| Unit name | Applications of AI in Robotics & Autonomous Systems |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SEMT30012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Lawry |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Introduction to Robotics, Methods of AI, Problem Solving with AI or equivalent |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
This unit provides the opportunity to explore in detail how AI is applied to robotics and autonomous systems. For robotics, students will investigate how AI enables advanced capabilities in smart machines, such as dextrous manipulation or rich perception. Examples include smart picking robots in warehouses or remote surgical robots subject to communication delays. For autonomous systems, students will consider how decision-making can be devolved to smart machines, with a greater emphasis on interaction with machines that have the potential to surprise. Examples include cars with “self-driving” and driver assistance functions and deep-sea exploration submersibles with little or no outside contact. The distinction between robotics and autonomous systems is blurred, but the unit will give students the opportunity to choose from a spectrum of AI applications and explore the implications of AI being embodied physically.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit builds on the “Introduction to Robotics” unit, in which students are introduced to the idea of robotics as the “arms and legs” of AI, and brings in more advanced applications. It also links in more of the advanced methods and algorithms for AI covered in the rest of the programme, which support these more advanced applications. Having introduced how robotics works to embodies AI in “Introduction to Robotics”, this unit looks forward to what that might enable and what that could mean in more applied settings. Consequently the unit will stretch students’ understanding of both AI techniques and the potential of smart machines. The unit will provide an underpinning introduction to the range of applications and the questions involved in each. Students can then choose a topic for specialization and bring their problem solving skills to bear on their own investigation. That will include both technical and socio-technical elements, such as safety and responsibility.
An overview of content
Topics covered in this unit will include:
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students on the unit will experience how applying AI in practice can require some detailed background knowledge of the application and an in-content understanding of the privacy, regulatory and transparency issues that apply. The will have gained an appreciation of the challenges of translating AI from forecasting and analysis to being deployed as a tool or device to be used by practitioners.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including pre-recorded video lectures, on-campus lecture/Q&A discussions. Taught material will provide a grounding in the subject area of robotics and autonomous systems as well as tools for their investigation. For the individual investigations, the unit will support students with drop-in sessions covering both practical elements (either workshop or computer-based) and academic aspects (including analysis, findings, general progress management and problem solving).
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Discussion groups to explore application examples, emerging research and related socio-technical topics, such as the latest project demonstrations, literature or emerging regulations.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
This unit will be assessed by a single coursework assessing all the ILOs. Students will choose a case study from a spectrum of robotics and autonomous systems applications. They will then explore the technical and socio-technical aspects of the application of AI to some physically embodied machine, i.e. a robot and/or an autonomous system.
When assessment does not go to plan:
Re-assessment takes the same form as the original summative assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SEMT30012).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
