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
kinematics and dynamics.
By the end of the module the student should be able to...
- Solve complex kinematic and dynamic calculation problems applied to serial robots arms.
- Independently program and set up: an industrial robot; a vision guided robot system; a safety controller simulation system; and PLC (programmable logic controller).
- Undertake self-directed research and critically evaluate current and future non-industrial applications of robotic technology.
- Appraise and evaluate mobile robot technology: locomotion, sensors and probabilistic techniques.
- Design and critically evaluate: a safe system in a robot cell; a robot end-effector; fixturing and tools for robot cells.
The aim of this module is to build fundamental knowledge of statics and behaviour of structures that underpin many branches of engineering science. This will provide the knowledge required for further study in the design and analysis of structures from buildings to spacecraft, motor vehicles and wind turbines. The module will increase the students’ ability with mathematical analysis and in particular its application to solving problems in structures. The module will further help in developing experimental skills and awareness of health and safety issues applicable to working in a supervised laboratory.
The module provides an understanding of the principles
of operation of automated equipment with particular reference to industrial
robots. It focuses on the knowledge needed to select and use such equipment
effectively and safely. However, some design aspects will be presented. There
is an emphasis on the use of sensors to make robots behave
"intelligently".
By the end of the module students will be able to:
- Appraise the impact of automation, both economic and social, on modern industry and future applications in industry
- Contrast the benefits and disadvantages of automating a task.
- Evaluate the different mechanical configurations available for a modern industrial robot and argue if a task is appropriate for that configuration.
- Program an industrial robot off-line using kinematic simulation software to perform a specified task.
- Locate the sources of positional error and calculate the possible positional error in an application.
- Analyse safety hazards and formulate a safety system for a given automation application.
- Select appropriate sensors for a given automation application.
- Apply machine vision to a given application and set up a machine vision system.
- Analyse complex robot kinematic theory and devise kinematic calculations for a given case study.