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Module Catalogue

ES4A1-15 Advanced Robotics

Department
School of Engineering
Level
Undergraduate Level 4
Module leader
Emma Rushforth
Credit value
15
Module duration
13 weeks
Assessment
40% coursework, 60% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

ES4A1-15 Advanced Robotics

Module web page

Module aims

Advanced Robotics will explore in great depth areas relevant to not only industrial robotics but service robots (i.e. robots outside a factory environment particularly mobile robots) and the application of this technology to real world environments e.g. driverless vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and tele-robots. Students will also master robot fixturing, robot safety, simple PLC ladder logic, robot kinematics and dynamics.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Geometric, kinematic, and dynamic analysis of serial robots manipulators.
PLC (programmable logic controller) and safety controller programming.
Robot fixture design.
Safety in a robot cell.
Current and future application of robotics outside industry, i.e. service robots.
Mobile robotics: locomotion, sensors, perception, SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping) and probabilistic techniques.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Solve complex kinematic and dynamic calculation problems applied to serial robots arms.
  • Independently program a PLC (programmable logic controller).
  • Undertake self-directed research and critically evaluate current and future non-industrial applications of robotic technology.
  • Appraise, evaluate and creatively apply mobile robot technology: locomotion, sensors and probabilistic techniques.
  • Design and critically evaluate: a safe system in a robot cell, fixturing for robot cells.
Indicative reading list

"An Introduction to Robotics Analysis, Systems, Applications", Niku, S.B, 2019, 9781119527626, TJ 211.N4
"Implementation of Robotic Systems", Wilson, Mike, 2014, 9780124047334, EBOOK/ TS191.8.W55
"Introduction to robotics : mechanics and control", Craig, J. J, 2013, 9781292040042, TJ 211.C7
"Robotics", Mihelj, M. 2019, 9783030102852, TJ211.M54
“Robotics: A Very Short Introduction”, Winfield, Alan, 2012, 9780199695980, TJ211.W56
“Principles of Modern Manufacturing” Groover, Mikell P., 2013 9781118474204, TS183.G763
“PLC Hardware and Programming”, Lamb, Frank, 2016, 978-1524648183,
“Introduction to autonomous mobile robots”, Siegwart, Roland, Nourbakhsh, Illah R., (2nd Edition), 2011, 978-0262015356, TJ 211.S4
“Probabilistic Robotics”, Thrun, Sebastian, Burgard, Wolfram, Fox, Dieter, 2005, 978-0262201629, TJ 211.T575

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Ability to conceive, make and realise a component, product, system or process.
Ability to be pragmatic, taking a systematic approach and the logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality.
Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities.

Transferable skills

Numeracy: apply mathematical and computational methods to communicate parameters, model and optimize solutions.
Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities.
Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner.
Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 18 sessions of 1 hour (12%)
Tutorials 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Practical classes 6 sessions of 1 hour (4%)
Other activity 2 hours (1%)
Private study 114 hours (76%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

Guided Independent learning 111 hours (including completion of tutorial problem sheets and coursework assignments)
Practical Class-
1 x 1 hour Safety Controller Lab
2 x 1 hour PLC Programming Lab
1 x 3 hour on-line robot programming lab

Other activity description

2 x 1 hr revision class

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group D1
Weighting Study time
Mini Design Portfolio 40%

Design portfolio 2000 words
Online Examination 60%

QMP 1 hour 30 minutes long

~Platforms - AEP,QMP,Submission Through Tabula Assignment Management

  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
  • Students may use a calculator
  • Engineering Data Book 8th Edition
Feedback on assessment

Verbal communication in the robot labs. Written comments and electronically marked-up assignments for the design portfolio.
Cohort level feedback on examinations

Past exam papers for ES4A1

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 4 of UESA-H331 MEng Automotive Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-H107 MEng Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH37 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 4 of UESA-H64Z MEng Electronic Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-H116 MEng Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-H117 MEng Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-H115 MEng Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH79 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH33 MEng Systems Engineering with Exchange Year
  • RESA-H6P9 Postgraduate Research Wide Bandgap Power Electronics
    • Year 1 of H6P9 Wide Bandgap Power Electronics (EngD)
    • Year 2 of H6P9 Wide Bandgap Power Electronics (EngD)
  • Year 5 of UESA-H607 Undergraduate Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Intercalated Year

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 4 of UESA-H336 MEng Automotive Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-H163 MEng Biomedical Systems Engineering
  • UESA-H635 MEng Electronic Engineering
    • Year 4 of H635 Electronic Engineering
    • Year 4 of H60C Electronic Engineering with Business Management
    • Year 4 of H60D Electronic Engineering with Communications
    • Year 4 of H60E Electronic Engineering with Computer Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-H63X MEng Electronic Engineering
  • Year 5 of UESA-H636 MEng Electronic Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-H63Y MEng Electronic Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • UESA-H107 MEng Engineering
    • Year 4 of H107 Engineering MEng
    • Year 4 of H10E Engineering with Appropriate Technology MEng
    • Year 4 of H10J Engineering with Automotive Engineering MEng
    • Year 4 of H10C Engineering with Business Management MEng
    • Year 4 of H10G Engineering with Communications MEng
    • Year 4 of H10H Engineering with Computer Engineering MEng
    • Year 4 of H10M Engineering with Fluid Dynamics MEng
    • Year 4 of H10F Engineering with Instrumentation MEng
    • Year 4 of H10D Engineering with Sustainability MEng
    • Year 4 of H10L Engineering with Systems Engineering MEng
  • Year 4 of UESA-H114 MEng Engineering
  • Year 5 of UESA-H109 MEng Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH37 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH76 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
  • Year 5 of UESA-HH38 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-HH77 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-H311 MEng Mechanical Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH31 MEng Systems Engineering
  • UESA-HH63 MEng Systems Engineering
    • Year 4 of H63C Systems Engineering with Computer Engineering
    • Year 4 of H63D Systems Engineering with Instrumentation
  • Year 5 of UESA-HH32 MEng Systems Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 1 of TESA-H643 Postgraduate Taught Electrical Power Engineering
  • Year 1 of TESA-H642 Postgraduate Taught Energy and Power Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-H606 Undergraduate Electrical and Electronic Engineering MEng

This module is Option list B for:

  • UESA-H331 MEng Automotive Engineering
    • Year 4 of H331 Automotive Engineering MEng
    • Year 4 of H33A Automotive Engineering with Business Management
  • Year 4 of UESA-H336 MEng Automotive Engineering
  • Year 5 of UESA-H332 MEng Automotive Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-H337 MEng Automotive Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-H635 MEng Electronic Engineering
  • Year 5 of UESA-H636 MEng Electronic Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-H107 MEng Engineering
  • UESA-HH37 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
    • Year 4 of H37A Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Business Management
    • Year 4 of H37D Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Robotics
    • Year 4 of H37B Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Sustainability
  • UESA-H311 MEng Mechanical Engineering
    • Year 4 of H30G Mechanical Engineering with Business Management
    • Year 4 of H30P Mechanical Engineering with Fluid Dynamics
    • Year 4 of H30M Mechanical Engineering with Robotics
    • Year 4 of H30H Mechanical Engineering with Sustainability
  • UESA-HH63 MEng Systems Engineering
    • Year 4 of HH63 Systems Engineering (MEng)
    • Year 4 of H63A Systems Engineering with Business Management
    • Year 4 of H63F Systems Engineering with Robotics
    • Year 4 of H63B Systems Engineering with Sustainability
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH3A MEng Systems Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-HH64 MEng Systems Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UCSA-G408 Undergraduate Computer Systems Engineering
  • Year 5 of UCSA-G409 Undergraduate Computer Systems Engineering (with Intercalated Year)

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 4 of UESA-H635 MEng Electronic Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH37 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
  • UESA-H311 MEng Mechanical Engineering
    • Year 4 of H311 Mechanical Engineering
    • Year 4 of H30J Mechanical Engineering with Appropriate Technology
    • Year 4 of H30L Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering
    • Year 4 of H30N Mechanical Engineering with Systems Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-H316 MEng Mechanical Engineering
  • Year 4 of UESA-H318 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-H320 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Exchange Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-H312 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 5 of UESA-H317 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UESA-HH63 MEng Systems Engineering