ECE 4160 - Fast Robots

(crosslisted) MAE 4190

Spring. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Co-meets with ECE 5160/MAE 5190.

K. Petersen.

The course focus is on systems level design and implementation of fast and dynamic autonomous robots. With the recent DIY movement, design of kinematic robots is largely becoming a software challenge. In dynamic robots, however, any latency or noise can be detrimental. We will design a fast autonomous car, explore dynamic behaviors, acting forces, sensors, and reactive control on an embedded processor, as well as the benefit of partial off-board computation. Students will learn how to derive design specifications from abstract problem descriptions and gain familiarity with rapid prototyping techniques, system debugging, system evaluation, and online dissemination of work.

Outcome 1: Students will learn how to robustly integrate systems consisting of electronics, software, and mechanics operating in the real world.

Outcome 2: Students will learn how to translate probabilistic control and planning methods to practical robots with hardware and processing constraints.

Outcome 3: Students will learn how to disseminate their work to their peers and an engineering audience.

Outcome 4: Students will learn how to predict the likely social and environmental effects of their design.