This course is for graduate students who have some familiarity with robotics and would like project experience with robotic and vision systems. The course will explore current topics and applications to flexible, automated manufacturing. The course emphasizes integration problems and techniques for fine motion control, calibration, acquisition of sensory data and programming. Additional lectures will cover research issues such as dexterous manipulation, haptic sensing and force control. The course grade is based mainly on lab projects & presentations.
The lectures consist mainly of presentations on state-of-the-art applications or research topics (which we hope will become state-of-the-art applications in a few years). The goal is to introduce these topics and to get the class thinking about relevant issues while working on the projects. Most of the presentations will be given by student teams, with background materials and coaching provided by the instructor.
The heart of the course is a series of four laboratory projects in which you will obtain experience with robotic equipment and an appreciation for what goes into programming a robust, event-driven robotic application. The first three projects are fairly structured. The fourth is open-ended and can lead in several directions, depending on the inclinations of your team. Due to limited equipment availability, you will be working on the projects in teams of 2-4 people.
Presentation is a part of this course. Your group will do a formal demonstration/presentation of your solution to the fourth laboratory project + informal demonstrations of the first three projects. You will also get involved in one research or development topic for presentation in one of the weekly lectures.