Group 4

The Team!!!

Week 1, The Process.

Test Runs.

Week 1, End of Project.

What Went Well.

We were able to deduce the concept of natural disasters and a specific type (earthquakes) which are relevant contextually to the region the research and development of the robot is being carried out at. We were also able to complete the assembly of all robots. All team members were able to coordinate effectively not only to their strengths to increase overall group productivity but also towards areas of improvement such as programming and formatted report writing which in the long run would provide for a more fruitful experience out of the course of this week of the course.

Challenges Faced.

Probably the biggest challenge we faced was the programming of the virtual world robot, because none of us knew how to program or code. However, it wasn't the only problem we encountered. One of our earlier problems was when Audrey and Gianna used the four-battery pack instead of the two-battery pack for the original Tamiya gearbox, it sounded like a screaming rat as it raced around the room. Another challenge faced was figuring out how to attach all of the sensors, luckily Ethan knew a bit about wiring and was able to help us all understand. Apart from this, the main challenge was the fact that the Tamiya bot failed to move. Based on our team's troubleshooting, the only probable reason we could come up with was the software component. This is after multiple re-wirings and changing all the stripped simple wires to dedicated breadboard wiring (in order to avoid a possible short circuit). We also switched the Arduino board in case there might have been some overloading with the computer connection and the power connection but this failed to yield a result. We attempted to get sensor readings apart from the locomotive aspect of the Tamiya. We uploaded the code for reading sensory data and the lights indicated that the board received the code but for some reason no data was collected.

Summary and explanation of Robotics and Computer Science

Robotics

A robot is a system that exists in the physical world and senses and acts on its environment. The robot consists of important components like sensors (which collect data on the robot's environment and surroundings), effectors and actuators (things that have an effect on the robot's environment and what allows the effectors to function respectively), locomotion system (so the robot is mobile/can move), and an onboard computer system so that the controllers can be integrated to effectively use the abilities of the robot through programming.

Empathy towards the world of a robot is important for the success in the development of the robot. This is because the robot's sensory environment is drastically different from biological ones. Robots' behaviors consist of a series of actions and behaviors that one is accustomed to observing doesn't always provide the most accurate insight into the actions programmed within the robot to ensure that behavior is effectively carried out.

Combined with computer technology, robots can achieve either partial or complete autonomy where they have to interact with a human or act freely within the programmed limits respectively. This also relates to the control of the robot which relates to the ability of the robot to decipher its sensory inputs and generate accurate output actions.

To explain more on actuators and effectors, it is important to remember that they are NOT the same thing. actuators are the actual mechanism allowing an effector to have an effect on a robot's environment. For example, a wheel on the robot would be an effector with the motor controlling it being an actuator. Controllers ensure that the effectors produce the desired effect on the environment. The simplest actuators control a single degree of freedom which consists of 3 translational (x, y, z) and 3 rotational components (pitch, yaw, roll). In robots it is important to identify which DOFs one can control with the actuators available. For example, on a plane, it is impossible to reverse and therefore when taxiing the pushback tractors align the plane in a way that it is able to continue forward on its own.

Computer Science/Engineering

Computer engineers usually have a job spectrum defined as analyzing, designing, and evaluating computer systems. They work with both software and hardware and can sometimes be seen supervising the manufacturing of computer hardware. Computer engineers must be familiar with the design process of multiple computer components/related concepts like logic design, microprocessor system design (similar to fabless firms), and computer interface design.

Usually, the learning process lasts 4 years with a Bachelor of Science awarded once the credit load is reached. The course load and combination vary between institution to institution. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is unlike the common course make-up where students can start taking subject specific classes from their first year (obviously along with gen-ed courses).

Computer engineering is a field with ever increasing job prospects as multiple industries now require their expertise. This comes with the age of digitalization and the automatic capabilities of software and computational technology. Starting salaries average at roughly 70k USD a year with median income for engineers in the field at 117k USD.

LINK TO RESEARCH REPORT IN IEEE FORMAT

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X1N3cG2-yD3XoFg5xEaVB7xwJ2jfioyWcqAjPAHtlLI/edit?usp=sharing

Response To Questions From Blackboard Link

drive.google.com/file/d/1OW3fFCtfrpZo12JlCpaPE31Xhhbxz3By/view?usp=sharing