Robotic Systems (EMATM0054)

This webpage hosts the exercise labsheets for Unit of study Robotic Systems EMATM0054/53 running in academic year 2021/2022. You should have been directed here from Blackboard where there are further details on the Unit.

The Unit is split into two 6-week periods:

[ Weeks 1-6 ] : A formative period of skill building. You are presented with the Line Following Challenge to develop skill with a robotic system and it's evaluation. Your learning is supported with weekly lab sessions and drop-in sessions facilitated by the teaching staff.
[ Weeks 7-12 ] : A summative period ending in an Assessment of a 6-page report on an experiment you have conducted with your Robotic System. During this period, you will engage in self-directed study under supervision to design, implement, conduct, evaluate and document a scientific experiement in the context of robotics.

Please note that during weeks 7-12 technical support and training is greatly reduced - meaning that it is imperative that you engage in skill building during weeks 1-6. For further information on the assessment specifics, please refer to the unit Blackboard Page.

If you do not have access to a Pololu 3Pi+ mobile robot kit you can study via the Webots simulation of an e-puck robot. You may choose which platform you are using throughout the Unit. The labsheets are presented as two sets:

Pololu 3Pi+ Labsheets

Webots Simulator Labsheets

Example Reports

Previous students have produced skillful, innovative, and insightful work. The following reports are published with explicit permission from the authors, anonymised where requested. Please note, in the spirit of learning, in some cases reported details may be incorrect or inaccurate, which was reflected in the mark awarded and feedback provided. More reports will be made available as permission is gained.

(pdf) “Using PID output and real-time battery voltage to measure the inclination of a 2D plane”

(pdf) “Obstacle Avoidance using a Single IR TOF Sensor”

(pdf) "'They See Me Rolling': Wheel Slippage on an Uphill Slope"

(pdf) "Increasing Magnetometer Performance in a Mobile Robot Setup by Noise Reduction Filtering"

(pdf) "Dynamic Recalibration of the Odometry System Through Markers to Improve Travel Precision"

Experiment Ideas

Teaching Team:

	Paul O'Dowd, Unit Director
	Merihan Alhafnawi, Teaching Assistant
	Saba Firouznia, Teaching Assistant
	Yifan Xing, Teaching Assistant
	Alex Smith, Teaching Assistant
	Peter Wharton, Teaching Assistant
	Liam Fletcher, Teaching Assistant
	Julian Hird, Teaching Assistant
	Chris Bennett, Teaching Assistant