CAREER: Design and Control of Biomimetic Mobile Robots

移动的机器人在该项目的研究和教育目标中发挥着核心作用。 研究活动集中在步行、跑步和游泳机器的运动。 一种设计方法，主张在所需的动态行为内置到机器人，通过这样的手段，如弹簧质量和钟摆组件。 控制将通过将致动器耦合到非线性振荡器来实现，其方式类似于动物中的模式发生器。还将考虑在非结构化环境中的运动，并制造机器人来测试理论预测。 聪明的高中生将被招募参加教育和研究活动。将开发一门机电一体化课程，其特点是学生建造的移动的机器人之间的竞争，并侧重于解决问题的工业方法。本科生将被要求参加全国移动的机器人比赛。将探讨为教育目的使用互联网，为PI教授的课程开发超学习模块，并使用视频会议技术广播讲座。对学术界的职业感兴趣的研究生将被鼓励教学，撰写提案，并监督本科生和高中生的研究。

Mobile robots play a central role in the research and educational goals of this project. Research activities focus on the locomotion of walking, running, and swimming machines. A design approach is advocated in which desired dynamic behaviors are built into a robot, through such means as spring-mass and pendulum components. Control will be accomplished by coupling actuators to nonlinear oscillators, in a manner analogous to pattern generators in animals. Locomotion in unstructured environments will also be considered, and robots will be fabricated to test theoretical predictions. Bright high school students will be recruited for educational and research activities. A mechatronics course will be developed, which will feature a competition among student-constructed mobile robots and a focus on industry approaches to problem solving. Undergraduate students will be sought for participation in a national mobile robot competition. Use of the Internet for educational purposes will be explored in the development of hyperlearning modules for courses the PI teaches and in the use of videoconferencing technology to broadcast lectures. Graduate students interested in careers in academia will be encouraged to teach, write proposals, and supervise the research of undergraduates and high school students.