ME 425/625 is an undergrad/graduate (senior/masters) level course introducing robotics.
This course will use the LEGO NXT Brick (i.e. a computer) and NxC programming language
with motors and sensors (i.e. control). The overall objective is to expose students to
the underlying mechanisms, electronics and algorithms needed to broadly appreciate
the field of robotics.
paul.oh@unlv.edu
Week 01 - 08/29/22
Handouts
Week 02 - 09/05/22
Topic: Labor Day - UNLV Holiday - No Classes
Week 03 - 09/12/22
Topic: Simple Machines I: Levers, Shafts and Cranks
Handouts
- Lecture Slides on Levers, Shafts and Cranks PDF
- Lab Slides
- Homework: Slider Crank and Programming (due next week - email as PDF)
homeworkLeversShaftsAndCranks-090922a.pdf
- Complete part count in your Mindstorms Kit - fill out Google sheet no later than 09/12/22 or be accountable for lost parts: NXT Inventory XLS
- List of Technic Parts from Lugnet: PDF | Lugnet Web Site URL
Week 04 - 09/19/22
Topic: Simple Machines II: Cams, Springs and Linkages
Handouts
- Lecture Slides on Cams, Springs and Linkages PDF
- Lab Slides on Lego Cams, Springs and Linkages PDF
- Tutorial: NxC Programming of Ultrasonic sensors
- Domabot: Ultrasonic Sensor
- Homework: Concepts, Construction and Programming (due next week; email PDF)
homeworkCranksCamsLinkages-091822a.pdf
- The Martian and Hexadecimal
Week 05 - 09/26/22
Topic: Simple Machines III: Ratchets, Drives and Gearing
Handouts
Week 06 - 10/03/22
Topic: Project 1 Relay Race Introduction
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube (7-min): IEEE "How to Build a Moral Robot"
- Lecture Slides on Lego NXT Domabot Bang-Bang and Proportional Control Line Following (PDF)
- Lab Slides on Lego NXT Domabot Bang-Bang and Proportional Control Line Following (PDF)
- Sample Code: code.zip lfCal1_0.nxc, lfbb1_0.nxc, lfp1_0.nxc (Password protected. For Instructor Only)
- Lego NXT Robot Relay Race Competition Rules Version 1.0a (draft) me425RobotRelayCompetitionRulesVersion1_0a-100322.pdf
Homework: More Ratchets, Gears and Drives (due next week) homeworkMoreRatchetsGears-100322a.pdf
Week 07 - 10/10/22
Topic: Project 1 Relay Race PDR and Practicing - No formal class
Week 08 - 10/17/22
Topic: Project 1 Relay Race Competition Day
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube (4-min) Michio Kaku: "Could We Transport Our Consciousness Into Robots?"
- Note: Mid-term next week
Week 09 - 10/24/22
Topic: Mid-term
Notices:
- Bring Mindstorms Kit; it's needed for Mid-term Part 2 (Hands-on)
Week 10 - 10/31/22
Topic: Path-Planning (Mazes) Part 1: Wall-Following
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube (4-min) FW Think: "Could You Fall in Love With a Robot?"
- Lecture: Wall-Following Bang-bang and PID control (conceptual)
- Domabot solves maze - motivating example YouTube
- Wall-Following (PDF)
- Lab: File Handling and Wall-Following Bang-Bang and PID control
- File Handling Notes: labBricxxFileHandling-102822a.pdf
- Domabot with portside (left) and bowside (front) ultraonic sensors: Step-by-Step Build Instructions (PDF)
- Sample Code: code.zip (x^2File1.0.nxc, wfPid1_0a.nxc) (Password protected. For Instructor Only).
- Homework: Files and Wall-Following ( Due next week )
(TBD)
Week 11 - 11/07/22
Topic: Robot Sensing
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube Making peace with the robots
- Lecture Slides
- Numbering Systems PDF
- Electronic Components and Basic Circuits PDF
- Voltage Dividers and the NXT PDF
- Lab Slides
- NXT ADC Sensing PDF
- Sample Code: code.zip ohm1_0.nxc, touch1_0.nxc, volt1_0.nxc (Password protected. For Instructor Only).
- Homework: Number Systems, Basic Electronics, Programming (due next week)
homework-NumberingSystems102518.pdf
homework-NumberingSystems.pdf
Week 12 - 11/14/22
Topic: Robot Actuation
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube (2.5 min) VOA News: "Robots 'Eat' Millions of Manufacturing Jobs; Humans Seek New
- Debate Introduction:
- UNLV Debate Team: "Could You Fall in Love with a Robot?" YouTube
- How to judge a debate for Mechanical Engineering Robotics PDF
- Lecture Slides
- Voltage Dividers and Op-Amps PDF
- Lab Slides
- Homework: Op-Amps, Aliasing and Temperature Data Logging (due next week)
homework-OpAmps102918.pdf
homework-OpAmps.pdf
Week 13 - 11/21/22
Topic: Robot Communications
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube "Bill Gates thinks we should tax the robot that takes your job"
- Debate Samples
- “Robots should pay the same union dues as human workers” 11/19/18
- “Benefits of robots in the workplace are worth the effect on human jobs” 11/26/18
- "Are robots in the Vegas hospitality industry good for its citizens?” 12/03/18
- Lecture Slides on Communications (PDF)
- Lab Slides
- NXC Communications (PDF)
- Sparcfun's How to Use a Breadboard
- Data sheets
- Isolated 1-kOhm Resistor Network (Jameco #108599) (PDF)
- 10-segment LED Bar Display (Jameco #334529) (PDF)
- PCF8574/PDF8574A I2C Chip (PDF)
- Sample code:
- Demo Videos
- Homework: Communications (due next week)
homework-Communications.pdf
Week 14 - 11/28/22
Topic: Robot Interfacing
Handouts
- Robot Ethics: YouTube "Taxing Robots: A solution for the future | Xavier Oberson | TEDxGeneva"
- Lecture Slides on H-Bridges (PDF)
- Lab Slides
- NXC Relays and Transistors (PDF)
- Data sheets
- Some kits have the SIP (Single Inline Package) or DIP (Double Inline Package) reed relay. See
datasheet below for pinout description of your particular reed relay
- Reed Relay in SIP (Jameco #2238274 and Jameco #1860070) (PDF)
- Reed Relay in DIP Littelfuse HE700 (PDF)
- IRF510 MOSFET (PDF)
- Sample code:
- Sample code code.zip dioMosfet1_0.nxc, dioRelay1_0.nxc (Password protected. For Instructor Only).
- Homework: Relays and Transistors (due next week)
homework-RelaysAndTransmitters.pdf
- Project: hbridgeAndKeypad100316edited041717.pdf Due 12/06/21 18:00
Week 15 (Study Week) - 12/05/22
Topic: Teams work on NXT H-Bridge Project (email PDF report, 1 per team by 12/XX/22)
Handouts
- Robot Ethics:
- Lecture: Closing Remarks
Things to do
- Final Exam next week (12/12/22)
- Student Course Evaluation (see your RebelMail)
- Return LEGO Mindstorms kit (please note name/quantity of missing parts)
- Lego Education Kit 9797 Parts List PDF
- Complete on-line XLS sheet for NXT kit inventory Return List
Resources:
Week 16 - 12/12/22
Topic: Finals
Things to do
- Return Brick, cables, USB cable
- Return Electronics tackle kit and contents
