Course Description: Fall Term, 2006  . Texts: An Introduction to AI Robotics by Robin R. Murphy (MIT Press) Course Software: IC 6 (freeware from KIPR - beta version of latest release (link) may also require installation of MS download at link) Operating system support includes MS Windows (W98 or later), Mac OSX, and Linux (Fedora 3 and 4). It is expected that most students taking this course will supply their own computing environment. IC should minimally impact any system it is installed on. Course Prerequisites: COP 3601: Introduction to Systems Software or similar C programming experience COP 3530: Data Structures or equivalent Description: This course will focus on models and methods for the design and development of robotic devices whose function is to accomplish prescribed tasks with minimal human intervention. Developments of the past fifteen years have increasingly moved this robotics in the direction of what can be called AI robotics. This direction is analogous to the direction taking by computers in the 1980's with the introduction of personal computers. Developments in AI robotics are occurring in the context of "toy" devices, analogous to the manner in which personal computers evolved from main frame technology. De facto standards for these kinds of robotics devices are beginning to appear and rapid prototyping technologies of reasonable cost are increasingly becoming available. The emphasis of the course will be on basic robotics elements: simple mechanics (moving, turning, lifting), sensing the environment (light, contact, proximity), monitoring internal state (time, position, orientation), and incremental design for solving a problem. A major objective will be the implementation of a working robot to address a performance specification. The laboratory component of the course will be central. Students will work on laboratory projects utilizing robotics materials developed by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics for use with the KIPR XBC robotics controller. The basic fabrication elements are Lego Technic, supplemented by a selection of motors and sensors that are compatible with the XBC controller. The XBC is controlled by code written in Interactive C on a PC workstation, which is then compiled and downloaded to the XBC or alternately, pre-tested using a simulator incorporated into the IC development environment. The IC cross-compiler to be used is the latest version produced by the KISS Institute, and currently supports 4 controllers (the XBC, the MIT Handy Board, the Lego RCX, and the Sumo 11). The IC interface is designed to facilitate the compile/download process.