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 9/2 | Lec 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 9/9 | Lec 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 9/14 | Lec 2 : Scribbler movement commands. Robots that dance and draw. Writing new commands using Python functions. | Chapter 2 |
| Wed 9/16 | Lec 3 : Basic Python syntax: names, comments. Doing calculations with programs: numbers, values, assignment. | Chapter 3 through page 52 |
| Mon 9/21 | Lec 4 : Structure of robot brain programs. Input statements. Basic repetition structures: timed, forever, and counting. | Rest of Chapter 3 |
| Wed 9/23 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 9/28 | Lec 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 9/30 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 10/5 | F A L L B R E A K | |
| Wed 10/7 | Lec 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 10/12 | Lec 7 : Designing insect-like behaviors. Braitenberg vehicles. Functions that return values. Making decisions. | Rest of Chapter 5, Chapter 6 through page 142 |
| Wed 10/14 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 10/19 | Review | --- |
| Wed 10/21 | Exam I | *** Everything before 10/21 |
| Mon 10/26 | Lec 8 : Designing reactive behaviors. Other examples: refrigerator detective, burglar alarm robot, etc. | Rest of Chapter 6 |
| Wed 10/28 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 11/2 | Lec 9 : Behavior-based control. | Chapter 7 |
| Wed 11/4 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 11/9 | Lec 10 : Introduction to Computer Graphics. | Chapter 8 sensor mapping (radar) demo |
| Wed 11/11 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 11/16 | Lec 11 : Image processing | Chapter 9 resize (aka shrink) picture demo |
| Wed 11/18 | Lab (Hylan 301) | --- |
| Mon 11/23 | Lec 12 : Perception | MarsRover 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 11/30 | Lec 13 : Artificial Intelligence | Chapter 10 |
| Wed 12/2 | Lec 14 : Topics in Computer Science | Chapter 11 |
| Mon 12/7 | Review | --- |
| Wed 10/9 | Exam II | *** Everything after 10/21 |
| Thu 12/17 | Student Demos (08:30-11:30) | --- |