Course COM310 Robotics:
TR 1:15 - 2:30 Winthrop Annex
Professor:
Gary Parker
Winthrop Annex (ext. 5208)
parker@conncoll.edu
Text and Software:
Text:Readings will be assigned in class
Software:We will use the software provided with the BASIC Stamp to do controller programming. The software used for learning programs will be determined at that time in the class. Emacs for program editing is available on all Sparc workstations. Emacs can be obtained from GNU Software at: ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/emacs/
Web Page:http://cs.conncoll.edu/com310
Office Hours:
Winthrop Annex: Tues, Thurs: 3:00 - 5:30
Course Description:
Introduction to the design and control of autonomous robots. Design issues such as wheels verses legs, actuator placement, the use of sensors for perception, controller selection, and wiring will be covered. Students will develop control schemes and use programming skills and machine learning to generate programs for controllers.
Discussion:
This course introduces robotics in two ways. The first is through discussions of standard practices and issues involved in robot construction. You will be required to do some research to find applicable papers and present your findings. In addition, you will have reading assignments that will be discussed in class. The second way robotics is introduced is through hands-on construction. You will (individually or in a team) build a robot with a controller and sensors. The typical class will be a combination of lecture, discussion, student presentations, and/or debates over current issues in robotics, with the remainder of the period dedicated to robot construction.
Grading:
Presentations |
10% |
Class Discussion |
25% |
Project |
40% |
Robotics Notebook |
25% |
Presentations:You will make a formal presentation on a technical paper you find that is pertinent to an assigned subject (15 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions). In addition, there will be other shorted assigned presentations.
Class Discussion:This portion of the grade includes your class participation, your readiness to defend assigned issues during scheduled debates, and thoughtfulness of comments/questions dealing with the reading assignments.
Project:The projects will be graded at two intermediate checkpoints (after the construction of the body is complete and after the controller/sensors are added) and at the completion of the course. Projects can be done individually or in teams.
Robotics Notebook:This notebook is for you to organize and summarize what you have learned about Robotics. It is to have a summary paragraph about each topic that we cover, a copy of the assigned readings marked with your notes and/or comments, a couple paragraphs describing your opinion of the paper and the other paper presented in class, and notes on construction for the week. The notebooks are to be done individually.
Note:
If you have a physical or mental disability, either hidden or visible, which may require classroom, test-taking, or other reasonable modifications, please see me as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, please be sure to register with Susan L. Duques, Ph.D., in the Office of Student Disability Services, at Extension 5428.