Delivery Type	Delivery length / details
Lecture	20 Hours.
Practical	6 hours

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Exam	2 Hours	100%
Supplementary Exam	Will take the same form, under the terms of the Department's policy

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

display an understanding of the factors involved in the selection of basic robotic equipment for specific applications.

demonstrate an understanding of the problems charactertistic of the discipline and particularly by selection of appropriate techniques used to solve them.

have a crtical understanding of how A.I. can be applied generally to robotics.

appreciate the problems associated with programming and controlling real physical robots.

Brief description

This course introduces the important elements of robotics through automated flexible assembly and mobile robots. The emphasis of the material is to provide an understanding of the software aspects of robotic systems and other computer-based automation. The particular challenges of this area are presented along with the techniques currently available to tackle them, including the application of several Artificial Intelligence techniques.

Aims

This module is intended for students with no prior robotics experience, but with some knowledge of Artificial Intelligence. Students are introduced to the important elements of robotic hardware and software through mobile robots and manipulator arms.

The emphasis of the material is to provide an understanding of the software component of robotic systems along with an appreciation of the hardware aspects, and the interaction of the two. Current programming control architectures are introduced and examined.

The supervised practical sessions are designed to give the students hands-on experience with physical robots. This gives the students an appreciation of the inherent problems associated with controlling robots in the real world.

Content

1. Introduction to Intelligent Robotics - 2 Lectures

Introduction to the nature of the robotics problem, with current example systems.

2. Mobile Robots - 2 Lectures

Overview of mobile robots; methods of locomotion and control.

3. Sensors and Perception - 2 Lectures

Current sensing technologies and the perception problem.

4. A Mobile Robot Case Study - 1 Lecture

Introduction to a mobile robot; components, control and programming.

5. Manipulator Arms - 5 Lectures

Overview of manipulator arms; arm components, kinematic control, PID control.

6. Control Architectures -8 Lectures

Reactive, deliberative and hybrid architectures; concepts, benefits and example systems.

Course Delivery

Assessment

Learning Outcomes

Brief description

Aims

Content

Reading List

Notes