Advanced Robotics
A 10-week course on the fundamentals of designing and applying industrial robots — manipulator kinematics, trajectory planning, control systems, end effectors, sensors, programming, and machine vision — combining theory with hands-on, simulation-based projects.
Program Goals
- Understand the structure and operation of industrial robots
- Analyze robot kinematics and coordinate systems
- Develop robot motion and trajectory plans
- Apply simulation tools to robotic systems
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze robot manipulators using forward and inverse kinematics
- Define and apply coordinate frames and transformations
- Develop and simulate robotic work cells
- Implement trajectory planning and motion control
- Integrate sensors, actuators, and end-effectors
- Program robots using offline tools (e.g., ABB RobotStudio)
- Evaluate robotic system performance and limitations
- Understand the history and key facts about robots
10-Week Course Schedule
- Week 1 — Introduction and Background
- Week 2 — Work Zone and Frames
- Week 3 — Frame and Homogeneous Transformation
- Week 4 — Forward Kinematics
- Week 5 — Inverse Kinematics
- Week 6 — Path and Trajectory Generation
- Week 7 — Workspace Monitoring and Self-collision
- Week 8 — Dynamic, Force and Motion Control
- Week 9 — Vision System, PLC, and Other Hardware
- Week 10 — Robot Programming and Capstone Presentations
Capstone Project
Students design and simulate a robotic work cell to perform a defined task: defining problem objectives and constraints, developing a sequence of operations, designing or selecting an appropriate end-effector, implementing communication or control logic, and building and simulating the system. Deliverables include a simulation model, a live or recorded demonstration, and a final report documenting design decisions and results. Projects are evaluated on functionality and correctness, design quality and feasibility, creativity and innovation, and clarity of presentation.
Tools, Resources & Career Relevance
Recommended tools: access to a CAD tool, ABB RobotStudio, and reliable internet for online lectures. Optional textbooks: Introduction to Robotics: Mechanics and Control (Craig); Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control (Lynch & Park); Introduction to Robotics: Analysis, Control, Applications (Niku). This course prepares students for roles in robotics engineering, automation and systems integration, and smart manufacturing / Industry 4.0 environments.
Weekly Format
Total commitment: 13.5 hours per week. Live lecture (2 hrs), hands-on simulation-based tutorial (1.5 hrs), office hours (1.5–2 hrs), weekly homework (~5 hrs), independent reading, practice & project work (~3.5–5.5 hrs).
Who Should Enroll
- Senior undergraduate students preparing for implementation and integration of industrial robots
- Technicians and engineers entering robotics and automation
- Learners pursuing system integration roles