.

Complete library research project.

4/7, 4/10

Reports on library research projects.

 Posting(s), including comments on presentations.

Continue reports as needed.

Posting(s), including comments on presentations

4/14, 4/17

Brain storm project ideas. Programming considerations for space, debugging.

Prepare proposal for robot project.

Present proposals. Discussion.

Posting(s)

4/21, 4/24

Finish presentations.

Posting(s)

Work session.

Posting(s)

4/28, 5/1

Lecture: robot locomotion: walking, crawling, rolling. Work session.

Posting(s)

Lecture: tele-presence. Report on sensing discrepancies: position versus penetration.Work session.

Prepare presentation on robot project.