Unit information: Robot Mechanics, Intelligence and Programming (UWE, UFMFPC-30-M) in 2014/15

Unit name	Robot Mechanics, Intelligence and Programming (UWE, UFMFPC-30-M)
Unit code	EMATM0014
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Mayol-Cuevas
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is provided by UWE

This module focuses on three fundamental aspects of robots;

• The mechanics of robot bodies; kinematic properties and algorithms
• Intelligent control techniques
• Programming

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories and techniques required to analyse and synthesise a robot manipulator for a variety of tasks including serial and parallel manipulators.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the critical features of intelligent and adaptive systems, basic and compound architectures.
• Demonstrate programming skills and the importance of a risk-driven and test-focused approach to successful software development; levels of abstraction in software development; common reasons for failure in software projects, and mitigation techniques.
• Demonstrate familiarity with commonly used tools and techniques to enable the efficient solution of mechanics and design problems.
• Demonstrate management of information through finding, assessing and using technical literature and other information sources.

Teaching Information

Scheduled learning:

Sessions will include lectures (2 hours per week) and intensive workshops – practical sessions (4 hours per week).

Independent learning:

Includes hours engaged with essential reading, case study preparation, assignment preparation and completion etc. Students will be expected to spend about 150 hours outside of the scheduled times in these activities.

Assessment Information

Component A Consists of two assessments: A1. An online exam for the programming part of the module (50%) A2. A written exam on the kinematics and control and A1 topics. (50%)

Component B

Consists of one assessment.

B1. The student will be required to submit a report of not more than 4000 words based upon practical work. This report will cover practical work in kinematics and a selected intelligent control technique. (100%)

The %age weighting between components A and B is as follow:

Component A 75%

Component B 25%

Reading and References

Essential Reading:

• J Craig (2005), Introduction to Robotics, Prentice Hall
• JP Merlet ‘Parallel Robots’
• Programming Python [Paperback] by Mark Lutz. Publisher: O’Reilly Media; 4 edition (October 15, 2010). ISBN-10: 0596158106
• The C Programming Language (2nd Edition) [Paperback] by Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis Ritchie, publ. 22 Mar 1988. ISBN-10: 0131103628

Students are encouraged to explore the titles listed in the further reading list or find their own authorities on these topics. Students are expected to identify other reading relevant to their chosen topic for themselves. They will be required to read widely using the library search, a variety of bibliographic and full text databases, and internet resources. Many resources can be accessed remotely e.g. online journals and conference papers. The purpose of this further reading is to ensure students are familiar with current research, classic works and material specific to their interests from the academic literature.

Further Reading:

• Making Things Talk; Practical Methods for Connecting Physical Objects, by Tom Igoe. Publisher Make; 1 edition (September 28, 2007), ISBN-10: 0596510519
• Programming Interactivity: A Designer’s Guide to Processing, Arduino, and Openframeworks by Joshua Noble. Publisher: O’Reilly Media. ISBN-10: 0596154143
• 30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius, by Simon Monk. Publisher McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (July 28, 2010), ISBN-10: 007174133X
• Arduino Cookbook by Michael Margolis. Publisher: O’Reilly Media; 1 edition (October 15,2010), ISBN-10: 0596802471
• Test Driven Development: By Example, by Kent Beck. Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (November 18, 2002), ISBN-10: 0321146530
• Just Enough Software Architecture: A Risk-Driven Approach, by George Fairbanks. Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (21 Sep 2010), ISBN-10: 1439812349
• Nie & Linkens (1995). Fuzzy-Neural Control: Principles, Algorithms and Applications, Prentice Hall (ISBN 0133379167)
• White & Sofge (1992). The Handbook of Intelligent Control, Van Nostrand-Reinhold
• Beal, R & Jackson, T (1990). Neural Computing – an introduction, Adam Hilger
• Rao & Rao (1995). C++ Neural network and Fuzzy Logic, 2nd Edition, MIS (ISBN 15585515526)
• Brown & Harris (1994). Neurofuzzy Adaptive Modelling and Control, Prentice Hall (ISBN 0131344536)
• Miller, Sutton & Werbos (1991). Neural Networks for Control, MIT Press
• Arbib, M.A. (1995). The Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks, MIT Press
• Design tool user manuals e.g. MATLAB 6.2 Fuzzy, Neural Network, and Simulink Toolboxes