RobotCraft 2024 - Robotic Craftsmanship International Academy

PROGRAMME

Craft #1 (C1): Introduction to Robotics (4,5h T):

• Presentation of lecturers, mentors and interns (T);
• Presentation of RobotCraft 2024 and the different crafts it comprises (T);
• Introduction to robotics, describing the history of robotics and its evolution (T);
• Presenting mobile robot morphologies, namely sensors and actuators (T);
• Brief literature review related to robotics, presenting the necessary basic theoretical concepts (T);

Craft #2 (C2): Introduction to Programming (16,5h T)

• Introduction to C/C++ programming (T);

Craft #3 (C3): Mecatronics (6h T | 6h L | 6h H)

• Introduction to electromechanics in mobile robotics (T);
• Electromechanical assembly of the mobile robotic platform (L).

Craft #4 (C4): Mobile Robotics Programming (12h T | 12h L | 12h H)

• Introduction to C language applied to Arduino programming (T);
• Describe the features of Arduino solutions and ATMEL microcontroller (e.g., hardware architecture, cycles, pin configuration, communications), using the Arduino Mega board (T);
• Identify the different wireless communication technologies used in robotics (e.g., RF, Bluetooth, AdHoc, ZigBee) (T);
• Introduction to low-level algorithms, flowcharts and pseudocode (T);
• Acquire skills in the sensor and actuator practice used in robotics (T | L);
• Develop a typical differential kinematic application using Arduino Mega (L | H).

Craft #5 (C5):

• Introduction to Linux (12h T)Introduction to Linux OS (T);

Craft #6 (C6): Robot Operating System (24h T | 12h L | 12h H)

• Introduction to ROS (T);
• Describe ROS features (e.g., stacks, publish-subscribe, topics, rosserial), and provide specific examples and case studies (T);
• Present ROS-compatible simulators, such as Morse, Stage and Gazebo (T);
• Introduction to high-level algorithms, flowcharts and pseudocode (T);
• Follow ROS tutorial under simulation environment (T | L);
• Explore rosserial for Arduino – ROS communication (T | L);
• Develop a typical remote sensing application using both Arduino and ROS (L | H).

Craft #7 (C7): Artificial Intelligence (6h T | 6h L | 6h H)

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, presenting different paradigms and some real applications (T);
• Introduction and importance of integrating biologically-inspired models in robotics (T);
• Formalizing a mobile robotic approach, devising biologically-inspired algorithms and finite-state machines (T | L);
• Develop a streaming architecture to exchange all necessary data between Arduino Mega and Raspberry Pi 3 (e.g., sensor readings, encoders readings, actuators control, etc.) (L | H);

Craft #8 (C8): Competition (6h T | 27h O)

• Discussion of the competitive events, rules and prizes (T);
• Consolidate concepts learned over all crafts and test the mobile robotic platform under a specific scenario (O).

ATTENDANCE

Intern’s attendance is assessed using the unique RFID cards used as individual identification. To obtain the certificate, the intern must comply with the following attendance:

• Lessons (theoretical classes, seminars, workshops, etc.): 60 out of 84 hours
• Laboratory: 24 out of 36 hours (4 out of 6 week laboratories)*

*Attendance outside predefined laboratory days do not make up for missing laboratories.

Specific objectives

• To promote concepts and theorems for the introduction to robotics, describing the history of robotics and its evolution;
• To acquire basic electromechanical concepts, applied in the development of robotic platforms;
• To understand the potential use of Atmel microcontrollers, using the Arduino platform;
• To understand the potential use of the ROS framework;
• To acquire C/C++ programming skills;
• To understand the use of sensors (e.g., range finders, encoders, cameras) and actuators (e.g., servo motors, stepper motors, DC motors) used in robotics;
• To explore and apply the concepts of networks and different communications architectures to robotics;
• To explore and apply concepts of artificial intelligence in robotics;
• To consolidate concepts learned during the modules for the full design of a mobile robotic platform, including electromechanical assembly, low-level and high-level programming, and artificial intelligence;
• To validate the design of the mobile robot platform under a competitive scenario.