Elective in Robotics

Elective in Robotics 2010/2011

Prof. Giuseppe Oriolo (coordinator)

Warning: this is the webpage of EiR 2010/2011. In 2011/2012, EiR will be coordinated by Marilena Vendittelli. Check her webpage for updated information.

Information

schedule	October 2010 - June 2011 4 hrs/week, 24 weeks, 96 hrs total (12 ECTS credits)
coordinator office hours	Thu 14:00-16:00, room A211, DIS, Via Ariosto 25
coordinator e-mail	oriolo [at] dis [dot] uniroma1 [dot] it

Audience

Students of the Master in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (MARR) at the Dipartimento di Informatica e Sistemistica of the Università di Roma "La Sapienza". Other possible students include those of the Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria dei Sistemi (MSIR) and of the Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Elettronica (MELR).

Objective

The course presents a selection of recent topics in advanced robotics as an introduction to work and research in the field.

Contents

The course, which gives 12 ECTS credits, is organized in 4 modules. Each module consists of a series of lectures/seminars given by internal or external researchers in the field. For 2010/2011, the modules will be the following:

Module 1 (October 18 - December 6, 2010): Locomotion and haptic interfaces for VR exploration (Alessandro De Luca)
Module 2 (March 14 - April 18, 2011): Robot motion planning: Combinatorial issues via control theory (Jean-Paul Laumond, LAAS/CNRS, Toulouse)
Module 3 (April 29 - May 30, 2011): Modeling and control of a quadro-rotor UAV (Marilena Vendittelli)
News: Due to the longer duration of Modules 2 and 3 as well as to a number of class cancellations (elections etc), there is virtually no space left for Module 4 (Multi-robot coordination by Giuseppe Oriolo). This module is therefore cancelled for 2010/11.

For additional details and material, access the webpage of the individual modules by following the above links, which will be activated in due time.

Prerequisites

A general background in robotics (kinematics, dynamics, planning, control), as given for example in Robotics 1, Robotics 2, and Autonomous and Mobile Robotics, is desirable but not mandatory.

Grading

To obtain 12 credits for Elective in Robotics (EiR) it is necessary to complete the 4 modules that make up EiR. To complete a single module, after attending classes, one may either give a presentation on a certain topic (based on technical papers) or complete a small project (typically involving simulations). Altogether, each student should give two (2) presentations and complete two (2) projects. A grade will be assigned based on an average of the single grades. To register the final grade, sign-up via Infostud is required.

News: A list of projects that simultaneously cover modules 2, 3 and 4 is available. To choose a particular project, send an e-mail message to the coordinator of the course, indicating the members of the group. Since a FIFO policy is used, indicate two backup choices. Send your requests not later than April 30.

Master Theses at the Robotics Laboratory

Master Theses on the topics studied in this course are available at the Robotics Laboratory. More information can be found here.

Questions/comments: oriolo [at] dis [dot] uniroma1 [dot] it