Robotics for Architects and Designers. 3 credits, 3 contact hours

Catalog description

Prerequisites: AD 112 or AD 150 or ARCH 295 or by departmental approval. This course is for students who would like to explore and produce interactive and kinetic products or building prototypes using microcontrollers (Arduino), sensors, and actuators. The course will focus on producing creative and aesthetically articulated applications of robotic technologies. Topics include applications of adaptable, responsive, and distributed systems to various fields of design. The course will take a hands-on approach to learn about sensors (such as light, sound, motion, and gesture-tracking sensors, for example, Microsoft Kinect sensor), actuators (such as servo motors), graphic/game design/simulation software (Processing, Unreal Engine, and Unity3D), and prototyping using available digital fabrication tools such as laser cutters, 3-D printers, and CNC machines at the CoAD and others. Topics from IoT (Internet of Things) will be also explored for those who are interested in creating smart products. Recommended for 5th-, 4th-, and 3rd-year students with basic knowledge on programming, 3-D modeling, and digital fabrication skills. Open to students from any college. Non-CoAD students with appropriate backgrounds are welcome to join the course.