For content information:
Stefan van Sterkenburg
E-mail: stefan.vansterkenburg@han.nl
Tel: 06 55206398
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Mobile Robotics (full-time)
Robotics is the future
Modern cars provide many support systems for the human driver and the next step is the autonomous car. Companies like Waymo already operate ‘robotaxi’ services specific areas. In the future, robotic vehicles will dominate our traffic environment, providing comfortable and safe mobility services. Car manufacturers change from suppliers of steel/plastic based cars to ICT oriented companies that provide mobility solutions.
This is not only happening in human transport. It also happens in logistics, agriculture and in healthcare. So-called AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) already drive around on in harbors and warehouses. In farming, robots are automating processes in barns, such as milking, feeding and cleaning. In healthcare, mobile robots help in supporting disabled persons, they can distribute goods in hospitals and provide leisure or information to humans.
Mobile robots are complex machines that share a lot of technology that is independent of the application. Think about the necessary electronics (sensors, actuators and controllers), the need to perceive the world using AI technology, the fact that mobile robots show certain kinematic and the need for a good re-usable software architecture that is often based on the Robot Operating System (ROS).
In this minor, you will learn about all these aspects. Minor Mobile Robotics offers you a number of modules that cover the most relevant aspects for developing a mobile robotic solution, whether it is an autonomous car or a mobile cleaning robot. Based on your current educational background, you can choose modules that best fit your interest.
During the second half of the minor, you will work in a project on a real life mobile robotic application. You will do this in a team of fellow minor students and you will use an agile, Scrum-alike approach. In the minor we work together with many companies and research projects that we carry out in cooperation with many companies and knowledge organizations. These companies and projects will provide the assignments for the minor projects.
The minor offers the following theory/practical courses:
* Mobile Robotics Architectures
This course introduces ROS2. ROS2 is the second version of ROS (Robot Operating System) which is a flexible framework for writing software for robotic applications. It is a collection of tools, libraries, and conventions that aim to simplify the task of creating complex and robust robot behavior. It includes features like multi-robot systems, real-time communication, lifecycle nodes and dynamic composition.
* Machine learning and perception
This course teaches the basics of machine learning (ML) with a focus on machine vision. Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence where systems learn from big data sets or improve their performance based on processed data. Topics of this course are:
- ML basic principles and their applications in the field of robotics.
- Collecting and preparing data, developing features, selecting and training a supervised learning algorithm).
- Classification pipelines, validation, testing, evaluation of quality measures
* Electronics for Robotics
This course discusses the hardware (electronics) and embedded systems that are used in low level controllers for robotic applications. A low level controller is a device that is dedicated to carry out a specific function and is often part of a more complex system that is controlled by a high level controller. In the course robotic electronics, we focus on the design of a motor controller with a speed and torque control. The following subjects are discussed:
- The design of electronic circuits for the power supply, sensors and actuators.
- The design of a PCB
- Testing hardware and software on subsystem level and the integration of all subsystems
- The control of the electronics via a development board with an embedded controller (ESP32).
- Setup communication of the low level controller with a high level controller via serial communication and a client/server connection via WIFI.
* Project
All projects deal with the design, testing and/or implementation of hardware or software systems for mobile robotic applications. The content of the projects depends on the projects that the automotive research center is involved with and on the contacts with companies. This differs each year. Examples of projects from the past are the design of a scaled model of an autonomous driving tractor, the design of a crash test robot and the design of an object detection system for a street drone. The project is executed in a group of 3-6 students, preferably from different disciplines. Though the project subjects might be quite diverse, they all follow a common way of working: The design always involves electronics and/or programming and/or embedded systems and is related to mobile robotics, autonomous driving or other forms of mobility. Each project involves the defining of a detailed and unambiguous set of requirements (program of demands) that is extensively communicated with the client and that is approved by the client.
Type of minor
This is a specializing as well as broadening exchange course/minor. This means it enables you to further deepen as well as widen your skills and knowledge within your own profession (professional profile). This will depend on the modules that you chose.
Block exchange course
This exchange course is offered once a year in the first semester of a schoolyear (from September up to January).
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes listed below may help you decide whether this exchange course matches your personal goals. The course primarily aims at the following professional tasks:
- To analyze
- To design
- To develop
Consequently, the course includes the following learning outcomes:
- You understand the relevant aspects involved in bringing a mobile robotics solution to a level that it can become a product or service offering in the market.
- You define functional and technical requirements for a mobile robotics solution - consisting of hardware and software elements - in interaction with clients, based on gained knowledge and competences in the modules.
- You carry out applied research, including design and development activities as part of a multidisciplinary student team, and will understand the necessary steps from the functional level to technical design, including the use of design tools (e.g. simulation tools, software/hardware in-the-loop analysis).
- You will be able to design and validate a mobile robotics system, or a part of it and/or its model.
Competences
The course aims to develop the following core competences:
- Managing projects in an agile way, including elicitation of requirements into a product backlog
- Design and development of a mobile robotics system
- Validation of a product, service or process
- Conducting an applied research program
- Effectively cooperating in a multidisciplinary team
Additionally, the minor will also develop other competences, such as:
- To manage a project and/or a team
- Advising based on analysis or technical insights
- Guiding personal professional development
- To do research
Admission requirements
An exchange course will be of most benefit to you if it complements your studies and/or your professional profile, is at an appropriate level and does not overlap with your major.
The course is open to 3rd and 4th year Bachelor students from majors in Engineering and ICT (e.g. Embedded Software Development, Software Development, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Embedded Systems Engineering, Industrial Product Design), or any equivalent technical Bachelor level course.
Basic knowledge with respect to the programming language Python (or other programming language) is highly recommended.
Nice to know
If there are any doubts about students’ preparation, they must complete an intake assessment. A sufficient level of English fluency is a prerequisite for admission to this course.
For example:
- An IELTS score of at least 6.5 or
- A TOEFL score of at least 90 (Internet-based), 232 (computer-based) or
- A Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), A Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).
Assessment
During this exchange course your performance will be assessed in the following ways:
The course consists of 2 educational blocks, each with a duration of 9-10 weeks. The first block mainly focuses on 3 theory/practical modules. Each theory/practical module includes its specific type of assessment, or combination of assessments. The different assessment types include: practical assignment, written exam, oral exam, case study. The second block completely focuses on the project. The project will be assessed via a project plan and professional products (designs, reports, presentations, etc.) that will be delivered by the project team. Peer reviews may influence the project grade of the individual team members.
Schedule
Students are expected to be available from Monday to Friday, so doing a part-time job or taking other subjects from Monday to Friday between 9.00 - 17:45 is not an option.
Study load
The study load mainly comprises contact hours with the tutor, tutorials, practice, self-study hours and assignment hours. It is assumed that students in this course will put in 840 clock hours (30 European credit points).
This minor/course is offered once a year, during Semester 1 (September - January).
Working Methods
- Lectures and practical work 4-5 days per week
- Exams
- Guest lectures
- Project
- Exam re-sits (if necessary)
The teaching staff will divide students into groups for practical work and into teams for the project. The teams will be multidisciplinary: you will be working with students from different backgrounds.
Relevant literature information is given at the start of the course.
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