module specification

This module aims to provide students with the technical background and skills necessary to design and construct robotic devices. It reviews a selection of sensors and actuators that are commonly used in robotic products and provides students with practical experience in the design, construction and evaluation of relatively simple fixed and mobile robots. It also helps students develop an awareness of legal requirements governing robotics, including personnel, health & safety, intellectual property rights, product safety and liability issues. The module covers the necessary background through formal lectures/seminars followed by comprehensive hands-on practical workshops.

CT5003: Microprocessors and Embedded Systems (or equivalent) completed

Robotic systems, aerial drones, marine and land based robots;
Mobile robot differential and omni-directional drives, robot workspace and degrees of freedom;

Ultrasonic and IR distance sensors, shaft encoders, gyroscopes, accelerometers and digital video cameras;

Sensor interfacing, USB, SPI and I2C communication protocols
Actuators, DC, stepper and servo motors, power drivers and PWM;

Open loop control, closed loop feedback and PID control;
Autonomous robots and obstacle avoidance, mobile robot kinematics, maze exploration and path planning;

Simulation of Robotics using MATLAB, and Coppeliasim Simulator or Robot Operating System (ROS),

Program design, hardware implementation and physical device construction, maintenance and safe disposal of end-of-life products

Laboratory skills and safety, LSEP: legal, social, ethical and professional issues in context of robotics.

Students will develop understanding and practical investigative skills based on weekly lectures, tutorials and supervised workshops directed independent learning.  The teaching sessions will utilise examples/case studies as a platform for understanding basic principles related to robotics.

The workshops, in particular, are provided to support students in gaining practical experience in effective use electronic equipment and subsystems, within a specially equipped laboratory.

Appropriate blended learning approaches and technologies, such as, the University’s VLE, simulation tools and laboratory equipment will be used to facilitate and support student learning, in particular, to:
• deliver content;
• encourage active learning;
• provide formative and summative assessments and prompt feedback;
• enhance student engagement and learning experience.

Students will be encouraged to keep reflective commentaries on their learning activities and tasks that they carry out to complete their work in their practical portfolio. They are expected and encouraged to work individually and in groups to implement solutions their workshop exercises and coursework.

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

LO1. Acquire knowledge of characteristics of engineering materials, equipment and subsystems and use them appropriately in engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations.

LO2. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of technical literature and other information sources to design robotic products through theory examination and be able to identify/analyse ethical concerns of robots and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct.

LO3. Apply problem-solving skills, technical knowledge and understanding, to establish creative solutions that are fit for purpose for all aspects of robotic engineering including production, operation, maintenance and disposal as well as evaluating the environmental and societal impact of solutions.

LO4. Design solutions for complex problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer need as appropriate. Plan and manage the design process, including cost drivers, and evaluate outcomes alongside LO3 in form of a Practical Portfolio, Adopting a holistic and proportionate approach to the mitigation of security risks.

LO5. Develop an awareness of relevant legal requirements governing robotics, including personnel, health & safety, intellectual property rights, product safety and liability issues. This should include consideration for Equality, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/F9DED895-335B-1E02-AAF9-61B51C0D562F.html?lang=en-GB

Core Text:

Miller R., Miller M., (2017) Robots and Robotics: Principles, Systems, and Industrial Applications, McGraw-Hill Education, ISBN-13: 978-1259859786

Cicolani, J. (2018) Beginning Robotics with Raspberry Pi and Arduino: Using Python and OpenCV, Apress, ASIN: B07CM22485

Other Texts:

Staple, D. (2018) Learn Robotics Programming: Build and Control Autonomous Robots using Raspberry Pi3 and Python, Packt Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1789340747

Fairchild C., Harman L.T., (2017) ROS Robotics By Example - Second Edition: Learning to control wheeled, limbed, and flying robots using ROS Kinetic Kame, Packt Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1788479592

Corke, P. (2017) Robotics, Vision and Control: Fundamental Algorithms In MATLAB, Springer, ISBN-13: 978-3319544120

Craig, J.J., (2017) Introduction to Robotics: Mechanics and Control, Pearson, ISBN-13: 978-0133489798

Vaish, D. (2018) Python Robotics Projects: Build smart and collaborative robots using Python, Packt Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1788832922

McKinnon, P. (2016) Robotics: Everything You Need to Know About Robotics from Beginner to Expert, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN-13: 978-1523731510

Journals:
IEEE Transactions on Robotics: http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1931930~S1

Journal of Field Robotics: Online ISSN 1556-4967
https://0-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journal/15564967

Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Science Direct, ISSN 0921-8890
https://0-www-sciencedirect-com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journal/robotics-and-autonomous-systems/vol/112/suppl/C

Paul Bremner et al (2019), On Proactive, Transparent, and Verifiable Ethical Reasoning for Robots, Proceedings of the IEEE, DOI: 10.1109/JPROC.2019.2898267

Lindsay J. Robertson (2019), Engineering-Based Design Methodology for Embedding Ethics in Autonomous Robots, Proceedings of the IEEE, DOI: 10.1109/JPROC.2018.2889678

Websites:
University Library website- https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/

Electronic Databases:
IEEE Xplore / IET Digital Library (IEL) - https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/home.jsp

ACDM Digital Library - https://0-dl-acm-org.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/dl.cfm

Wiley Online Library - https://0-www-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/