Course description

In many science-fiction stories, robots are depicted as a new species that are here to supplant human beings. In this course we will learn why, for the foreseeable future, this is more fiction than science. We will draw upon a diverse collection of sources ranging from Isaac Asimov to Marvin Minsky. We will consider some fundamentals of the theory of robotics including sensors, motion planning, feedback control and communication with other computing devices. We will also discuss some ethical issues involving the use of robots, in particular, the effects of robots as human replacements in the workforce. The course will feature a lab component, in which students will work in teams to construct and evaluate increasingly more complex, kit-based mobile robots.

Breaking news

(4/28) Your final essay on Galatea 2.2 has been assigned.

(4/16) Robot-project information is available.

(4/16) Some questions to ponder while reading Galatea 2.2.

(4/16) The movie A.I. will be shown Tuesday, May 4 at 9pm in Science 101. Attendance is optional. However, this is an excellent opportunity for some much needed extra credit. See the movie and write a short paper on how the issues raised by the movie stack up to our class discussions and what you have read in Flesh and Machines.

(3/31) New assignments are now on line; you are expected to have read Galatea 2.2 completely by Wednesday, 4/28.