ME 449 Robotic Manipulation

Fall Quarter 2017

• Instructor: Prof. Kevin Lynch
• Office hours: Tech B222, TBA
• Meeting: 2:00-2:50, MWF, Abbott Auditorium Pancoe
• course website: http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/ME_449_Robotic_Manipulation

Course Summary

Mechanics of robotic manipulation, computer representations and algorithms for manipulation planning, and applications to industrial automation, parts feeding, grasping, fixturing, and assembly.

Course Text and Software

All of these resources are available at the homepage for the book.

• Get the book. Purchase the printed book, published by Cambridge University Press, or download the preprint version of the book.
• Download the book software from GitHub.
• Download the V-REP robot simulator. After you've installed it, choose "File > Open scene..." and open any of the scenes. Press the "Play" button and verify that the simulator is working.

Video Lectures

Video supplements to the reading can be found at http://modernrobotics.northwestern.edu. If you prefer to watch the videos as playlists in the youtube environment, you can go here instead. These links are also available from the book's homepage.

In general, I recommend that you first watch the videos to get a quick understanding of the material of the chapter, then follow up by reading. The videos are short and dense, so don't expect to get by only watching the videos. You will need to read the book, then do the exercises, to gain mastery of the material.

Approximate Syllabus and Reading

• Chapter 2, Configuration Space (weeks 1-2)
• Chapter 3, Rigid-Body Motions (weeks 2-3)
• Chapter 4, Forward Kinematics (week 4); section 4.2 is optional
• Chapter 5, Velocity Kinematics and Statics (week 5)
• Chapter 6, Inverse Kinematics (week 6); focus on section 6.2
• Chapter 8, Dynamics of Open Chains (weeks 6-7); skip sections 8.4, 8.8, and 8.9
• Chapter 9, Trajectory Generation (week 8); focus on sections 9.1 and 9.4
• Chapter 11, Robot Control (week 9); focus on sections 11.1 through 11.4
• Chapter 13, Wheeled Mobile Robots (week 10); skip section 13.3

Assignments

Assignments are graded based on correctness, how well you organize your homework (it should be easy to understand your thinking and easy to find your responses), and how well you follow the submission instructions below. You will lose points if you don't follow these instructions.

If you ever think a problem is stated incorrectly, not enough information is given, or it is impossible to solve, don't panic! Simply make a reasonable assumption that will allow you to solve the problem (but clearly state what this assumption is), or indicate why it is not possible to solve the problem.

Instructions for uploading assignments to Canvas:

0. Upload on time! Late submissions are not accepted. The cutoff time is at the beginning of class on the day the assignment is due.

1. Only upload one zip file or rar file for each assignment;

2. In your zip file or rar file, include all source codes in their original form, such as .cpp, .m, .py, .nb.

3. If there is a demo, combine the screen shots into one SEPARATE pdf file, OR, show the results in one SEPARATE .txt file (DON'T show them in your source code file format, e.g. .nb file), and include it in the zip file (or rar file).

4. Always include output of your code running on the exercises, particularly in case the grader has problems running your code. Also, always create a script (for example, titled ex6-9 or something) that the grader can easily invoke for each exercise. Don't expect the grader to search through your code to find sample code to cut-and-paste. Make it as easy as possible for the grader (you can include a "README" in your solutions, for example).

5. Please name the upload file in the following format: LastName_FirstName.zip.

Assignments