Text: Cook, D., (2002).
Robot
Building
: for Beginners.
United States of America
: Apress.
Course Description: This is a semester course which will teach the basics of robotics. Students will understand the design of a line-following robot and build it. Through the course, a basic understanding of DC circuitry will be covered. DC circuitry topics will include: power sources, resistors, LEDs, variable resistors, comparators, and motors. Students will learn how to use a multimeter, set a circuit up on a solderless breadboard, solder wiring and circuits, use small hand tools and power tools. Exposure to robotics in the real-world will be covered through selected readings and a field trip.
Course outline: The below outline is a loose guide.
· Day 1
Course Introduction
Chapter 1 Welcome Robot Inventor!
Chapter 2 Where to Obtain Tools and Parts
Homework: Read chapter 3 & 4
· Day 2
Chapter 3 Safety
Chapter 4 Digital Multimeter
Homework: Read chapters 5 & 6
· Day 3
Chapter 5 Numbers and Units
Chapter 6 Robot Line Following
Homework: Read chapters 7 & 8
· Day 4
Chapter 7 - Nine-Volt Batteries
Chapter 8 Clips and Test Leads
Homework: Read chapters 9
· Day 5
Chapter 9 Resistors
Homework: Read chapters 10 & 11
· Days 6
Chapter 10 LEDs
Chapter 11 Power On! Building and Testing a Power Indicator Circuit
Homework: None
· Day 7
Review of the first 11 chapters
Homework: Study for test 1
· Day 8
Test 1
Homework: Read chapters 21 & 22
· Days 9 & 10
Chapter 21 Soldering Equipment
Chapter 22 Soldering and Connecting
Homework: None
· Days 11 & 12
Construct Crawling Microbug by Velleman
Test Microbug
Homework: Read chapter 12 & 13
· Days 13 & 14
Chapter 12 Solderless Prototyping
Chapter 13 Solderless Breadboard Setup
Homework: Read chapter 14
· Day 15 & 16
Chapter 14 Variable Resistors
Homework: Read chapter 15
· Day 17 & 18
Chapter 15 Comparators
Homework: Read chapter 16
· Day 19
Chapter 16 Transistor Switches
Homework: Read chapter 17
· Day 20
Chapter 17 - DC Motors
Homework: Read chapter 18
· Day 21
Chapter 18 Adding Gearhead Motors
Homework: Make a schematic for the circuit for the breadboard challenge
· Day 22
Breadboard circuit challenge
Homework: None
· Day 23
Review chapters 11 through 18
Homework: Study for test 2
· Day 24
Test 2
Homework: Read chapter 19 & 20
· Day 25 & 26
Chapter 19 Wheels
Chapter 20 Coupler
Homework: Read chapter 23
· Days 27 through 32
Chapter 23 The Motherboard
Homework: Read chapter 24
· Days 33 through 35
Chapter 24
Body
Building
Homework: Read chapter 25
· Days 36 & 37
Chapter 25 Launching the Line-Follower
Homework: Read chapter 26
· Days 38
Chapter 26 Encore
· Day 39
Review chapter 19 through 26
Homework: Study for test 3
· Day 40
Test 3
Homework: None
· Other days
Fieldtrip to APG (tentatively September 6, 2006) (CNC machines, UAV’s, etc.)
Extra days may be inserted from time to time.
Grading: All grades are determined by total points.
Tests: 100 points each
Homework: There will be discussions based on the readings. Your participation in those discussions will be worth 50 points.
Class work/Mini-Labs: 10-25 points
Microbug: 50 points
Robot: 250 points (Further details of grading of the robot will be on a separate handout.)