Robotics Engineering

RBE 500. Foundations of Robotics

Mathematical foundations and principles of processing sensor information in robotic systems. Topics include an introduction to probabilistic concepts related to sensors, sensor signal processing, multi-sensor control systems and optimal estimation. The material presented will focus on the types of control problems encountered when a robot must operate in an environment where sensor noise and/or tracking errors are significant. Techniques for assessing the stability, controllability and expected accuracy of multi-sensor control and tracking systems will be presented. Lab projects will involve processing live and synthetic data, robot simulation, and projects involving the control of robot platforms. (Prerequisites: Differential Equations (MA 2051 or equivalent), Linear Algebra (MA 2071 or equivalent) and the ability to program in a high-level language.)

RBE 501. Robot Dynamics

Foundations and principles of robotic manipulation. Topics include computational models of objects and motion, the mechanics of robotic manipulators, the structure of manipulator control systems, planning and programming of robot actions. The focus of this class is on the kinematics and programming of robotic mechanisms. Important topics also include the dynamics, control, sensor and effector design, and automatic planning methods for robots. The fundamental techniques apply to arms, mobile robots, active sensor platforms, and all other computercontrolled kinematic linkages. The primary applications include robotic arms and mobile robots and lab projects would involve programming of representative robots. An end of term team project would allow students to program robots to participate in challenges or competitions. (Prerequisite: RBE 500 or equivalent.)

RBE 502. ROBOT CONTROL

RBE 510. MULTI-ROBOT SYSTEMS

RBE 526. HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION

RBE 540. SENSITIVE ROBOTICS

RBE 549. Computer Vision

This course examines current issues in the computer implementation of visual perception. Topics include image formation, edge detection, segmentation, shape-from-shading, motion, stereo, texture analysis, pattern classification and object recognition. We will discuss various representations for visual information, including sketches and intrinsic images. (Prerequisites: CS 534, CS 543, CS 545, or the equivalent of one of these courses.)

RBE 580. BIOMEDICAL ROBOTICS

RBE 594. COMPUTER VISION

RBE 595. Special Topics

Arranged by individual faculty with special expertise, these courses survey fundamentals in areas that are not covered by the regular Robotics Engineering course offerings. Exact course descriptions are disseminated by the Robotics Engineering Program well in advance of the offering. (Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. See the Supplement section of the on-line catalog at www.wpi. edu/+gradcat for descriptions of courses to be offered each academic year.)