Homework 4
The first "real" homework. Due in one week - at 7pm, just before
the lab starts.
The task is to do a preliminary analysis of what you want to do
for your robot project, and why. Of course, this preliminary
report may change several times before you'll produce the
final design, but a good start is a good start... so let's make
the first step!
- Get together with your lab partner and do some brainstorming. Set
up a goal for yourself (it can be big and grandiose, let your
imagination go wild!!), something that you really want to build,
if you had all the technology and knowledge that was needed. Then
list all the possible ways to achieve that goal
that you can think of, using robot
technology.
- Matrix spreadsheet.
Then make a realistic analysis - using the matrix approach
taught by Doreen. Try to come up with rational arguments about
the advantages, feasibility, cost, utility, market value -
anything you think might be important for your project to
succeed.
Bring then into equation the restrictions of the technology that
we are using. You have not seen everything that can be done with
Mindstorms but you must have realized some of its
limitations. Later in the
semester you will work with a slightly more advanced kit,
other types of sensors, better microcontroller with a more powerful language
to use for programming.
Dare
to propose other solutions and think of the Lego version as a
prototype for a more advanced project (that you may not get to
build this semester, but who knows, it might be done the future!!!)
Finally, decide what a realistic goal for a class robot might
be, and present it as your choice of a project.
- Document your project. Do a web search, either
starting from the list of links collected by Ileana
(
Resources
from the class web page), or do an independent web or library search and see
what you find.
In the past, students have found interesting ideas from Nasa's
page (the Mars Rover) (down-to-earth variations can be found on the
Mindstorms web page). Various robotics labs have links to students'
creations, or more advanced robotics research projects. It would
be good to have some real industrial applications taken into
account - even it we may not be able to build more than a simple
Lego prototype. Whatever strikes your imagination!
- To submit:
Printed versions of the following two items:
- Matrix (as an Excel spreadsheet) of options.
- A short discussion of the reasons behind your final choice (word
processed or as a simple web page). Include documentation
( library search, web search - provide references).
Last updated Oct. 1, 1999.
Ileana Streinu