Print this page Collaborative Robotics
Warren T. Jones, Ph.D., P.E.
Course Outline
The course consists of the following topics:
- Introduction
- Progress in Self-Driving Vehicles
- Safe, Cheap, and Smart: Collaborative Robots in Manufacturing
- Personalized Medical Robots
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course content.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, the student will understand the:
- key technologies which have contributed to the emergence of collaborative robotics;
- role of the DARPA Grand Challenges in the development of self-driving vehicles;
- difference in the roles of fixed and traditional robotics and the new generation collaborative robotics in manufacturing;
- new techniques of personalized minimally invasive surgery made possible by collaborative robotics;
- impact of 3D printing technology on the development of personalized surgical robots;
- resources available for further study and research in the field of collaborative robotics.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for all engineers, architects and land surveyors.
Benefit to Attendee
Attendee of this course will gain insights for potential applications of the next generation of technology called collaborative robotics.
Course Introduction
Historically robots have been engineered as heavy industrial machinery for repetitive tasks such as welding, painting and machining. These industrial robots are not typically designed for human interaction and can only be operated by a trained specialist in a controlled factory environment. Recent advances in robotics technology have enabled safer interaction with humans and allowed robots to become part of our workplaces, hospitals and homes. This course is a discussion of this new generation of robots with a particular focus on their impact on the development of self-driving vehicles, manufacturing and minimally invasive surgery.
Course Content
The course content consists of the four sections listed below of the Frontiers of Engineering: Co-Robotics Report from the 2014 Symposium on Leading-Edge Engineering – National Academy of Engineering.
Frontiers of Engineering: Co-Robotics Report
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right-clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer.
You need to study:
- Introduction – Brian Gerkey and Carmel Majidi
- Progress in Self-Driving Vehicles – Chris Urmson
- Safe, Cheap, and Smart: Collaborative Robots in Manufacturing – Matthew WIlliamson
- Personalized Medical Robots – Allison M. Okamura and Tania K. Morimot
Course Summary
This course presented discussions that are related to the next generation robots called collaborative robots which are characterized by their safety to operate alongside humans. The impact of this technology on the areas of self-driving vehicles, manufacturing and minimally invasive surgery is the focus of the discussion.
Additional Information
The section provides a selection of additional resources and opportunities for those who wish to learn more about the subject of collaborative robotics.
Conferences
ROScon – the ROS developers conference where developers at all levels can learn from and network with the ROS community.
AUTOMATE – held every two years, it showcases the full spectrum of automation technologies and solutions.
Websites
Clearpath Robotics Blog – a good beginning point for learning. Includes ROS 101: Introduction to the Robot Operating System.
Robot Operating System (ROS) – ROS is a public domain flexible framework which contains a collection of tools and libraries that simplifies the task of writing robot software.
FIRST Robotics Competition – a K-12 student competition that combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Participants learn from professional engineers while building and competing with a robot of their own design.
Organizations
The web links listed below represent resources for additional information on collaborative robotics. The ACM, IEEE CS and IEEE are technically much broader than robotics but sponsor robotics related activities and publications.
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
IEEE Computer Society (IEEE CS)
Robotic Industries Association – publishes Robotics Online which provides information to help engineers, managers and executives apply and justify robotics and flexible automation.
IEEE Robotics and Automation Society
Journals
Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing
Industrial Robot: An International Journal
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Books
O’Kane, Jason M., A Gentle Introduction to ROS, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013.
Martinez, Aaron, Learning ROS for Robotics Programming, Packt Publishing, 2013.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
