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Frequently Asked Questions
Controls
Note that CS
students can take either 18-370 or 24-451 with only the 18-396 pre-requisite (perhaps pass/fail). 18-220 would be helpful, but not necessary. ECE students can take 24-451 with only the 18-396 pre-requisite. There are no long pre-req chain for these courses if you are a non-major.
The controls requirements is not a barrier for computer science
students, it is a vision. Controls affects all aspects of robotics and
a computer scientist's background is strengthened by an order of
magnitude by taking the controls course, in Mechanical Engineering,
Electrical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering. We believe that many
Computer Science students will take the Electrical Engineering
controls route because it only has one pre-requisite which many
Computer Science students take anyway. This pre-requisite is 18-396,
which is also useful for computer vision. Students do not have to take
18-100 or 18-220, but 18-220 would be nice. Please feel free to talk
with Professor Neumann in ECE about the controls course.
Recently, 18-370 has not been taught, so ECE and CS students must take
the Mechanical Engineering controls course, 24-451. Again, non majors
do not have to uphold the long pre-req chain for this course, but must
take 18-396 (at least pass/fail).
Algorithms
Algorithms and data structures are an
important component of Robotic programming. Engineering student do
not get as much of this as Computer Science students do, but
Engineering students usually take Introduction to Programming
and Computer Science (15-127) which covers some basic algorithms.
Also, the Introductory Robotics class will include some introductory
graph theory and search strategies. I am confident that any
motivated Engineering student will pick up the necessary algorithmic
work as he needs.
Research Project
The purpose of this program is to
provide an exposure of Robotics. One of the elective courses can be
satisfied with an independent study research project in Robotics.
One of the drawbacks of this policy is that students may lose some
breadth in the exposure of Robotics, but I feel that an independent
research experience in Robotics should be recognized by the minor.
Automation and Controls Minor
It should be noted that the automation minor in Engineering and the
robotics minor are distinct. As its name suggests, the
robotics minor focuses on robotics, parts of which are a subset of
Automation. Furthermore, there are many things in robotics that are
not automation; for example, mobile robots performing search and rescue
is not automation. Automation is more geared towards manufacturing and
processes.
For questions about the Robotics Minor, contact Howie Choset
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This site was last updated on February 15, 2000
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