Difference between revisions of "ME 449 Robotic Manipulation"

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'''Fall Quarter 2018'''
'''Fall Quarter 2025'''


* Instructor: Prof. Kevin Lynch
* Instructor: Prof. Kevin Lynch
* Course assistant: Yifei Chen, YifeiChen2026@u.northwestern.edu
* Meeting: 2:00-2:50, MWF, Frances Searle Building 1-441
* Zoom office hours (see Canvas for links): Monday 3-4 pm (Lynch); Thursday 10-11 am (Chen); Friday 10-11 am (Chen)
* TAs: Huan Weng, Tito Fernandez, and Zack Woodruff
* Meeting: 2:00-2:50, MWF, '''Tech L361''' (first meeting: Wed Sept 17)
* Office hours: Tech B222 (TBA)
* course website: [http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/ME_449_Robotic_Manipulation http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/ME_449_Robotic_Manipulation]
* Course website: [http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/ME_449_Robotic_Manipulation http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/ME_449_Robotic_Manipulation]
* book website: [http://modernrobotics.org http://modernrobotics.org]
* Book website: [http://modernrobotics.org http://modernrobotics.org]
* '''[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej7E9AaYomOEi5ToiNVum-_H7XdaJZ95Va__AIBPnB0xXZyg/viewform?usp=sf_link Click here to enter any questions you have on the lectures or reading that you would like to discuss in class.]'''


'''Supportive Class Environment'''
==Course Summary==


All members of this class (instructors, course assistants, students) are expected to contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for every other member of the class.
Mechanics of robotic manipulation, computer representations and algorithms for manipulation planning, and applications to industrial automation, parts feeding, grasping, fixturing, and assembly.


We are ''partners'' in your education; help us help you get the most out of this class. Please engage as much as possible during our class meetings!
Monday Oct 1: Tito Fernandez. Wednesday Oct 3: Huan Weng. Friday Oct 5: Zack Woodruff.


'''Honor Code'''
==Grading==
* 50% quizzes (quizzes will be open book, open notes, any cheat sheets you would like, but no electronics)
* 20% assignments (lowest grade will be dropped)
* 15% final project (due Wed Dec 12, during finals week)
* 10% practice exercise for other students
* 5% engagement: answering questions in class, participation in in-class exercises, and helping other students in class


You are encouraged to discuss the material with the instructor, course assistants, and your classmates, but you are not allowed to copy answers or code from others in the class or other sources, nor are you allowed to share your answers or code with others. If you use generative AI to help you with your work, you are obligated to cite the source and nature of the help; for example, if you turn in code generated in whole or in part by generative AI, you must cite the AI software in the comments, and you are required to understand how and why the code works. (Note also that electronics are not available during tests, so submitting code you do not understand will not help you prepare for tests.) ''Anyone copying answers or code, or providing answers or code, or becoming aware of others doing so without reporting to the instructor, is in violation of the honor code.''
==Course Text and Software==


'''Northwestern University Syllabus Standards'''
This course uses the textbook ''Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control'', Kevin M. Lynch and Frank C. Park, Cambridge University Press 2017.


This course follows the [https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/registration-graduation/northwestern-university-syllabus-standards.html Northwestern University Syllabus Standards]. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this information.
[[Coursera_Resources#Things_you_should_complete_before_taking_any_course|Get the book, install and test the Modern Robotics code library, and install and test the V-REP simulator.]] You will program in Python, Mathematica, or MATLAB in this course.


'''Getting Started'''
'''[[Modern Robotics Linear Algebra Review|Here is a linear algebra refresher appendix to accompany the book.]]'''


Do the following things as soon as possible:
==Video Lectures and the Flipped Classroom==


* [[Modern Robotics#Book|Buy the book "Modern Robotics" or download the free electronic preprint version]]. (Though the Cambridge-published print version is the "official" version, the differences are mostly layout and either will work for this course.)
This course will take advantage of video lectures and lecture comprehension quizzes on Coursera. (You can also see the video lectures, but not the lecture comprehension quizzes, outside Coursera at the video browser [http://modernrobotics.northwestern.edu '''http://modernrobotics.northwestern.edu'''] or using [[Modern_Robotics_Videos|'''direct links to the videos on YouTube''']].)
* [[Getting Started with the Modern Robotics Code Library|Download the Modern Robotics software]]. You can program in Python, MATLAB, or Mathematica. Most students use Python or MATLAB, but any of these is fine.
* [[Getting Started with the CoppeliaSim Simulator|Download, install, and test the CoppeliaSim robot simulation software.]]
* Accept your invitation to the Coursera course.


==Course Summary==
You should sign up to audit the following courses on Coursera in advance of our study of them in class. Don't pay; you should start by choosing the 7-day free trial, but then click "audit the course." Auditing the course gives you access to everything except graded assignments and peer-reviewed projects.


Representations of the configuration and spatial motion of rigid bodies and robots based on modern screw theory. Forward, inverse, and differential kinematics. Robot dynamics, trajectory planning, and motion control. Wheeled mobile robots and mobile manipulation.
* [https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course1 Course 1: Foundations of Robot Motion (Chapters 2 and 3)]
* [https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course2 Course 2: Robot Kinematics (Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7)]
* [https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course3 Course 3: Robot Dynamics (Chapters 8 and 9)]
* [https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course4 Course 4: Robot Motion Planning and Control (Chapters 10 and 11)]
* [https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course5 Course 5: Robot Manipulation and Wheeled Mobile Robots (Chapters 12 and 13)]
* [https://www.coursera.org/learn/modernrobotics-course6 Course 6: Capstone Project, Mobile Manipulation]


==Prerequisites==
'''[[Coursera Resources|This page collects together useful supplemental material to the Coursera courses]]'''.


Linear algebra, first-order linear ODEs, freshman-level physics/mechanics, a bit of programming background.
The general flow of the class will be the following:


==Grading==
* Before class, watch the videos, do the lecture comprehension quizzes associated with each video, do the associated reading, and participate in any "discussion prompts" on Coursera. You should plan to bring any questions or confusion to class. 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 appropriate sections of the book. 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.
* In class, I will briefly review the lecture comprehension quizzes and the material that was covered, get a little discussion going and take any questions, and then ask you to work on a practice exercise either individually or in small groups. If time remains, you may work on homework together. I will be available to help.
* On days when a homework is turned in, I will leave time for any questions about it. On days before a quiz, I will spend as much time reviewing the material covered by the quiz as you would like.


30% of your final grade will be from your Coursera grades (which I expect to be nearly perfect), 30% from assignments outside of Coursera, 20% from quiz 1, and 20% from quiz 2.
==Student-Created Exercises==


==Course Text and Software==
All students will be responsible for creating a practice exercise, consisting of the exercise and the solution. A good exercise should test an important concept in the context of a real robotics application (e.g., motion planning for a quadrotor, robot localization, computer vision, grasping, etc.), require the learner to understand and apply equations in the book or use the book's software, and require a bit of thought (i.e., not just "plug and chug" questions). For many exercises, a good figure or two is helpful. You could use a figure of a real robot and add your own annotations to it (e.g., frames or objects in its environment), or you could hand-draw something, or you could use V-REP or other software to help create the figure. You should not confine your question to an application discussed in the textbook. Make your exercise interesting and motivating! Exercises that require synthesizing two or more concepts or equations are more interesting and useful.


This course uses the textbook ''Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control'', Kevin M. Lynch and Frank C. Park, Cambridge University Press 2017. If you find an error or typo in the book, please '''[http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/Modern_Robotics_Errata report it here].'''
You will create your exercise using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaTeX LaTeX] (pronounced "lay teck" or "lah teck"), the standard for scientific document preparation. [https://www.overleaf.com/ Overleaf] is a free online implementation of LaTeX. To get started on your exercise,


[[Coursera_Resources#Things_you_should_complete_before_taking_any_course|Get the book, install and test the Modern Robotics code library, and install and test the CoppeliaSim robot simulator.]] You will program in Python, Mathematica, or MATLAB in this course.
# Download [[Media:ME449-exercise.zip|'''this .zip file''']] and uncompress it. There are four files: main.tex, prelims.tex, screw.pdf, and happy-face.jpg.
# Create an account on [https://www.overleaf.com/ Overleaf].
# Create a new (blank) project on Overleaf called "exercise."
# Upload the four files main.tex, prelims.tex, screw.pdf, and happy-face.jpg to this project. (You may get a warning that your default main.tex file is being overwritten; don't worry about it.)
# Click on main.tex to see your main LaTeX document.
# Press the "Recompile" button to see the pdf document that is compiled from the four files. You can download the pdf file, or all the "source" files, by clicking on "Menu" and choosing which to download. '''[[Media:ME449-exercise-output.pdf|This is the .pdf file you should have created.]]'''


'''[[Modern Robotics Linear Algebra Review|Here is a linear algebra refresher appendix to accompany the book.]]'''
main.tex is the main file of the project, and the only one that you will edit, so you should understand what is going on in that file. prelims.tex tells LaTeX what packages to use and defines some macros, e.g., \twist creates <math>\mathcal{V}</math> and \wrench creates <math>\mathcal{F}</math>. screw.pdf and happy-face.jpg are image files that get included in the document. You will create different image files depending on your exercise.


==Approximate Syllabus and Schedule==
To learn more about typesetting in LaTeX, google is your friend! Try googling "latex math" or "latex math symbols," for example.


Here is a summary of the structure of the course. '''All items are due 30 minutes before the associated class time (1:30 PM Central). The deadlines are controlled by Coursera, so do not be late!''' You may work ahead if you wish, but then you won't get as much out of the classes.
You will turn in the source for your exercise as well as the final pdf file.
* Coursera refers to "weeks," but ignore this; our course modules are not a week long.
* Before some classes, you should complete a quiz on earlier material.
* Before most classes, you will watch the associated videos on Coursera and answer the "lecture comprehension" (LC) questions. (Designed to be relatively quick, to solidify your understanding.)
* You are encouraged to read the corresponding portions of the textbook after watching the videos. I suggest you watch first, then read, then possibly re-watch, but you can determine what works best for your learning style.
* During the class period '''after''' you watch those videos, I will typically summarize what we learned, work a problem, take any questions you have about the material, and possibly assign you a problem to work on.
* There are two kinds of assessments on Coursera (Coursera refers to both of them as "quizzes"): "lecture comprehension" questions (LCs), which are short and immediately follow lectures, and summative quizzes, which are usually longer assessments/assignments occurring at the middle or end of a chapter.
* Within Coursera there are also "discussion prompts," open-ended group questions that you should reply to (responses can be simple) and forums where you can post questions and reply to other students' questions.
* Assignments outside Coursera will be submitted through Canvas.


Below is the approximate syllabus and schedule. Next to each date is the Coursera material that should have been covered '''at least 30 minutes before''' that class. "LC" refers to brief lecture comprehension questions that should be completed before that class, and "quiz" is a longer summative quiz on earlier material.
==Approximate Syllabus and Reading==


* Chapter 2, Configuration Space (weeks 1-2)
'''Chapter 2, Configuration Space'''
* Wed Sept 17: welcome to the course and syllabus review; intro to Coursera. '''The schedule for completing Coursera items is set by this wiki!'''
* Chapter 3, Rigid-Body Motions (weeks 2-3)
* Fri Sept 19: check for working CoppeliaSim implementation and summarize installation process for each OS; make sure Coursera invitation is accepted; material through Chapter 2.2 (3 videos and 2 LCs on dof of a robot) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch02a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Chapter 4, Forward Kinematics (week 4); section 4.2 is optional
* Mon Sept 22: meet the class; and material through Chapter 2.3 (quiz, Chapter 2 through 2.2; 2 videos and 2 LCs on C-space topology and representation) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch02b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Chapter 5, Velocity Kinematics and Statics (week 5)
* Wed Sept 24: '''ASST 1 HAS BEEN POSTED.''' Finish Chapter 2 (2 videos and 2 LCs on configuration and velocity constraints, task space and workspace) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch02c.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Chapter 6, Inverse Kinematics (week 6); focus on section 6.2
'''Chapter 3, Rigid-Body Motions'''
* Chapter 8, Dynamics of Open Chains (weeks 6-7); skip sections 8.4, 8.8, and 8.9
* Fri Sept 26: through Chapter 3.2.1 (quiz, Chapter 2.3 through 2.5; 3 videos and 3 LCs on rotation matrices SO(3)) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch03a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Chapter 9, Trajectory Generation (week 8); focus on sections 9.1 and 9.4
* Mon Sept 29: finish Chapter 3.2 (3 videos and 3 LCs on angular velocities, so(3), exponential coordinates) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch03b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Chapter 11, Robot Control (week 9); focus on sections 11.1 through 11.4
* Wed Oct 1: New material: through Chapter 3.3.2 (quiz, Chapter 3 through 3.2; 3 videos and 3 LCs on transform matrices SE(3) and twists) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch03c.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Chapter 13, Wheeled Mobile Robots (week 10); skip section 13.3
* Fri Oct 3: finish Chapter 3 (2 videos and 2 LCs on se(3), exponential coordinates, and wrenches) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch03d.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
'''Chapter 4, Forward Kinematics (skip section 4.2 on URDF)'''
* Mon Oct 6: finish Chapter 4 (quiz, Chapters 3.3 and 3.4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on product of exponentials formula, space and e-e frame) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch04a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
'''Chapter 5, Velocity Kinematics and Statics'''
* Wed Oct 8: '''ASST 1 DUE 1:30 PM'''. New material: through Chapter 5.1 (quiz, Chapter 4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on space Jacobian, body Jacobian) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch05a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Fri Oct 10: New material: through Chapter 5.2 1 video and 1 LC on statics of open chains) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch05b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Mon Oct 13: through Chapter 5.4 (2 videos and 2 LCs on singularity analysis, manipulability) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch05c.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
'''Chapter 6, Inverse Kinematics (focus on section 6.2)'''
* Wed Oct 15: Chapter 6 (quiz, Chapter 5; 3 videos and 3 LCs on numerical inverse kinematics) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch06a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
'''Chapter 8, Dynamics of Open Chains (skip sections 8.4, 8.7, 8.8, and 8.9)'''
* Fri Oct 17: through Chapter 8.1.2 (quiz, Chapter 6; 2 videos and 2 LCs on Lagrangian dynamics) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch08a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Mon Oct 20: New material: Chapter 8.1.3 (1 video and 1 LC on understanding the mass matrix) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch08b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Wed Oct 22: '''QUIZ 1''', chapters 2-5 (no electronic devices allowed [calculator, laptop, tablet, etc.]; study sheets and book allowed) '''[[Media:ME449-midterm-2022.pdf|2022 midterm]]''' and '''[[Media:ME449-midterm-solutions-2022.pdf|solutions]]''' (average score 22.9/32); '''[[Media:ME449-midterm-2023.pdf|2023 midterm]]''' and '''[[Media:ME449-midterm-solutions-2023.pdf|solutions]]'''; '''[[Media:ME449-midterm-2024.pdf|2024 midterm]]''' and '''[[Media:ME449-midterm-solutions-2024.pdf|solutions]]'''
* Fri Oct 24: Chapter 8.2 (2 videos and 2 LCs on dynamics of a single rigid body) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch08c.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Mon Oct 27: Chapter 8.3 and 8.5 (2 videos and 2 LCs on Newton-Euler inverse dynamics, forward dynamics; quiz, Chapter 8 through 8.3) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch08d.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
'''Chapter 9, Trajectory Generation'''
* Wed Oct 29: New material: through Chapter 9.3 (3 videos and 3 LCs on point-to-point trajectories, polynomial via point trajectories) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch09a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Fri Oct 31: <!--'''ASST 2, DUE 1:30 PM'''. -->Chapter 9.4 (quiz, Chapter 9 through 9.3; 3 videos and 3 LCs on time-optimal time scaling) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch09b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Mon Nov 3: Chapter 9.4 recap.
* Wed Nov 5: Final project discussion
'''Chapter 11, Robot Control (focus on sections 11.1 through 11.4)'''
* Fri Nov 7: <!--'''ASST 3, DUE 1:30 PM.''' -->New material: up to (not including) Chapter 11.2.2.1 (quiz, Chapter 9.4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on linear error dynamics) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch11a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Mon Nov 10: finish Chapter 11.2.2 (2 videos and 2 LCs on first- and second-order error dynamics) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch11b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Wed Nov 12: through Chapter 11.3 (3 videos and 3 LCs on motion control with velocity inputs) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch11c.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Fri Nov 14: Chapter 11.4 (quiz, Chapter 11 through 11.3; 3 videos and 3 LCs on motion control with torque or force inputs) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch11d.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
'''Chapter 13, Wheeled Mobile Robots (skip section 13.3)'''
* Mon Nov 17: <!--'''FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE 2, DUE 1:30 PM'''. -->New material through Chapter 13.2 (quiz, Chapter 11.4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on omnidirectional wheeled mobile robots) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch13a.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Wed Nov 19: Chapter 13.4 (quiz, Chapter 13 through 13.2; 1 video and 1 LC on odometry) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch13b.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Fri Nov 21: Chapter 13.5 (1 video and 1 LC on mobile manipulation) '''[[Media:MRslides-ch13c.pdf|CLASS SLIDES]]'''
* Mon Nov 24: Wrapping up
* '''NO CLASS WED NOV 26 AND FRI NOV 28 (HAPPY THANKSGIVING!)'''
* Mon Dec 1: Final review.
* Wed Dec 3: In-class work on final project; Q&A on final.
* Fri Dec 5: '''QUIZ 2'''


==Practice Exercises==
==Assignments==
[[Modern_Robotics#Useful_Supplemental_Documents|Sample exercises and their solutions, useful for practicing your understanding of the material.]]


== Practice Tests ==
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.
* [[Media:ME449-midterm-2024.pdf|2024 midterm]] and [[Media:ME449-midterm-solutions-2024.pdf|2024 midterm solutions]]
* [[Media:ME449-midterm-2023.pdf|2023 midterm]] and [[Media:ME449-midterm-solutions-2023.pdf|2023 midterm solutions]]
* [[Media:ME449-midterm-2022.pdf|2022 midterm]] and [[Media:ME449-midterm-2022-solutions.pdf|2022 midterm solutions]]
* [[Media:ME449-quiz1-solutions-2019.pdf|Quiz 1, 2019]]
* Quiz 2, 2018: Exercises 4.2, 5.3, 6.1, 8.6, and 8.7 from [[Modern_Robotics#Useful_Supplemental_Documents|the practice exercises document]].
* [[Media:ME449-quiz1-2018.pdf|Quiz 1, 2018]]


==Assignments==
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.


'''As mentioned above, in the Honor Code:''' You are encouraged to discuss the material with the instructor, course assistants, and your classmates, but you are not allowed to share your answers or code with others. Anyone asking for answers or code, or providing answers or code, or becoming aware of others doing so without reporting to the instructor, is considered in violation of the honor code.
'''Instructions for uploading assignments to Canvas:'''


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 more detailed submission instructions are given with a particular assignment, make sure to follow those, too.
0. '''Upload on time! Late submissions are not accepted.''' The cutoff time is 30 minutes before class the day the assignment is due.


'''You will not receive credit if you just give an answer. Your solution must demonstrate how you got the answer. It must be easy to follow.'''
1. Only upload one zip file or rar file for each assignment;


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


'''Instructions for uploading assignments to Canvas:'''
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" file in your solutions, for example).

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

'''Assignment 1, due 30 minutes before class on Canvas, Wed Oct 10.''' Exercises 2.1, 2.4, 2.9 (a) and (b) from Fig 2.18, 2.22, 2.29, and 3.1.

==Detailed Syllabus==
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UrBFai-1Z98Ry48bW50OMqxvvqZ3Jo8pHgZmljOgPpo/edit?usp=sharing '''The course calendar'''], including video lecture and reading assignments due before each class.
<!--
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jWd_POLlQYxQLv1Igv-eVmORdtEcLi0mU_rVLkNguYI/edit?usp=sharing '''Click here for a graphical view of the class schedule, including student lectures.''']

Homeworks are due at the beginning of class every Wednesday, unless otherwise noted. You will watch the videos and do the reading in advance of class using the material, as noted in the syllabus below. A typical weekly schedule will consist of:
: M: Video/reading comprehension quick quiz and help with homework.
: W: Video/reading comprehension quick quiz, homework solutions, plus '''EITHER''' student lecture '''OR''' quiz preparation.
: F: Video/reading comprehension quick quiz plus '''EITHER''' student lecture '''OR''' quiz.

'''Class 1''' (W 9/20)
: Welcome to the course and course website. Structure of the course (HW due Wed, student-generated lectures and learning materials, in-class assignments, feedback on student lectures, occasional Friday quizzes). Book, software, (lack of) D-H parameters, syllabus, V-REP simulator, office hours.

At home:
: Videos: first 3 videos of Chapter 2, through Chapter 2.2
: Reading: Chapters 2.1 and 2.2
: Software: download github software with book, install V-REP and verify that you can use Scenes 1 and 2 (the UR5)
: '''HW1, due 1:30 PM 9/27''': Exercises 2.3, 2.9, 2.20, 2.29. Also, create your own example system with closed loops, something not in the book, and solve for the degrees of freedom using Grubler's formula. Make it something that exists or occurs in common experience, not necessarily a robot. Imagine using it to teach someone about Grubler's formula.

'''Class 2''' (F 9/22)
: Quick quiz
: Sample student lecture

At home:
: Videos: 2 videos on Chapter 2.3
: Reading: Chapter 2.3

'''Class 3''' (M 9/25)
: Quick quiz
: Bring your laptop, demo V-REP UR5 scenes
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: 2 videos, Chapter 2.4 and 2.5
: Reading: Chapters 2.4 and 2.5
: Turn in HW1

'''Class 4''' (W 9/27)
: Quick quiz
: Solutions to HW1; student examples of Grubler's formula

At home:
: Videos: first 3 videos of Chapter 3, through Chapter 3.2.1
: Reading: through Chapter 3.2.1
: '''HW2, due 1:30 PM 10/4''':
:: 1) Exercise 3.1, except the y_a axis points in the direction (1,0,0).
:: 2) Exercise 3.2, except p = (1,2,3).
:: 3) Exercise 3.5.
:: 4) Exercise 3.9.
:: 5) In Figure 1.1(a) of the book is an image of a UR5 robot, with a frame at its base and a frame at its end-effector. Eyeballing the end-effector frame, approximately write the rotation matrix that represents the end-effector frame orientation relative to the base frame. Your rotation matrix should satisfy the properties of a rotation matrix (R^T R = I, det(R) = 1). The x-axes are in red, the y-axes are in green, and the z-axes are in blue.
:: 6) Write a program that takes a set of exponential coordinates for rotation from the user as input. It then prints out the following: (a) the corresponding unit rotation axis and the angle of rotation about that axis; (b) the so(3) 3x3 matrix representation of the exponential coordinates; (c) the 3x3 SO(3) rotation matrix corresponding to the exponential coordinates; (d) the inverse of the rotation matrix from (c); (e) the 3x3 so(3) matrix log of the matrix from (d); and (f) the corresponding exponential coordinates for the so(3) matrix (e). Use the code from the book and write your program in Mathematica, MATLAB, or Python. Turn in your code and the output of an example run using (0.5, 1, 0) as the input to part (a).
:: 7) Write a function that returns "true" if a given 3x3 matrix is with a distance epsilon of being a rotation matrix and "false" otherwise. It is up to you to define the "distance" between a random 3x3 real matrix and members of SO(3). Test the function on two matrices, neither of which is exactly in SO(3), but one of which is close (so the result is "true") and one of which is not. Turn in your code and provide the test run output, which also outputs the distance to SO(3) that you defined.
:: 8) Following up on the previous exercise: describe (don't implement, unless you want to) a function that takes a "close by" 3x3 matrix and returns the closest rotation matrix. How would you use the fact that R^T R - I must be equal to zero to modify the initial 3x3 matrix to make it a "close by" rotation matrix? Would the function be iterative? You are free to do some research online, but as always, '''cite your sources'''!

'''Class 5''' (F 9/29)
: Quick quiz
: Lecture

At home:
: Videos: videos 4-6 of Chapter 3, through Chapter 3.2.3
: Reading: through Chapter 3.2.3

'''Class 6''' (M 10/2)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: videos 7-9 of Chapter 3, Chapters 3.3.1 and 3.3.2
: Reading: same sections
'''Class 7''' (W 10/4)
: Quick quiz
: Exam prep

At home:
: Videos: videos 10-11, Chapter 3.3.3 and 3.4
: Reading: same sections
: '''HW3, due 1:30 PM 10/11''': Exercises 3.16, 3.17, 3.27, 3.31, and 3.48 (as always, for programming assignments, turn in your code and sample output demonstrating it).

'''Class 8''' (F 10/6)
: EXAM 1

At home:
: Videos: video 1 of Chapter 4, through Chapter 4.1.2
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 9''' (M 10/9)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: videos 2-3 of Chapter 4, Chapter 4.1.3
: Reading: same sections
'''Class 10''' (W 10/11)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 1 (Pawar, Subramanian, Goyal, Cai)

At home:
: Videos: video 1 of Chapter 5, up to (not including) Chapter 5.1
: Reading: same sections
: '''HW4, due 1:30 PM 10/18''': Exercises 4.2, 4.8, 4.14, and 5.7(a). Question 5: In Chapter 3.5 (Summary), there is a list of analogies between rotations and rigid-body motions. Read it carefully and report anything that is either unclear or incorrect.

'''Class 11''' (F 10/13)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 2 (Wang, Wu, Xia, Zheng)

At home:
: Videos: video 2 of Chapter 5, Chapter 5.1.1
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 12''' (M 10/16)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: videos 3 and 4 of Chapter 5, Chapter 5.1.2 through 5.2
: Reading: same sections
'''Class 13''' (W 10/18)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 3 (Wiznitzers, Hutson, Spies)

At home:
: Videos: videos 5 and 6 of Chapter 5, Chapter 5.3 and 5.4
: Reading: same sections
: '''HW5, due 1:30 PM 10/25''': Exercises 5.2, 5.3, 5.23, 5.25, 6.7, and 6.8.

'''Class 14''' (F 10/20)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 4 (Don, Chien, Husain, Sulaiman)

At home:
: Videos: videos 1 and 2 of Chapter 6,
: Reading: intro of Chapter 6 and Chapter 6.2

'''Class 15''' (M 10/23)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: video 3 of Chapter 6
: Reading: Chapter 6.2
'''Class 16''' (W 10/25)
: Quick quiz
: Exam prep

At home:
: Videos: video 1 of Chapter 8, through 8.1.1
: Reading: same sections
: [[Media:ME449-HW6-2017.pdf|HW6, due 1:30 PM 11/1]]

'''Class 17 ''' (F 10/27)
: EXAM 2

At home:
: Videos: video 2 of Chapter 8, through 8.1.2
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 18''' (M 10/30)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: video 3 of Chapter 8, through 8.1.3
: Reading: same sections
'''Class 19''' (W 11/1)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 5 (Zhang, Zhu, Meng, Luo)

At home:
: Videos: videos 4-5 of Chapter 8, through 8.2
: Reading: same sections
: '''HW7, due 1:30 PM 11/8''': Exercises 8.2, 8.3, 8.11 (you should build on the MR code), and 8.15(a).

'''Class 20''' (F 11/3)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 6 (Lyu, Yi, Wang, Swissler)

At home:
: Videos: video 6 of Chapter 8, up to (not including) 8.4
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 21''' (M 11/6)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: video 7 of Chapter 8, Chapter 8.5 (skip 8.4)
: Reading: same sections
'''Class 22''' (W 11/8)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 7 (Warren, Kilaru, Wang, Mandana)

At home:
: Videos: videos 1-2 of Chapter 9, through Chapter 9.2
: Reading: same sections
: '''HW8, due 1:30 PM 11/15''': Exercises 8.15(b) (use your previous results from 8.15(a), and turn in any code you write as well as a V-REP movie of your simulation), 8.14 (turn in your testable code and evidence your code returns similar results), 9.14, and 9.26.

'''Class 23''' (F 11/10)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 8 (Wang, Dai, Ma, Peng)

At home:
: Videos: video 4 of Chapter 9, Chapter 9.4 - 9.4.1 (skip 9.3)
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 24''' (M 11/13)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: videos 5-6 of Chapter 9, up to (not including) Chapter 9.5
: Reading: same sections
'''Class 25''' (W 11/15)
: Quick quiz
: Exam prep

At home:
: Videos: videos 1-3 of Chapter 11, up to (not including) Chapter 11.2.2.1
: Reading: same sections
: '''Final project. This project is part of the assignment grade, cannot be dropped, and has the weight of 2 normal assignments.''' The assignment is split into two parts: a relatively simple Part I, due after 1 week, followed by the programming-heavy Part II, due during finals week. You will receive a single grade for the entire assignment, after Part II has been submitted.
:: '''Part I, due 1:30 PM 11/22''': Exercise 13.33 (a) and (b). Turn in your solutions (handwritten or typed) and any code you wrote.
:: '''Part II, due 11:59 PM 12/6''': Exercise 13.33 (c), (d), and (e). Turn in 1) any solutions (handwritten or typed), 2) your code, 3) any plots you created with your code, 4) your short V-REP videos (made using the youbot csv animation scene), and 5) the .csv files corresponding to the videos.

'''Class 26''' (F 11/17)
: EXAM 3

At home:
: Videos: videos 4-5 of Chapter 11, Chapter 11.2.2.1 and 11.2.2.2
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 27''' (M 11/20)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Videos: videos 6-8 of Chapter 11, Chapter 11.3
: Reading: same sections
: '''Turn in Part I of your final project on Canvas.'''
'''Class 28''' (W 11/22)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 9 (Abiney, Aubrun, Anthony, Alston)

At home:
: Videos: videos 1-3 of Chapter 13, through Chapter 13.2
: Reading: same sections

'''Class 29''' (M 11/27)
: Quick quiz
: Help with HW

At home:
: Reading: odometry and mobile manipulation, Chapter 13.4 and 13.5
'''Class 30''' (W 11/29)
: Quick quiz
: Student lecture 10 (Miller, Berrueta, Davis, Tobia)


* '''Upload on time! Late submissions are not accepted.'''
At home:
* For every assignment, you should submit a single zip file, named FamilyName_GivenName_asst#.zip. This zip file should include a single pdf file with answers to all the questions, including screen shots, text logs of code running, etc. Always include output of your code running on the exercises, so the grader can see what you got when you ran your code. You may scan handwritten solutions (provided they are neat!), but in any case, all answers should be in a single pdf file. DO NOT UPLOAD SCANS AS JPGS! THEY MUST ALL BE COMPILED INTO A SINGLE PDF FILE.
: Final assignment work
* You may be asked to include in your zip file all source code in their original forms, such as .m, .py, or .nb. Always create a script that the grader can easily invoke to run your code for a particular 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.txt" file in your zip file, for example, to tell the grader how everything works). Your code should be commented well enough that it is easy for someone else to pick it up and understand more or less how it works. All student-written code must be submitted; do not submit any standard MR code.
* If you include movies, keep them short and clear. They should only be a few MB in size. For example, you don't need super high resolution, 60 fps, etc.
* All plots should be labeled (axes, legends, titles) with appropriate units.


'''[http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/ME_449_Assignment_1 Assignment 1]''', due 1:30 PM CT Wednesday October 8.
'''Class 31''' (F 12/1)
<!--
: Student lecture 11 (Fernandez, Lutzen, SaLoutos, Iwankiw)
'''[[Media:ME449-asst2-2024.pdf|Assignment 2]]''', due 1:30 PM CT <s>Wednesday November 6</s> Friday November 8 on Canvas.


'''[[Media:ME449-asst3-2024.pdf|Assignment 3]]''', due 1:30 PM CT Friday November 15 on Canvas.
At home:
: '''Your final project is due on Canvas by 11:59 PM on Wednesday Dec 6.'''


==Final Project: Mobile Manipulation==
-->


The final project is described [http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/Mobile_Manipulation_Capstone_2024 '''on this page''']. It is due in Canvas on Thursday December 11 at noon.
<!--
==Archive==


* '''Due Monday November 25 at 1:30 PM on Canvas''': Milestone 2. ''(You will do milestone 2 first! Milestone 1 will come next.)'' You will turn in a single zip file named FamilyName_GivenName_milestone2.zip with your solution to milestone 2. The zip file should include a README.pdf file with a brief summary of your solution and how to use it, and if your code is not working properly, it should correctly point out the problems. The zip file should also include a directory with the commented code you wrote, including a cut-and-pastable comment at the beginning showing how to execute the code to generate the csv file included in the submission; a CoppeliaSim video showing your reference trajectory of the end-effector (similar to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d_cYwV58lI&feature=youtu.be this video]); and the csv file that your code generated to create the video.
* [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation (Archive 2012)|ME 449 Spring 2012]]
* ''' Due Thursday December 12 at 12:00 PM (noon) on Canvas''': The entire final writeup in a single zip file named FamilyName_GivenName_capstone.zip. '''You may earn up to 10% extra credit on the capstone project by implementing singularity and self-collision avoidance.''' See the description of the final project writeup.
* [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation (Archive Spring 2014)|ME 449 Spring 2014]]
* [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation (Archive Fall 2014)|ME 449 Fall 2014]]
* [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation (Archive Fall 2015)|ME 449 Fall 2015]]
* [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation (Archive Fall 2016)|ME 449 Fall 2016]]
* [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation (Archive Fall 2017)|ME 449 Fall 2017]]
-->
-->

Latest revision as of 08:50, 24 September 2025

Fall Quarter 2025

Supportive Class Environment

All members of this class (instructors, course assistants, students) are expected to contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for every other member of the class.

We are partners in your education; help us help you get the most out of this class. Please engage as much as possible during our class meetings!

Honor Code

You are encouraged to discuss the material with the instructor, course assistants, and your classmates, but you are not allowed to copy answers or code from others in the class or other sources, nor are you allowed to share your answers or code with others. If you use generative AI to help you with your work, you are obligated to cite the source and nature of the help; for example, if you turn in code generated in whole or in part by generative AI, you must cite the AI software in the comments, and you are required to understand how and why the code works. (Note also that electronics are not available during tests, so submitting code you do not understand will not help you prepare for tests.) Anyone copying answers or code, or providing answers or code, or becoming aware of others doing so without reporting to the instructor, is in violation of the honor code.

Northwestern University Syllabus Standards

This course follows the Northwestern University Syllabus Standards. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this information.

Getting Started

Do the following things as soon as possible:

Course Summary

Representations of the configuration and spatial motion of rigid bodies and robots based on modern screw theory. Forward, inverse, and differential kinematics. Robot dynamics, trajectory planning, and motion control. Wheeled mobile robots and mobile manipulation.

Prerequisites

Linear algebra, first-order linear ODEs, freshman-level physics/mechanics, a bit of programming background.

Grading

30% of your final grade will be from your Coursera grades (which I expect to be nearly perfect), 30% from assignments outside of Coursera, 20% from quiz 1, and 20% from quiz 2.

Course Text and Software

This course uses the textbook Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control, Kevin M. Lynch and Frank C. Park, Cambridge University Press 2017. If you find an error or typo in the book, please report it here.

Get the book, install and test the Modern Robotics code library, and install and test the CoppeliaSim robot simulator. You will program in Python, Mathematica, or MATLAB in this course.

Here is a linear algebra refresher appendix to accompany the book.

Approximate Syllabus and Schedule

Here is a summary of the structure of the course. All items are due 30 minutes before the associated class time (1:30 PM Central). The deadlines are controlled by Coursera, so do not be late! You may work ahead if you wish, but then you won't get as much out of the classes.

  • Coursera refers to "weeks," but ignore this; our course modules are not a week long.
  • Before some classes, you should complete a quiz on earlier material.
  • Before most classes, you will watch the associated videos on Coursera and answer the "lecture comprehension" (LC) questions. (Designed to be relatively quick, to solidify your understanding.)
  • You are encouraged to read the corresponding portions of the textbook after watching the videos. I suggest you watch first, then read, then possibly re-watch, but you can determine what works best for your learning style.
  • During the class period after you watch those videos, I will typically summarize what we learned, work a problem, take any questions you have about the material, and possibly assign you a problem to work on.
  • There are two kinds of assessments on Coursera (Coursera refers to both of them as "quizzes"): "lecture comprehension" questions (LCs), which are short and immediately follow lectures, and summative quizzes, which are usually longer assessments/assignments occurring at the middle or end of a chapter.
  • Within Coursera there are also "discussion prompts," open-ended group questions that you should reply to (responses can be simple) and forums where you can post questions and reply to other students' questions.
  • Assignments outside Coursera will be submitted through Canvas.

Below is the approximate syllabus and schedule. Next to each date is the Coursera material that should have been covered at least 30 minutes before that class. "LC" refers to brief lecture comprehension questions that should be completed before that class, and "quiz" is a longer summative quiz on earlier material.

Chapter 2, Configuration Space

  • Wed Sept 17: welcome to the course and syllabus review; intro to Coursera. The schedule for completing Coursera items is set by this wiki!
  • Fri Sept 19: check for working CoppeliaSim implementation and summarize installation process for each OS; make sure Coursera invitation is accepted; material through Chapter 2.2 (3 videos and 2 LCs on dof of a robot) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Sept 22: meet the class; and material through Chapter 2.3 (quiz, Chapter 2 through 2.2; 2 videos and 2 LCs on C-space topology and representation) CLASS SLIDES
  • Wed Sept 24: ASST 1 HAS BEEN POSTED. Finish Chapter 2 (2 videos and 2 LCs on configuration and velocity constraints, task space and workspace) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 3, Rigid-Body Motions

  • Fri Sept 26: through Chapter 3.2.1 (quiz, Chapter 2.3 through 2.5; 3 videos and 3 LCs on rotation matrices SO(3)) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Sept 29: finish Chapter 3.2 (3 videos and 3 LCs on angular velocities, so(3), exponential coordinates) CLASS SLIDES
  • Wed Oct 1: New material: through Chapter 3.3.2 (quiz, Chapter 3 through 3.2; 3 videos and 3 LCs on transform matrices SE(3) and twists) CLASS SLIDES
  • Fri Oct 3: finish Chapter 3 (2 videos and 2 LCs on se(3), exponential coordinates, and wrenches) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 4, Forward Kinematics (skip section 4.2 on URDF)

  • Mon Oct 6: finish Chapter 4 (quiz, Chapters 3.3 and 3.4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on product of exponentials formula, space and e-e frame) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 5, Velocity Kinematics and Statics

  • Wed Oct 8: ASST 1 DUE 1:30 PM. New material: through Chapter 5.1 (quiz, Chapter 4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on space Jacobian, body Jacobian) CLASS SLIDES
  • Fri Oct 10: New material: through Chapter 5.2 1 video and 1 LC on statics of open chains) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Oct 13: through Chapter 5.4 (2 videos and 2 LCs on singularity analysis, manipulability) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 6, Inverse Kinematics (focus on section 6.2)

  • Wed Oct 15: Chapter 6 (quiz, Chapter 5; 3 videos and 3 LCs on numerical inverse kinematics) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 8, Dynamics of Open Chains (skip sections 8.4, 8.7, 8.8, and 8.9)

  • Fri Oct 17: through Chapter 8.1.2 (quiz, Chapter 6; 2 videos and 2 LCs on Lagrangian dynamics) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Oct 20: New material: Chapter 8.1.3 (1 video and 1 LC on understanding the mass matrix) CLASS SLIDES
  • Wed Oct 22: QUIZ 1, chapters 2-5 (no electronic devices allowed [calculator, laptop, tablet, etc.]; study sheets and book allowed) 2022 midterm and solutions (average score 22.9/32); 2023 midterm and solutions; 2024 midterm and solutions
  • Fri Oct 24: Chapter 8.2 (2 videos and 2 LCs on dynamics of a single rigid body) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Oct 27: Chapter 8.3 and 8.5 (2 videos and 2 LCs on Newton-Euler inverse dynamics, forward dynamics; quiz, Chapter 8 through 8.3) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 9, Trajectory Generation

  • Wed Oct 29: New material: through Chapter 9.3 (3 videos and 3 LCs on point-to-point trajectories, polynomial via point trajectories) CLASS SLIDES
  • Fri Oct 31: Chapter 9.4 (quiz, Chapter 9 through 9.3; 3 videos and 3 LCs on time-optimal time scaling) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Nov 3: Chapter 9.4 recap.
  • Wed Nov 5: Final project discussion

Chapter 11, Robot Control (focus on sections 11.1 through 11.4)

  • Fri Nov 7: New material: up to (not including) Chapter 11.2.2.1 (quiz, Chapter 9.4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on linear error dynamics) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Nov 10: finish Chapter 11.2.2 (2 videos and 2 LCs on first- and second-order error dynamics) CLASS SLIDES
  • Wed Nov 12: through Chapter 11.3 (3 videos and 3 LCs on motion control with velocity inputs) CLASS SLIDES
  • Fri Nov 14: Chapter 11.4 (quiz, Chapter 11 through 11.3; 3 videos and 3 LCs on motion control with torque or force inputs) CLASS SLIDES

Chapter 13, Wheeled Mobile Robots (skip section 13.3)

  • Mon Nov 17: New material through Chapter 13.2 (quiz, Chapter 11.4; 3 videos and 3 LCs on omnidirectional wheeled mobile robots) CLASS SLIDES
  • Wed Nov 19: Chapter 13.4 (quiz, Chapter 13 through 13.2; 1 video and 1 LC on odometry) CLASS SLIDES
  • Fri Nov 21: Chapter 13.5 (1 video and 1 LC on mobile manipulation) CLASS SLIDES
  • Mon Nov 24: Wrapping up
  • NO CLASS WED NOV 26 AND FRI NOV 28 (HAPPY THANKSGIVING!)
  • Mon Dec 1: Final review.
  • Wed Dec 3: In-class work on final project; Q&A on final.
  • Fri Dec 5: QUIZ 2

Practice Exercises

Sample exercises and their solutions, useful for practicing your understanding of the material.

Practice Tests

Assignments

As mentioned above, in the Honor Code: You are encouraged to discuss the material with the instructor, course assistants, and your classmates, but you are not allowed to share your answers or code with others. Anyone asking for answers or code, or providing answers or code, or becoming aware of others doing so without reporting to the instructor, is considered in violation of the honor code.

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 more detailed submission instructions are given with a particular assignment, make sure to follow those, too.

You will not receive credit if you just give an answer. Your solution must demonstrate how you got the answer. It must be easy to follow.

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:

  • Upload on time! Late submissions are not accepted.
  • For every assignment, you should submit a single zip file, named FamilyName_GivenName_asst#.zip. This zip file should include a single pdf file with answers to all the questions, including screen shots, text logs of code running, etc. Always include output of your code running on the exercises, so the grader can see what you got when you ran your code. You may scan handwritten solutions (provided they are neat!), but in any case, all answers should be in a single pdf file. DO NOT UPLOAD SCANS AS JPGS! THEY MUST ALL BE COMPILED INTO A SINGLE PDF FILE.
  • You may be asked to include in your zip file all source code in their original forms, such as .m, .py, or .nb. Always create a script that the grader can easily invoke to run your code for a particular 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.txt" file in your zip file, for example, to tell the grader how everything works). Your code should be commented well enough that it is easy for someone else to pick it up and understand more or less how it works. All student-written code must be submitted; do not submit any standard MR code.
  • If you include movies, keep them short and clear. They should only be a few MB in size. For example, you don't need super high resolution, 60 fps, etc.
  • All plots should be labeled (axes, legends, titles) with appropriate units.

Assignment 1, due 1:30 PM CT Wednesday October 8.

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