Course: Begin Robotics

In Weeks 1-3 you learnt about robot anatomy and how they use sensors to detect where they are and how to ensure they move at the correct speed. This week …

It’s been great to see so many of you sharing your ideas for what to call a gathering of robots in the word cloud in Step 1.1. Here are the …

In the video above, Richard takes you through some key topics for Week 3. We know about the robot and its anatomy. It has sensors to perceive its environment. It …

This week we focus on the robot itself; the constituent parts (its anatomy). This includes: the means to allow it to move and to sense its environment its ‘brain’ its …

This video will introduce you to the topics we’ll be covering over the next four weeks, and what you’ll need to do to get started. Transcripts are available for all …

In the final exercise on the course, you will be able to define the robot speed to specify the value of the neurons in the vehicles. In this video, Richard …

In the exercise in the next step you will have the chance to drive your robot around a maze. Before you get started, take a look at this video in …

If, for whatever reason, you weren’t able to try the simulations for yourself this week or you’re curious to find out how others got on, take a look at this …

In this video, Richard shows you three examples of final year project work from students at the University of Reading: Isaac Ashdown explored the probability of a robot choosing a …

In this video, Richard explains fractals in more detail. He uses a simulation to explain how different fractals can be used to produce realistic looking models of artificial life. To …

Another example of cooperative behaviour is ‘flocking’, where ‘animals’ move around in formation. Sheep provide a good example of this in nature, where there is one leader and the rest …

Meet Maitreyee Wairagkar, who graduated from the University of Reading with a degree in Cybernetics. Maitreyee continued to study at Reading, and was awarded MEng in Artificial Intelligence and Cybernetics. …

We have described some simple examples of artificial life: Simple robots with built-in instincts Robots with the ability to learn. We have looked at multiple robots interacting: Predator, prey. But …

Ants are following these simple rules: Condition Action Not carrying food and not on pheromone trail Walk randomly, laying pheromone Not carrying food but on pheromone trail Follow trail laying …

There are numerous examples from nature of cooperation Insects pollinating plants Birds eating food between teeth of hippos Specifically relating to cooperating on a task via communication Bees dancing in …