Computers Interacting with the Real World

我们建议为计算机科学本科生创建一个实验室，在那里学生将接触到各种现实世界问题中的编程问题。该实验室将通过让学生接触机器人、计算机视觉和3D建模的应用，使学生对实时编程、分布式系统、通信、模拟和图形学有一个基本的了解。学生将在计算机硬件、接口、分布式系统、通信和实时控制等领域的课本练习之外，获得领导技能和项目团队的经验。该实验室将用于本科生的独立项目和特定课程的作业，从二年级到四年级，包括高级和荣誉项目。该实验室将对计算机科学教育的质量产生重大影响，使学生能够接触到他们在找到工作之前看不到的最先进的设备。正如最近我们课程的改进所发生的那样，这个实验室将对整个明尼苏达州的高等教育产生重大影响。我们设想这个实验室是一个可重新配置的工作单元的集合，每个工作单元都配备了摄像头、机械手和其他专门的设备，学生可以在其中进行各种实验。将对设备进行标准化，以简化机床的重新配置并便于维护。我们将为一大批项目购买可用于不同组合的现成设备。这将增加实验使用的灵活性，并可轻松容纳学生发起的项目。

We propose to create a Laboratory for Undergraduates in Computer Science where students will be exposed to programming issues in a variety of real world problems. The Laboratory will give students a basic understanding of real time programming, distributed systems, communication, simulation, and graphics by exposing the students to applications in robotics, computer vision, and 3D modeling. Students will gain leadership skills and experience with project teams by going beyond textbook exercises in areas such as computer hardware, interfaces, distributed systems, communication, and real-time control. The Laboratory will be used both for independent projects for undergraduates and for assignments in specific courses, from the sophomore year through the senior year, including senior and honors projects. The Laboratory will have a major impact on the quality of Computer Science education by giving students access to state of the art equipment they would not otherwise see until they find employment. As has happened with recent improvements in our curriculum, this Lab will have a major impact in higher education throughout the State of Minnesota. We envision this Laboratory as a collection of reconfigurable workcells, each equipped with cameras, manipulators, and other specialized devices, where students can conduct a large variety of experiments. Equipment will be standardized to simplify the reconfiguration of the workcells and for ease of maintenance. We will acquire off-the-shelf equipment that can be used in different combinations for a large collection of projects. This will increase the flexibility in the use of the Lab and will easily accommodate student initiated projects.