Eco Robotics
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Winter, 2006
http://www.robotecture.com/eco05/
Units: 3.0: Lecture / Location: MWF 2-6pm, Room IDC
Instructor: Michael Fox (mafox@foxlin.com or michaelfox@csupomona.edu)

Course Requirements:

The course is project based and centers on a series of five design exercises successively building upon each other and culminating in the construction of working physical models demonstrating responsive behaviors.

A short criticism of each of the required readings will be expected. Students will post all assignments on the web. Ability to create 3-D CAD models is required No prior programming experience is required. Incomplete projects on the due dates will affect your grade. No Exceptions.

Grading:

(5%) Attendance and Class participation (See Below)

(5%) Reading and criticism of assigned texts

Four problem exercises:

(10%) Exercise #1 Contextual understanding; extrapolated precedent study

(10%) Exercise #2 Physical modeling of kinetic object focusing on mechanics (engineering)

(10%) Exercise #3 Physical model of kinetic object with Motorized Control

(10%) Exercise #4 Physical model augmented with BASIC Stamp2 control (computation)

(50%) Exercise #5 Physical model of “Eco-Robotic System” demonstrating responsive behavior.

Schedule:

Date		Week	Topic (Lecture)	In-Class	Readings Due	Assignments Due
January	W4	01	Introduction / Overview Intelligent Environments and Experience Design	Projection Design Intro to Main Project	Fox
January	F 6			Readings Overview LAB Web Page Overview		Projection Design
January	M 9	02	Housing precedent Site Analysis	Readings Overview Brainstorming Applications	Davidson,	Individual web pages established Exercise01 (Assigned)
January	W 11		1/2 Mechanical Motions, Kinetic Typologies	1/2 1/2Guest Lecture: Pablo La Rouche: Passive Sustainable Systems Readings Overview	Zuk,	Exercise01 (Due) Exercise02 (Assigned)
January	F 13		Motion Visualization Modes of Visualization and Behavioral Motion	Review ex01 LAB Inverse Kinematics (Animation) Install Max	Robbin, Kronenburg,	Exercise02_bonus (Assigned)
January	M 16	03	No Topic Lecture	MLK Day	No Readings
January	W18		No Topic Lecture	Readings Overview Review of Exercise 02 LAB Introduction to BASIC Stamp2 Robotics * (PBASIC programming) Communication	No Readings	Exercise02 (Due) Exercise03 (Assigned)
January	F 20		Embedded Computation and Behavior Design, Adaptable Environmental Design and New Technologies	Review of Exercise 03 Brainstorming Applications Summaries Writing Exercise LAB BASIC Stamp2 Robotics * (PBASIC programming) Servo Control	Pawley, Zuk	Exercise03 (Due) Exercise04 (Assigned)
January	M23	04	Novel Applications and Human Interaction Final Project Discussion	Readings Overview	No Readings
January	W 25		No Topic Lecture	L AB BASIC Stamp2 Robotics * (PBASIC programming) Sensing	No Readings
January	F 27		Understanding System Attributes	Working / Desk Criticism	Chironis, Jones, Shigley	Choice of Final Project Exercise04 (Due)
January	M 30	05	Intelligent Spatial Systems and Multi-Function Design	Working / Desk Criticism		Review Final Project Ideas
February	W1		Fabrication Processes/Precision New Materials		Ansari, Culshaw, Gandhi, Ove Arup
February	F 3		No Topic Lecture	Readings Overview
February	M6	06	No Lecture	Review of work-to-date
February	W 8		Mid-Term Review	Readings Overview		Mid-Term Review
February	F 10		Guest Instructor	Working / Desk Criticism
February	M 13	07	Guest Instructor	Working / Desk Criticism
February	W15		Guest Instructor Teleconference with Michael in Hong Kong	Working / Desk Criticism
February	F 17		Guest Instructor	Working / Desk Criticism
February	M20	08	Enhancing and Extending Activities
February	W 22		(1/2) Synergistic and Multi-body Systems (1/2) On Scale and Form	Working/Desk Criticism