Robotics Classes

The online seminar covers questions such as:
What are the popular robotics competitions?
Who can do robotics? What ages and skill levels can participate in robotics?
What skills can you learn from robotics?
How do you attend robotics competitions?
How do I get help in robotics?

Want to learn programming used in robotics?

Want to get an intro to computer vision and robot movement so that you can get better at competitive robotics?

This week long, 10 hour course introduces and explains skills helpful for those interested in programming competitive robots as part of competitions or for fun. We will be teaching methods that are used in the world of professional robotics and software engineering and help you build a strong foundation for future endeavors in STEM and Robotics. The syllabus, shown below, will guide you through topics such as Computer Vision, algorithmic processing, PID, and motion profiling, as well as covering how they are applied to modern world tech, such as autonomous cars, drones, medical robots, and other newly emerging and exciting scientific fields.

Registration: http://tiny.cc/robotics

Fee: $200. Free for Low Income Families and Families from KAFPA and Help One Child.

Materials Needed: Laptop to view Zoom Classes

Class Time: 7/27-31, or 8/3-8/7, 2020, 2:00-4:00pm; Monday to Friday

Prerequisites

• Basic programming knowledge in Python or other language
  • Loops
  • If statements
  • Functions
• Algebra 1
  • Basic functions
  • Graphical analysis

This class is taught by members of a robotics team with over 12 years of combined robotics experience who have completed projects with the topics taught and won numerous awards.

Classes will meet virtually on Zoom, for 2 hours each day. There will be daily homework assignments (30-60 Minutes) and items to review and practice, which include relevant coding assignments. Teachers will be available online outside of class hours to answer questions.

 

Computer Vision and Robot Programming for Competitive Robotics Syllabus

• Day 1
  • 30 Minutes: Overview: Python Syntax and Structure
  • 1 hour: Simple image transformations with GRIP, and some coding
  • 30 Minutes: Activity with Python Code
• Day 2
  • 30 Minutes: Simple color space transformations to isolate colors or make them stand out more
  • 30 Minutes: Contours, contour hierarchy to identify target areas
  • 30 Minutes: Loading videos and identifying objects in video
  • 30 Minutes: Introduction to tracking algorithms in OpenCV
• Day 3
  • 30 Minutes Sensors and Feedback
  • 1 Hour Electrical Systems and Hardware Software Interface
  • 30 Minutes: Simple Physics

• Day 4
  • 30 Minutes Motion Profiling
  • 45 Minutes PID

• • 45 Minutes: Feed Forward
• Day 5
  • 1 Hour: Computer Vision with Machine Learning Introduction
  • 1 Hour: Path Planning for Robotics Movement Introduction

Want to learn about robotics and make your own projects?

Don't know what engineering field you may be interested in and want to specialize in?

This week long, 10 hour course, covers topics important to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and software engineering in the field of robotics. Robotics is a promising field with many advancements such as high efficiency servo motors, advancement of neural networks, and new materials making things not possible 10 years ago a reality. We hope to make it easier for students to figure out what area of robotics and engineering they would like to focus on by offering a detailed overview of hardware systems, software systems, manufacturing, and the design methodology. We not only cover the overlying systems, but how the work through a mathematical and physical standpoint.

Some exciting topics we cover are:

• Computer Vision
• Neural Networks
• Control Theory
• Holonomic Drivetrains
• Design Process
• Derivation of Odometry Formulas
• PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative)
• Robot Swarms
• State Machines
• Computer Aided Design

Day 1 - Introduction to Robotics

• The Design Process
• • • What constitutes a good design 
  • How computers are used in robotics
    • Control Systems
      • Microprocessors
      • Computers
    • Operation Systems
      • None
      • Complex/Custom
  • Hardware
• Locomotive Devices
• • Sensors
• Interfacing with devices through hardware and software

Day 2 - Control Systems

• Deeper look into locomotion control

• PWM, Sinusoidal control scheme for brushless motors, Stepper Motor Control
• PID (Position, Integral, Derivative) control systems
• Motion Profiling, Feed Forward
  • • Derivation of simple kinematics equations
      • Move into creating simple trapezoidal slope and other curves to reduce stress on system
• Look past single motors and devices and generalize control systems to other fields
  • Industrial automation
  • Devices at home

Day 3 - Movement

• Simple drive train - 2 wheels
  • Using dimensional analysis to interpret sensors
  • Using odometry system
    • Derivation of Tank Drive Odometry
    • Showing Odometry Modules for more accurate control
• Derivation of 3 wheel odometry for holonomic drive trains
• Movement into discussion of types of holonomic drive train and force vectors
• Legs/Hybrid Robots
  • Dynamic / Static Stability
• Aquatic Robotics
• Flying Robots
• Robots in Space
• Collaborative Robotics

Day 4 - Deeper into Software

• Software in the professional world of robotics
  • Programming embedded systems
• Importance of subdivision in coding a robot
• State Machines
• Path Planning
  • Static vs Dynamic
• Debugging robotics code
• Computer Vision

Day 5 - Construction and Manufacturing 

• Types of materials
• Introduction to robot construction methods

• • Hobby/prototyping
  • Fabrication of materials
  • More advanced, precise manufacturing techniques
    • CNC 
    • Laser Cutting
• Improving Materials
  • Anodizing
  • Electroplating

• Large Scale Manufacturing Techniques
• Further discussions of robotics in the professional world