MEng Mechatronic Engineering

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Mobile Robots and Autonomous Systems

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN30072
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit introduces students to the key concepts underpinning mobile robots and autonomous systems. Topics that are covered include kinematic modelling of wheeled and legged robots, perception, planning & navigation and techniques for state estimation.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Sensors & Instrumentation EEEN30242 Co-Requisite Compulsory
Mechatronic Analysis & Design EEEN30151 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Applied Mechanics & Industrial Robotics EEEN20282 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 2020/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.

The unit aims to:

Provide students with a broad introduction to mobile robots and autonomous systems. The key components of a mobile robot will be considered; locomotion, perception, localisation and navigation.

 

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Developed

Assessed

ILO 1

  • Summarize the key sub-systems of a mobile robot and illustrate them with examples.

X

X

ILO 2

  • Assess the benefits and limitations of different proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensing options for mobile robots.

X

X

ILO 3

  • Describe different strategies for mobile robot path planning and navigation.

X

X

ILO 4

  • Formulate kinematic models for wheeled robots and leg trajectories for gaits of legged robots.

X

X

ILO 5

  • Discuss the ethical considerations that surround the use of robotics in society.

X

X

ILO 6

  • Create MATLAB models using either simulated or real-world data.

X

X

ILO 7

  • Perform data analysis and present it in a professional format.

X

X

 

Teaching and learning methods

This unit is taught in the flipped style.  After the initial introductory lecture, students will study the weekly material prior to the timetabled session (notes and videos).  During the weekly session, the students will undertake practical (hardware/software-based) which will reinforce the material.

The exam/coursework split for this unit is 70/30.

 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 30%
Written exam 70%

Open-world online Examination

Duration: 3 hours

The examinaiton forms 70% of the total unit assessment.

Coursework

Practical laboratory with video submission

Duration: 3 hour lab + up to 7 hours self-study (10%)

Written assignment on ethics

Duration: Up to 20 hours self-study (20%)

The coursework forms 30% of the total unit assessment.

Feedback methods

Open-world online exam - departmental feedback form after the exam board.

Practical laboratory with video submission - 3 weeks after submission, individual and group feedback is provided.

Written assignment on ethics - 3 weeks after submission, individual and group feedback is provided.

Recommended reading

“Introduction to Autonomous Mobile Robots”, R. Siegwart, I. Nourbakhsh and D. Scaramuzza

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 1
Practical classes & workshops 3
Tutorials 18
Independent study hours
Independent study 78

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Simon Watson Unit coordinator

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