Lab 1:

Robotics Research

Eleanor Roosevelt High School

Chin-Sung Lin

Unit 1 - Entering the Robotics World

Agenda of the Week (9/12 – 9/23)

09/12 Lab 1 Robotic Research / Topics Selection

09/13 Concept Map / Presentation Template

09/14 Introduction to Robotics / STEM Careers

09/16 Concept Map Presentation

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

09/19 Project Management

09/20 STEM Careers

09/21 Group Presentation

09/23 Group Presentation

Introduction

The purpose of the lab is to explore several research fields of robotics. Each group will be assigned one of the seven given topics

Groups will investigate and identify the definition, scope, history, technologies involved, state of arts, impacts to society, and future trends of the assigned topics

At the end of this research, each group will communicate their findings through concept map, presentation and report

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

Research Topics

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

1. Humanoid Robots

2. Biologically-Inspired Robots

3. Autonomous Vehicles

4. Powered Exoskeletons

5. Swarm Robots

6. Social Robots

7. Nanorobots

Topic 1: Humanoid Robots

A humanoid robot is a robot that is based on the general structure of a human, such as a robot that walks on two legs and has an upper torso, or a robot that has two arms, two legs and a head.

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(Asimo from Honda)

Topic 2: Biologically-Inspired Robots

Robots were constructed using biological principles as a source of inspiration in order to improve the performance of robots.

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(EvoLogic’s underwater robot based on the structure of a manta ray)

Topic 3: Autonomous Vehicles

An autonomous vehicle is a driverless car that can drive itself from one point to another without assistance from a driver. Some believe that autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform the transportation industry while virtually eliminating accidents and reducing pollution.

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(Stanford’s autonomous vehicle Stanley)

Topic 4: Powered Exoskeleton

A powered exoskeleton is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of an exoskeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the activation-energy for limb movement. Powered exoskeletons are designed to assist and protect the wearer.

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(Cyberdyne’s Hal-5 is a wearable robot)

Topic 5: Swarm Robots

A large number of simple robots that can be designed to show a desired collective behavior. It is inspired from the observation of social insects - ants, wasps and bees - which stand as fascinating examples of how a large number of simple individuals can interact to create intelligent systems.

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(US military is investing heavily in swarm robots)

Topic 6: Social Robots

A social robot is an autonomous robot that interacts and communicates with humans or other autonomous robots by following social behaviors and rules attached to its role.

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(MIT’s furry robot Leonard is capable of human learning)

Topic 7: Nanorobotics

Nanorobotics is an emerging technology field of creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the microscopic scale of a nanometer (10 -9 m)

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

(Mobile Cell Repairer 3D View)

Research Topics Review

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

1. Humanoid Robots

2. Biologically-Inspired Robots

3. Autonomous Vehicles

4. Powered Exoskeletons

5. Swarm Robots

6. Social Robots

7. Nanorobots

Grouping

1. Elect a group leader who will be the key contact person for lab & project issues

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

2. Print your names on the group sign-up sheet & identify the group leaders

Topic Browsing & Selection

1. Groups are allowed to do some initial online browsing & discussion before they pick a topic

2. Groups are allowed to pick their topics as long as there is no duplication

4. Record the final topic of each group on the group sign-up sheet

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

3. When there is topic duplication, topics will be decided by lotto

Planning

1. Each group pick up additional info about the lab requirements & deliverables

2. Each group only has a few days to finish this research task (Presentation on 9/16, 9/21, and 9/23)

3. Hold group discussion on the strategies & plans to finish the assignment

4. Make sure each group member know his/her task before leaving the class

Lab 1 - Robotics Research

5. Each group member should know how to communicate with each other after school

The End