Module Descriptors
BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED ROBOTICS
MECH40359
Key Facts
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences
Level 4
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Samuel Wane
Email: S.O.Wane@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 36
Independent Study Hours: 114
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
  • COURSEWORK weighted at 100%
Module Details
Module Indicative Content
Introduction to robot systems and controllers.
Introduction to programming for robotics
Braitenberg vehicles and subsumption architecture
BEAM and legged robotics
Robot simulation
The basics of sensory feedback and decision making processes
Module Additional Assessment Details
100% in course assessment consisting of:
(30%) A 15 minute presentation and demonstration of a mobile robot system exhibiting decision making behaviour and how it was developed (Learning outcomes 2 and 4)
(70%) A 2000 word report on the development of a mobile robot (Learning outcomes 1 and 3)
Module Learning Strategies
Practical laboratory sessions (2 hours per week) will be complemented with theory in the form of handouts, recommended reading and lectures (1 hour per week). (1:n)1 (1:20)2
Module Special Admissions Requirements
None.
Module Texts
BRAITENBERG.V, Vehicles : experiments in synthetic psychology,Cambridge, MA. : MIT Press (1984),ISBN/ISSN: 0262022087 / 0262521121

Martin.F, Robotic explorations : a hands-on introduction to engineering, Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall (2001),ISBN/ISSN: 0130895687
Module Resources
Laboratory facilities consisting of a programmable embedded system, motors and gears, sensors and a programming development environment.
Library resources (books on robotics, several robotics journals accessible online, full IEEExplore access to academic papers, and various magazines)