RBT350: Gateway to Robotics

How to build, move and program your robot

 

Course Description

Robotics is a multi-disciplinary field that combines elements from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering and computer science. A full-fledged roboticist needs to be familiar with the fundamental concepts from each of these knowledge areas, from the lowest level construction and control to the most abstract planning, reasoning and learning, in order to best combine them and create more autonomous and efficient machines. This course provides an overview of the foundational elements of robotics. It covers topics from different disciplines organized in three parts: 1) how to build a robot (mechanics, materials), 2) how to make a robot move, and 3) how to program a robot.

Course Time and Location
Time: Tue/Thu 9:30 AM to 11 AM
Location: GDC 4.302

Online Platforms
Ed Discussion
Canvas
Gradescope

Instructor

Roberto Martín-Martín
OH: Wed 6-7 pm
Office: GDC 3.510
Email: robertomm [at] cs.utexas.edu

Teaching Assistants

Arpit Bahety
OH: 10:00-11:00 AM Wednesday
Location: GDC 3.416
Email: abahety [at] utexas.edu
Jiaheng Hu
OH: 5:00pm - 6:00pm (09/03, 09/17, 10/01, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12)
Location: GDC 3.518C
Email: jiahengh [at] utexas.edu

Learning Objective

This class is intended for undergraduate students admitted to the Robotics Minor and it should be one of the first courses they take for the program. The students from the minor (and in the gateway) should be passionate about gaining a generalist and multi-disciplinary knowledge of the field of robotics, beyond the knowledge they are acquiring in their respective majors. Through this course, students will:

  • Learn the foundational elements of robotics from different disciplines: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering and computer science;
  • Connect the foundational elements to each other to understand the different levels of abstraction of a robot and the role played by the elements of each discipline;
  • Apply the theoretical concepts to the fabrication, construction, test, control and program of a simple robotic leg/arm;

Prerequisites

Students are expected to have the following backgrounds:

  • Be admitted to the Robotics Minor
  • Familiarity with calculus, statistics, and linear algebra.
  • Knowledge from their own discipline: mechanisms, control theory, electronics, mechatronics, or programming.
  • Be passionate, patient, and fearless when working with robots.
  • Be willing to work in a group, bringing expertise and learning from others

Note: This course is mandatory for students admitted to the Robotics Minor. Due to the hands-on elements of it, the number of participants is strictly limited and preference will be given to students of the minor.