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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
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| CMPSCI 603 |
Robotics |
Spring 2009 |
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Course Information
Robotics is a broad discipline that dates back at least to Homer's Iliad
(850 BC) and since that time, scholars have been debating how brains and
bodies are related to minds .
With the advent of modern digital computers and foundations in artificial
intelligence, robotics has become an important tool for studying ourselves.
It is building bridges to psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science.
Now robots can learn, form representations of the world, and make decisions
about how to act.
This class is designed as a second course in robotics in which we
review mathematical descriptions of robot bodies (kinematics,
dynamics, control, sensors, and signals) and discuss how embodiment
influences perception, cognitive organization, and computational perspectives
on robot minds (memory, learning, development, dexterity).
Students will experiment with system identification and control,
signal processing, path planning, and prehensile behavior---a hallmark of
primate behavior and a distinctive aspect of human intelligence. During the
semester, students will build pieces of a simulated sensorimotor
agent named Roger-the-Crab to reinforce the material in class.
Lecture:
Tuesday, Thursday 1:00-2:15, LGRC 311
Credit: 3 units
Instructor: Rod Grupen, grupen@cs.umass.edu, 413-545-3280, (fax) 413-545-1249
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 11:00-1:00 LGRC A337 and by appointment (please email/confirm meetings at least 24 hours in advance)
Grading:
Grading Policy: All project work and homework assignments are to be completed by individual students. Although discussion regarding projects is encouraged, every student must complete all of the work associated with every project/homework independently.
Assignments generally include some open-ended problems that require the student to make assumptions and use concepts discussed in class to support their conclusions. This can involve explanation, and/or analysis that is not explicitly part of the question. These problems require careful write-ups and the presentation is part of the grade. Even though code is sometimes required, it is never the goal. Please don't submit code with your write ups---instead, experiments should be conducted to prove that code behaves as expected.
Late Policy:
Assignments should be handed in during class. I will deduct 5% for
every day an assignment is late.
Textbook On-Line: The Mathematical and Developmental Organization of Robot Behavior
Many of the materials created for this course are the intellectual property of the instructor. This includes, but is not limited to, the syllabus, lectures and course notes. Except to the extent not protected by copyright law, any use, distribution or sale of such materials requires the permission of the instructor. Please be aware that it is a violation of university policy to reproduce, for distribution or sale, class lectures or class notes.
grupen "at" cs "dot" umass "dot" edu