UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Fall 2009

CSC 190C - Explorations in Robotics

Course Schedule

Revised: 2009-11-29

Note that this schedule is somewhat tentative; I might add or drop topics, or change the time spent on any given topic, as circumstances dictate. Please consult this page regularly.

If you note any discrepancies with the U of R Academic Calendar, please notify Dr. Koomen immediately.
 

Date Topics Reading
Wed 9/2Lec 0 : First class meeting. Overview of the course. Introduction to computing and robots. Do the class questionnaire.---
Mon 9/7 L A B O R   D A Y 
Wed 9/9Lec 1 : Introduction to the Scribbler robot. How the computer talks to and controls the robot: Bluetooth wireless, computer, Python, Myro. Making the connection. Basic Scribbler commands: naming the robot, movements, etc.Chapter 1
Mon 9/14Lec 2 : Scribbler movement commands. Robots that dance and draw. Writing new commands using Python functions.Chapter 2
Wed 9/16Lec 3 : Basic Python syntax: names, comments. Doing calculations with programs: numbers, values, assignment.Chapter 3 through page 52
Mon 9/21Lec 4 : Structure of robot brain programs. Input statements. Basic repetition structures: timed, forever, and counting.Rest of Chapter 3
Wed 9/23Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 9/28Lec 5 : Sensing from within: Proprioception in the Scribbler: battery, stall, and time sensing. Examples of behaviors using proprioception. Loops with conditions: comparison operations and logical connectives in Python.Chapter 4
Wed 9/30Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 10/5 F A L L   B R E A K 
Wed 10/7Lec 6 : Sensing the world: camera, light, and proximity. Writing reactive behaviors: making decisions in Python. Sensing light and obstacles.Chapter 5, sections on camera and light sensors
Mon 10/12Lec 7 : Designing insect-like behaviors. Braitenberg vehicles. Functions that return values. Making decisions.Rest of Chapter 5, Chapter 6 through page 142
Wed 10/14Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 10/19Review---
Wed 10/21Exam I*** Everything before 10/21
Mon 10/26Lec 8 : Designing reactive behaviors. Other examples: refrigerator detective, burglar alarm robot, etc.Rest of Chapter 6
Wed 10/28Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 11/2Lec 9 : Behavior-based control.Chapter 7
Wed 11/4Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 11/9Lec 10 : Introduction to Computer Graphics.Chapter 8
sensor mapping (radar) demo
Wed 11/11Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 11/16Lec 11 : Image processingChapter 9
resize (aka shrink) picture demo
Wed 11/18Lab (Hylan 301)---
Mon 11/23Lec 12 : PerceptionMarsRover animations
Finding edges (sobel.py)
Wed 11/25 T H A N K S G I V I N G   B R E A K 
Mon 11/30Lec 13 : Artificial IntelligenceChapter 10
Wed 12/2Lec 14 : Topics in Computer ScienceChapter 11
Mon 12/7Review---
Wed 10/9Exam II*** Everything after 10/21
Thu 12/17Student Demos   (08:30-11:30)---