Introduction to 3D Modeling and Printing

In the last unit of our Robotics and Engineering Design curriculum, we are going to explore the exciting field of 3D Modeling and Printing.

For 3D Modeling, we are going to use SketchUp Pro as our software tool. There are many video tutorials which help you accelerate through the learning curve, and you might want to start watching them.

1. Google SketchUp Tutorial Videos by littlestworkshop: A series of short clips (28 videos) which give you clear concepts and basic skills to use SketchUp. 
2.  SketchUp Video Tutorials: Getting Started with SketchUp: by SketchUp A four-part tutorial series which uses small project examples to help you getting off the ground. There are many more advanced tutorials in this website.

For 3D Printing, we are going to use MakerBot Replicator 2 as our 3D printer. There are some videos in the MakerBot website.

1. MakerBot Replicator 2 - Tutorials: Four video tutorials which help you understand the basics of our 3D printer such that you can start printing in just minutes.
2. MakerBot TV S02E11 - MakerBot A Robot!: Fun DIY robot projects show you the possibilities of 3D printing. 

Objective-C

Objective-C is the primary programming language you use when writing software for iPhone or iPad. Before you start developing your dream apps, we are going to spend a couple of weeks to learn this basic language skill in a non-traditional way. There are quite a few online video tutorials available for Objective-C programming. They are neither complete in content nor perfect in quality. However, they provide a hand-on learning path to pick up a programming language in a brief time frame.      

The following links are a few playlists of Objective-C programming tutorials on YouTube. Please use them as your self-learning course materials. If you come across any good online tutorial, please share with the class in this blog. You are expected to spend at least 40 minutes a day watching them and taking notes before coming to the class. You will share, discuss the material and do the hand-on exercises during the class time.

• Objective C Programming Tutorials by thenewboston
• Objective-C Tutorials by Mac and Computer Help
• Learn Objective C Programming Tutorials by mybringback
• Objective-C Programming Tutorials by easyaspnet

Assignments will be given each week to help you practicing the language skills.

Ultrasonic Rangefinder

An ultrasonic range finder sensor enables a robot to detect obstacles in its path by utilizing the propagation of high-frequency sound waves. The sensor emits a 40kHz sound wave, which bounces off a reflective surface and returns to the sensor. Then, using the amount of time it takes for the wave to return to the sensor, the distance to the object can be computed.

The sensor can be used to determine distances to objects. It can be used as a tool to determine if any objects are in the robot’s path at all. To increase the sensing range, the sensor can be mounted to a servo to allow it to rotate. The following are some basic information to help you kick off your project. 

Documentation: http://www.vexforum.com/wiki/index.php/Ultrasonic_Range_Finder

Instruction: http://content.vexrobotics.com/docs/instructions/276-2155-instr-0312.pdf
Video: http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/products/teaching_robotc_cortex/
then click Sensing and select Forward until Near.

Line Tracking

Line tracking is an easy way to make your robot autonomous. In order to follow the dark-tape marked path on the floor, you have to install the line tracker in front of your robot, and program your robot accordingly. The following are some basic information to help you kick off your project. 

Documentation: http://www.vexforum.com/wiki/index.php/Line_Follower

Instruction: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4er4OWY8aPMazZBNnJwUVFSN3c/edit?usp=sharing

Video: http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/products/teaching_robotc_cortex/
then click Sensing and select Line following.

Using the VEX Cortex with ROBOTC

Once you finished building your Clawbot, you are ready to setup the programming environment such that you can start program your robot. The following important document will help you set up the communication between your laptop and your Cortex microcontroller such that your group can formally kick off the programming project.

Using the VEX Cortex with ROBOTC

Engineering Notebook

Project groups are required to maintain daily online logs about their progress. The writing should be clear and concise. The following list is a template for your logs.

• Progress: tasks accomplished, problems solved, questions answered, lessons learned, new idea identified, etc.
• Problem: difficulties encountered, missing information, equipments required, materials missed, open issues, new risks or show stopper identified, etc.
• Plan: steps to attack the problems, action items for tomorrow, experiments to conduct, ideas to try, etc.

Restore a Vex PIC Microcontroller

Right after you finish building your tumbler, you may notice that your robot behave weird and run by itself randomly. It maybe caused by some program downloaded to your PIC Microcontroller last year. So, you need to restore your Microcontroller back to its factory setting. Go to the following link: http://www.vexforum.com/wiki/index.php/Software_Downloads, and find the PIC Microcontroller Downloads section. Then, you can follow the instructions and restore your Microcontroller.

Self-Driving Car

Video: Self-driving Car Test

Since DARPA Grand Challenge 2005, autonomous ground vehicle which can travel across hostile desert terrain without human intervention has become a reality. On November 3, 2007, DARPA Urban Challenge further proved that unman ground vehicle can successfully navigate through the urban environment. Nowadays, Google driverless cars running on the street or highway is no longer a big news. Within about a decade, the autonomous ground vehicle (actually it's a form of robot!) will dramatically change our lives.

A Summer of Robotics

Hi Everyone,

How was your summer? I wish each one of you have a fun, restful and restorative summer! This summer is kind of "special" for me since I literally worked throughout the whole summer. Even though the work is intensive, it is actually quite interesting. I happened to get an opportunity to support a robotics class of high-school students, and guided another group of college transfer students of engineering school to do research at City College of New York (CCNY). We were mainly working on the AR Drone 2.0 and its flight-control app (FreeFlight). The results are very encouraging. Part of that effort will be integrated into our curriculum (Drone Programming).

Robotics Class Competition

Screen Shot of CityDrone App

CityDrone: A test app for AR Drone 2.0 motion control

I also got a new experience to participate in the booth exhibition of SpaceFest 2013 at Intrepid Museum.

SpaceFest 2013

Visitors of the booth at SpaceFest (photo is taken from a drone)

Visiting Space Shuttle Pavilian

While I am preparing for the new semester, I wish you all enjoy the last few days of your summer! I can't wait to see you all in our new class next Monday, and hear you sharing your summer stories.

Have a Great Summer

Welcome to the class blog of the Robotics and Engineering Design! Here is the place students can ask questions, express concerns, share information/ links, record daily journals, post project status, and discuss technical issues.

Please bookmark this site right now for future reference.

Over the summer, I will keep updating the blog and post interesting technical news and useful resource for the upcoming year. Please check it up regularly and contact me whenever you have questions.

Your active participation will greatly enrich your learning experience in this class. I am expecting you to have an exciting summer and a fruitful academic year!