PC4015 Advanced Applied Physics Laboratory

Students must integrate the material that they learned in the previous two courses (SE2013 and SE3014), along with additional material on embedded microprocessors and controls. A working introduction to control systems theory is provided and incorporated into an autonomous weapon system or "robot." Collaborative and autonomous engagement of the robots will be performed with RF modems and Ethernet communications. The principles of cooperative engagement will be emphasized. For the final exam, teams will compete in 2-on-1 or 2-on-2 engagement contests. These contests will test the students' assimilation of both the formal and the practical aspects of the course material.

Prerequisite

PC2911 or other C/C++ programming course, PH2013 and PC3014.

Lecture Hours

3

Lab Hours

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

• Understand LabView programming and have the ability to interface computer(s) to data acquisition.
• Understand ultrasonic sensors and their application to robotics autonomous operation.
• Understand the application of encoders and their ability to support vector trajectories.
• Understand video imaging technology and the application to autonomous tracking and targeting.
• Understand LIDAR 2D sensing and the application of LIDAR sensors to enable obstacle avoidance and autonomous operation.
• Apply real time kinetic GPS to enable highly accurate position awareness during autonomous operation.
• Apply MEMS gyro and compass navigation to determine both turn angle and linear vector accuracy.
• Integrate multiple sensors enabling data fusion to both increase autonomous accuracy and avoid false data.
• Develop real-time software to enable an unmanned system to operate autonomously to both traverse an obstacle populated course and track/engage a target.