Robotics with the XBC Controller

Instructor: David Culp
Email: culpd@cfbisd.edu
August 8 - September 7, 2006
Tuesday/Thursday (10 sessions)

Course Description:
An introduction to key robotics and engineering concepts by utilizing a hands-on and project based approach to learning. Students will explore autonomous mobile robotic systems using advanced robotics hardware and software from the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics (KIPR: http://www.kipr.org). Topics to be explored include mechanical design, software development using C code (the IC environment), sensing the world through analog and digital sensors, robotic vision, and odometry.

The course is aimed towards high school students but it is available to the general public. The course will be archived at the NASA Robotics Alliance website (http://robotics.nasa.gov) and is available for access by the general public.

Course Cost:
Course content is free to students. Lab costs include cost of KIPR NASA Webcast XBC Robot Starter Kit . If you own an '05 or later Botball Competition Kit (with XBC Controller), you may participate fully in the lab with no additional cost.

Course Mechanics:
The archived course provides course materials and presentations provided live in 2006.

Prerequisites:
The student is not expected to have any prior experience in robotics or computing. However, a firm grounding in basic algebra and geometry will be extremely helpful. The student will probably need to purchase the XBC Robot Starter Kit from KIPR Store, have access to a Botball Kit ('05 or '06), or have their own materials on hand (supplemental list of materials available soon). They will also need to have downloaded the course materials prior to each broadcast from this website. Prior to the start of the course the students should have built the demo that will be used in the first few sessions.

Credit and Grading
The Archived course does not support an exam and will not provide a Certificate of Completion or access the chat room.