16-861 Mobile Robot Design
Location: Pittsburgh
Units: 12
Semester Offered: Fall
This course investigates robot mobility, energetics, sensing, computing, software, payload, interface, and operating environment. The context is robotic pursuit of the Moon. Scope incorporates mechanism, electronics, software, locomotion, navigation, communication, sensing, power and thermal considerations. Additionally, space systems address challenges of low mass, energetics, space environment, and reliability of design. Media is incorporated to chronicle and represent the accomplishments. The course is appropriate for a broad range of student disciplines and interests. Course Learning Objectives include formulation, problem solving, robotics and developing space systems. Students work cooperatively in teams with guidance to produce mission-relevant results and practice technical communications through written and oral presentations. Teams generate term papers detailing the design, development, testing and lessons learned.