Robotics Engineering Curriculum

Summary

This course introduces beginners to the field of Robotics; the students are progressively led from basic concepts to actual work with robots; students learn the history of robots; the work of early pioneers; the development of robots; the distinguishing features of robots such as an electronic brain, electronic sensors and mechanical extensors or arms; they get to create a mission algorithm for an actual robot and convert that to an actual program.

There are video sessions and discussion sessions to engage the students; there are personal assignments to students to come up with innovative ideas and areas of application for robots; there are also class activities when students interact with the real parts of a robot; students learn to assemble a simple robot and then send it on short missions; the emphasis is on doing; the class motto is “DO IT”.

What the students gain through this course:

Learn the difference between Robots and other Machines
Learn the History of robots: how humans fulfilled the dream for a Mechanical Man
Get to know the parts that make up a Robot: Robot brain, sensors, and extensors
Learn the Languages used to Program a Robot
Learn Basic commands for controlling a Robot
Get to work with an actual Robot
Learn how to convert a Mission Algorithm to an actual Program

Technical Takeaways:

Microcontrollers
Sensors
Actuators and Extensors
Arduino Programming Environment
Basic electronic Components
Simplified C Programming

Schedule	Exercises
Day 1: History and Uses of Robots	Origin of the word “Robot” and the term “Robotics” Human dreams of a Mechanical Man First steps to realizing the dream Early contributors to Robotics Modern Robots: Fanuc, Unimate, Kuka, and other Industrial Robots Modern Robots: Domestic Robots, Roomba and others Exploratory Robots: Robots in Space- The Mars Rovers Future of Robots and Robotics: Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence ACTIVITY 1: Watch videos of various Robots in Action ACTIVITY 2: Class discussion of human activities that Robots can handle in our Environment
Day 2: Definitions of a Robot	What is a Robot? What differentiates a Robot from other Automatic Machines Robot Brain: Microprocessors and Microcontrollers Robot Senses: Sensors- Visual, Aural, Position, and other sensors Robot Arms and Legs: Actuators, Extensors and Grippers Robot Power Sources: Batteries, Mains and Solar Power ACTIVITY 1: Hand out sample components of each part of a Robot; help class to identify, differentiate and define each component ACTIVITY 2: Show use of each component in demonstrations ACTIVITY 3: Class discussion of the parts and what has been learned; then a preview of next lesson
Day 3: Robot Brains	Definition of Microprocessors and Microcontrollers Languages of Microcontrollers Programming a Microcontroller The Arduino IDE: Setup and Use The Arduino Nano: A capable Robot “Brain” Arduino Libraries: A Leg-up in programming your Robot ACTIVITY 1: Show students how to control the Drive Motors with simple commands ACTIVITY 2: Class discussion on what has been learned and a preview of next lesson
Day 4: Robot Senses and Limbs: Sensors and Actuators	Definition of Sensors Human Proximity Sensor: The PIR Distance Sensor: The Ultrasonic Sensor Light Sensor: The LDR(Light Dependent Resistor) The Tilt Sensor ACTIVITY 1: Extracting Distance Information from the Ultrasonic Sensor ACTIVITY 2: Determining Human Presence from the PIR
Day 5: Putting it all together: Mission for our Robot	ACTIVITY 1: Class Discussion to define a mission for the Robot based on its capabilities ACTIVITY 2: Class writes an Algorithm for the Robot ACTIVITY 3: Instructor converts Algorithm into a working code for the Robot ACTIVITY 4: Field Testing the Robot and adjusting the Code ACTIVITY 5: Class defines a New Mission for Robot