This Week

Schedule

Grading

Resources

TEXT

No textbook but purchase the class kit from the bookstore.

Reference book: Physical Computing

 

TIME AND PLACE

T 6-8:30PM

RRO 210

INSTRUCTORS

J. Dean Brock

RRO 221A

TBD

828.251.6446

brock at unca.edu

 

Rebecca Bruce

RRO 220

M,W,F: 1-2pm

828.251.6446

rbruce at unca.edu

 

 

DESCRIPTION
In this course, students will become familiar with Embedded Robotics with an objective of competing in the IEEE Southeastcon Robotics Competition. Students will learn programming of embedded controllers (Arduino and Raspberry Pi), interfacing of sensors (inertial measurement unit, light & color, and color video camera), the actuation of servo motors, serial communications (I²C and xBee), and the control of autonomous robotics systems.

Student will program in both the Arduino and Linux environment, and practice lower-level programming using the C language. Concepts and methodologies will be demonstrated in class with sample code and the students will expand on these further during in class exercises.

Upon completion of this course, students will have an integrated hardware/software understanding of embedded robotic systems in preparation for competition in the IEEE Southeastcon Robotics Competition.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Develop problem-solving skills including quantitative reasoning and critical thinking by developing microcontroller algorithms.
2. Understanding the design and use of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor for robot navigation.
3. Understanding the design and use of a color camera for robot navigation.
4. Understand and use the I²C and xBee communication protocols.
5. Understand and use microcontroller digital and analogue I/O.
6. Configure and program a Arduino.
7. Configure and program a Raspberry Pi in C.
8. Understand and apply the principles of project management.
9. Understand the basic principles of robot locomotion including gear ratios, DC motors and servos.
10. Understand the design and control of electro-mechanical systems.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Failure to do so will impact your class exercise grade and will be considered a lack of interest in success on the part of the student. Students are responsible for completeing all work missed due to class absense on their own.

1 HR.VS 3 HR CLASS STRUCTURE
Students taking this course for three credit hours will meet every week and will have homework assignments throughout the semester. They will also be responsible for material not presented to students taking the course for 1 credit hr. This material includes sensor data processing and display, development of a web server, and image processing.

Students taking this course for one credit hour will not meet every week as shown in the syllabus below. They will not have homework assignments except assignments given in place of class. The time required for each such homework will not exceed the time of a class.

CLASS PHILOSOPHY
We believe that it is essential to play with technology, exploring different possiblities directly in hardware and software. We believe that exploration should be self-guided to the largest extent possible. Creativity is fostered by self-guided exploration. In order to incourage creativity, this class strives to offer the nine dimensions of a climate for innovation (Prather, C. W., 1996).

• RESOURCES
  1. Idea Time
  2. Idea Support
  3. Challenge and Involvement
• PERSONAL MOTIVATION
  1. Trust and Openness
  2. Playfulness and Humor
  3. Absence of Interpersonal Conflicts
• EXPLORATION
  1. Risk-Taking
  2. Debates About the Issues
  3. Freedom

Aug 13, 2013