Computer Science 014 LEGO Robot Engineering Williams College Winter 2007

Agenda

• Welcome!
• Administrative Details
  • Syllabus
  • Course web page
  • Schedule
  • Groups
• Robots
  • Definitions
  • Categories
    • Manipulators (robotic arms)
    • Mobile Robots (rovers)
    • Hybrids (C3PO)
  • Real-world complications
    • inaccessibility - sensors are imperfect and have limited range
    • nondeterminism - will wheels slip, batteries weaken?
    • effects of actions may change over time
    • robot needs to know when to "think" and when to act quickly
  • Historical and current uses
    • manufacturing (since 1961, 1 million+ robots now in use)
    • transportation
    • hazardous environments
    • exploration
    • health care
    • personal services
    • human augmentation
  • Robot parts
    • Effectors
      • change the environment, using an actuator
      • convert software signals into physical motion
      • motors, for example
      • used for locomotion or manipulation
    • Sensors
      • passive vs. active
      • cameras, touch sensors, sonar
  • Locomotion
    • legged motion
    • wheels/treads
  • Manipulation
    • six degrees of freedom in space
• Lab tasks: soldering and testing