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

LO1

Robotic systems, aerial drones, marine and land based robots;

Mobile robots differential and omni-directional drives, robot workspace and degrees of freedom;

LO2

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;

LO3-LO4

Open loop control, closed loop feedback and PID control;

Autonomous robots and obstacle avoidance, mobile robot kinematics, maze exploration and path planning;

LO3-LO4

Simulation and Robot Operating System (ROS)

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

LO5

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 of 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 to 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 effectively to build robotic products;

LO2:  Demonstrate an understanding of the use of technical literature and other information sources to design robotic products through theory examination;

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;

LO4:  Plan and manage the design process, including cost drivers, and evaluate outcomes alongside LO3 in form of a Practical Portfolio;

LO5:  Develop an awareness of relevant legal requirements governing robotics, including personnel, health & safety, intellectual property rights, product safety and liability issues.

The module is assessed by two main assessment instruments. The first is an unseen final-exam, which covers basic principles and technical concepts behind electronic components and subsystems, as well as LSEP, IP and liability issues. It mainly assesses learning outcomes LO1, LO2 and LO5.

The second assessment for this module is a Practical Portfolio, which may include record of the laboratory exercises in the form of a logbook, robotic artefact/report or viva, depending on the size of the class and available resources. Laboratory logbook helps students to reflect on their experiments which are closely linked with the materials covered in the formal lectures on a regular basis. It also serves as a reference when they encounter technical issues while implementing their robotic case study. Practical Portfolio is mainly used to assess learning outcomes LO3 and LO4.

During laboratory sessions students have opportunity for one-to-one interaction and feedback on their practical work as well as laboratory safety and LSEP issues.

Consistent with University policy, formative and summative feedback will be provided at various points throughout the teaching period.

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/