Introduction to Robotics: Theory and Practice

Course Profile

Description

The course will teach students the basic principles of robotics and robotic design and challenge them to build their own special-purpose robot to compete in a “Robot Derby” at the end of the semester. Students will begin with the basics of modeling, design, planning, programming and control of robot systems. They will combine knowledge from geometry, physics, kinematics, statics, dynamics and computer programming.

The course will be broken up into two strands: theoretical and practical. During the theoretical strand, students will learn how transform all their knowledge into detailed plans to solve a problem and to implement them, i.e. devise and implement an algorithm – a skill of paramount importance in engineering. They will also learn design principles for building special-purpose robots: built for speed or light-weightedness, or to utilize sensors, display results, etc.

During the practical strand of the course, students will work a LEGO robotics platform and learn the tools to build and program LEGO robots. They will learn principles of programming and the NXT Lego programming tools. They will be exposed to many examples and many designs as well as how to utilize input from sensors. As a final challenge, students will be organized into teams of 3 or 4 and be required to design, build and program a special- purpose robot for a specific task. A “robot derby” competition will be held at the end of the course, in which teams will be tested and evaluated on how successful they have been with their design. Their performance will be measured according to specific criteria related to task completion, speed, durability, accuracy, etc.

Who benefits?

This course is a simplified transfer of a corresponding first year University course to the 10^th /11^th /12^th grade high-school students, who are serious about following a career in science and engineering. It will help them acquire basic programming skills and be exposed to the multi-disciplinary way of thinking that characterizes today’s science and engineering. Students will draw on different areas of knowledge, such as geometry, physics, mathematics, programming, and efficient design, to successfully complete the course. Further, the exposure of the students to a challenging Technical University environment as well as the need to work in teams will open up new directions in their thinking about university education options and careers paths.

Course structure

Summer 2012 (JUNE 21 – JULY 5, 2012)

• Lecture 1 (3 hours): Course Overview, History of Robotics, Videos, Robotic Applications, Related Courses at AIT, Splitting into Working teams
• Lecture 2 (3 hours) Programming Motion, Angles, Rotations. The Brick, The Tools Commands, Programming the BRICK, The PC Tool, transferring code PC Brick
• Lecture 3 (3 hours) Sensors & Sensor Readings, Exploring Motions, Exploring sensors, Exploring Display
• Lecture 4 (3 hours) Program Flow: Conditions and Loops
• Lecture 5 (3 hours) Nested Loops, Specialty Blocks Programming
• Lecture 6 (3 hours) Building Tips, First Challenge: Designing Robots for a purpose – Line Following Robot (2 techniques)
• Lecture 7 (3 hours) Lab work: Supervised term project work
• Lecture 8 (3 hours)) Lab work: Supervised term project work
• Lecture 9 (3 hours) Lab work: Supervised term project work
• Lecture 10 (3 hours) Supervised term project work
• Final Presentation (TBA) --- Presentation by students to their peers

Invitation to Computer Science using Java

Course Profile

Description

What is Computer Science; what are its applications in other disciplines, and its impact in society? We provide a broad introduction to computer science and programming through real-life applications. The course does not assume any prior knowledge of programming or computers. The course is a step-by-step introduction to the art of problem solving using the computer and uses the Java language. Labs provide opportunities to experiment with the concepts presented in class and problems that arise in real-life.

The goal is to help students develop an understanding of programs like the ones we run on our computers, on the web and on our smart phones (iphone, android phones, ipads). Productivity tools, Digital design, Games and Graphics all are the result of careful and inspired programming.

Programming is actually both a science and an art. It requires mathematical knowledge as well as a good mind for structuring and presenting information. Further it requires good knowledge of a new language, a computer language like Java, C++, Visual Basic, Python, and lots of others. It also requires the skills to use a program that will allow you to transcribe your ideas and goals into that language and convert it to an error free set of instructions that the computer understands.

The end result is a computer-understandable transcription of the thoughts, design and grand plan of a human or group of humans, for the benefit of other humans! If done correctly, programming is also beautiful in its design, efficient, fast, responsive and enchanting in its outcome: you only have to take a look at your favorite computer game!

The course will be a blend of theory and hands-on practice on a development platform. Since Java is universal, students can use their favorite computers and operating systems (Windows, MacOS or LINUX) to develop platform-independent programs that will actually do useful stuff.

Who benefits?

This course is a simplified transfer of a corresponding first year University course to the 10^th, 11^th & 12^th grade high-school students. It is intended for all students interested in programming, not only those intending to major in computer science, even though it also addresses advanced topics. It will help them acquire basic programming skills and be exposed to a new way of thinking necessary to progress today’s science and engineering. Further, the exposure of the students to a challenging computer science course, as well as the need to work in teams will open up new directions in their thinking about university education options and careers paths.

Main topics:

• How does a computer work? Logic, gates, circuits, designing logic circuits, machine organization.
• Designing algorithms.
• Analyzing the efficiency of algorithms.
• Implementing algorithms in Java.
• Computability and Complexity.
• Social issues of computer science.
• There will be labs throughout the semester. Since there are no other assignments besides labs, the labs are designed to be finished during lab time .

Course structure

Summer 2012 (June 20 – July 3)

Tentative List of Lectures

• Introduction and overview
  What is (not) Computer Science? What is an algorithm?
• Computer Organization
  Binary numbers and conversions. Boolean logic, logic gates, logic circuits. Von Neumann architecture. The fetch-decode-execute cycle.
• Introduction to algorithms and Java programming
  Pseudocode elements. Basic instructions. Conditional instructions. The infamous Hello world! program.
• Programming basics
  Basic types and operations: input, output, variables, assignment and arithmetic expressions, if-then-else.
• Loops & Nested loops
  Programming style. Class work.
• Arrays in Java Examples, Problems, Class work: Search array
  Strings Examples, Problems, Class work
• Algorithm efficiency
  Searching: Sequential search. Binary search. Efficiency. Sorting. Class work
• Methods (in Java)
  Array basic methods. For loops
• Classes and objects in Java
  Examples
• Social Aspects of Computer Science

SAT Prep Academy

Course Profile

Course structure

• Ten intensive daily sessions, led by experienced instructors
• Classes meet for three hours between 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Two classes per session: Mathematics /Critical Reading and Writing
• Maximum class size: 7-8 students
• Classes will focus on specific test taking strategies, test taking practice and content review and reinforcement.

Healthy Choices / Healthy Living

Course Profile

Course structure

This discussion-rich, project-based course offers an intensive study of the important health and nutrition topics necessary for all high school students to know, so that they can make informed choices to promote physical, mental and emotional health. The student will study such topics as self-esteem, stress management, abuse, First Aid techniques-CPR, nutrition and exercise, human sexuality, sex and family planning, substance abuse, and STD’s.
Successful completion of this course will earn students .5 credits and satisfy the ACS graduation requirement for Health.

Sculpting / Building for Design and Stop - Motion Animation Puppets – Creating for the Movies

Course Profile

Course structure

This class is a hands-on design course starting with research and drawing methods and following with sculpting and/or building to create concept models. Students will be encouraged to animate the character or vehicle at the end of the course, but this is optional.

Creating sculptures and scale models is still the easiest and most direct way to create and express a design. In this “digital era” being able to express a concept/design as a physical object, has never been more pertinent. Sculptures are very often scanned in 3D to make virtual models for SFX and video games and creature design has never been more popular. Students taking this class will have the chance to create a character design or mock-up model from scratch and learn the same methods a professional in the entertainment industry would use.

Students will first design a character in 2D and then translate it into a real phisical model(3D). They will also be shown how to make their own tools.

The computer will be used only for the purposes of aiding in the research & development of the character design via finding images on the Internet of textures, animals, art and other examples of creature design and puppet sculpting. Students may draw on a laptop using a drawing tablet.

The finished result will be a product that every student can take home with him/her to work on further, and/or use as point of reference if they wish to explore the field further. If the students choose to work on an exceptionally ambitious project they can continue to work on it after the class is over using the methods/techniques learned and eventually add it to their portfolio.

After working for 10 years on Film and TV productions in Montreal as a model-maker/sculptor/ designer, instructor Dimitri Kaliviotis has recently relocated to Athens, Greece. He graduated from ACS Athens in 1995 and went on to get a degree in design/art at Concordia University in Montreal. He has also given lectures on building and sculpting techniques concerning for stop- motion animation for university students.

Successful completion of this course will earn students .5 credits and satisfy the ACS graduation requirement for Health.