UNI Physics

ROBOTICS

2010 02 11 John Deere 1

Outline

• Brief History• Programs and

courses• Annual Online

MiniSumo Invitational

• Research and Scholarship

• Outreach• The Future

2010 02 11 John Deere 2

MiniSumo Robotics has been an important feature of the UNI Physics Curriculum since 2006.

History (1)

• In 2004 Physics Alum, Randy Dumse, approached UNI and stated that he would be willing to help UNI get a robotics program started.• CS, IT and Physics all responded positively, starting in spring 2006

2010 02 11 John Deere 3

Randy Dumse emcees the first (2006)

MiniSumo Invitational.

Programs, Courses (3): Sophomore-Junior

880:154:01 Digital Electronics and Robotics (4 cr), Dumse, Olson•Content:

•Digital principles, and microprocessors in the context of mini-sumo robotics

•Culmination: •Live on the Internet Mini-Sumo Invitational

2010 02 11 John Deere 4

• MarkIII Sumo Robot; PWM signal that rotates servo to midrange (1.5 ms pulse

width) is documented using virtual oscilloscope in ELVIS

Programs, Courses (4):Undergrad projects

Shawn Breuklander was at Dallas Personal Robotics Group Summer 2008

Robomagellan Competition. Mentor: Mr. Randy Dumse

• Robomagellan• University and club version of the Grand Darpa Challenge

• Goal: •Intermediate robotics program especially supportive of John Deere/Rockwell interests• Autonomous outdoor, navigation

2010 02 11 John Deere 5

Programs, Courses (5): Freshman course

• 880:086:04 Studies in :Robotics (1 cr)• Audience

• Applied physics• Physics education• H.S. Teachers• Other CNS majors

• Student competition winner:

• A female Biochemistry major both in 2008 and 2009.

2010 02 11 John Deere 6

• 2006 MiniSumo ShipIn• Builder Dave Bechtold and Builder Mike

Boomer (Big Bird)

OutreachRobotics Camps

Summer 2010

•High school juniors and seniors

• Physics: Minisumo, Olson, two weeks

• Industrial Technology: Different hardware platform, Zhu, two weeks

• Middle school• Chemistry/Computer Science: Lego, Schafer, one week (three times)

•Teachers• One week, Schafer

2010 02 11 John Deere 7

During summer 2009, Dr. Ben Schafer (CS) led several Legos-based robotics

camps for high school students.

Research and Scholarship

• Curriculum•Texts under development: mini-sumo centered electronics course

• LabVIEW wrap of a FORTH language microprocessor has been demonstrated (Dumse)

• Exemplary model needed for Robomagellan within academic program

• Faculty research • Promote faculty expertise through project work with students

2010 02 11 John Deere 8

• The annual spring Internet Invitational promotes wide-ranging interactions.

Robot on left (ExSpurt) is by Rick Brooks of Fort Wayne Indiana.

The Future

• Liberal arts core robotics course is proposed

•A Federal grant request has been submitted by Physics in the person of Cliff Chancey

•Robomagellan • Strengthen as a step toward advanced robotics

2010 02 11 John Deere 9

Matt Karl (below) and Eddie Moldonado, double majors in Physics and Computer Science, are currently

active in advancing our Robomagellan capability: Last spring:

Color sensing camera