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Robotics Design and Construction - ELE00098H

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Mark Post
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

This module prepares students for study and work across the domain of robotics with particular attention to robotic mobility, sensing and human/robot interaction. It aims for a facility and competence in modelling, design, construction, and implementation.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To introduce the field of Robotics with the basics of sensing, actuation, and motorised control

  • To describe the main classifications and types of mobile robots including wheeled robots, swimming robots, flying robots, space robots legged robots, and humanoid robots

  • To explain the use of perception and localization by sensing and sensor fusion

  • To explore the ethics and safety requirements of Robotics and AI

Graduate skills aims:

  • To introduce the fundamentals of robotic systems and their requirements in terms of design, construction and operation

  • To define how robots perceive the world and how they fit into society, industry, and science

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Be able to describe common sensors, actuators and controllers used in robotics

  • Explain the principles of mechatronic systems and their control

  • Describe how to combine multiple sensors to achieve comprehensive awareness

  • Explain the principles of object location and localization

  • Discuss issues involved in robot design and control

Graduate skills learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Design, construct, and control mobile robots capable of basic navigation

  • Define the requirements and basic functionality of a robot and its interfaces based on a set of high level goals and an understanding of the application

  • Apply appropriate guidelines to the safety, social, and ethical use of robots

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Source Code : Source Code and Demonstration		 N/A 70
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Essay/Coursework : Demonstration		 N/A 20
Practical
Laboratories : Laboratories		 N/A 10

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The coursework builds on content from the practicals, so by completing the labs, students will gain the skills and experience necessary to do the coursework. The coursework is broken down into four phases of practical work derived from skills developed in the laboratory that are assessed through both review of the program code submitted by students and commented appropriately for their robots, and through critical observation of the quality and performance of their robots while completing the tasks set for them in the laboratory. A fifth phase of work requires the students to present the design and construction work they have done, explain the problems they have solved, and critically reason about the quality of their results to their supervisors and peers, followed by the demonstration of their knowledge in a question and answer session.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Source Code : Source Code and Demonstration		 N/A 70
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Essay/Coursework : Demonstration		 N/A 20

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Formative Feedback:

Lab work with spoken feedback and problem-solving, and immediate help given by lab demonstrators during lab sessions.

Workshops held every week that allow students to ask questions and get immediate feedback on their progress in lecture study and coursework.

Summative Feedback:

Feedback forms with a detailed breakdown of grades provided at the assessment of coursework which occurs at the end of term, returned to the students with grades.

Indicative reading

All needed material is provided in the lectures, workshops, and labs. Students may want to refer to the following for additional information:

Bruno Siciliano , Lorenzo Sciavicco , Luigi Villani , Giuseppe Oriolo. “Robotics: Modelling, Planning and Control”.

Advanced Textbooks in Control and Signal Processing (C&SP), Springer-Verlag London, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-642-1

Thomas Bräunl. “Embedded Robotics: Mobile Robot Design and Applications with Embedded Systems”. Springer Berlin, Heidelberg, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70534-5

Sebastian Thrun, Wolfram Burgard and Dieter Fox. “Probabilistic Robotics”. MIT Press, 2005.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.