Teaching Robotics (Part 1)

Folks, tomorrow, 16-March-2009 is going to be my first time teaching the subject Industrial Robotics. This subject is very interesting as it is a combination of four main branches of engineering: mechanical, electrical, electronics and computer science.

In my institution where i am currently working now, the subject robotics is offered only to Mechatronics students. Mechatronics, as you would probably guessed, is an interdisciplinary and integrated engineering combining all branches and streams in engineering. the four most common branches as mechanical, electrical, electronics and computer science.

A robot is a reprogrammable machine and it should, at least, be able to think and have some sort of intelligence. thus, before one learns about robotic, one needs to understand the physical and mechanical elements involved: the materials used to make a robot (this is material science), the motion of the robot (kinematics and dynamics), the drawing of a robot (technical drawing).

Next is how do robot moves? This is by using motors. And the robot should be able to sense something. Next, to start the motor, one need to know the electrical connections, thus basic knowledge of electrical engineering is required.

Next, the robot must be able to be programmed: thus a sufficient knowledge of computer science is required before learning how to program a robot. Although one can argue that robot has its own software, but one can definitely not argued that basic programming skills is needed before learning on how to operate the software.

Thus, having said the above, it is no wonder why the subject robot is only offered to mechatronics students. this is because mechatronic students should, at least, know important elements and basics of the above-mentioned four branches of mainstream engineering.


Topics in Robotics

What would i cover in the subjectr robotics: they are, in sequential order:

1. Introduction to Robotics - learn about robotics and different types of robots
2. Robot Configurations - learn about different types of configuration of robots
3. End-of-Arm Tooling - learn about the end-effector of a robot
4. Ethics, Social and Safety Issues in Robotics - current and social issues in robotics
5. Automation Elements in Robotics - mechanical and electrical elements in robotics
6. Manipulator Kinematics - robot kinematics (up to 3 d.o.f only)
7. Basic Robot Programming (via ABB IRB 1400 robot) - learn how to program and jog a robot
8. Advance Robot Programming (via ADEPT robot) - learn how to use the ADEPT robot
9. Offline Robot Programming and simulation (via Microsoft Robot Studio v5). - learn how to program and simulate robot via VR


Assessment Structure

The assessment structure is as follows:

1. Theoretical tests: 20%
2. Practical test: 20%
3. Lab report: 20%
4. Key qualifications: 10%
5. Final examination: 30%

So, if anyone is interested, do let me know as you are most welcomed to learn robot together with me!