Archived Bulletins

Robotics: Student Perspective

By Voke Ransom Anighoro
Class of 2006

What was your motivation behind taking the Robotics Course?
I have seen a lot of movies and documentaries that showed robots doing amazing tasks and they have always intrigued me. I am a computer science major and robotics and computer science are closely related. With the help of Ashesi University and Carnegie Mellon University, I had the opportunity to glimpse what robotics is all about and I did not want to miss out.

What did the course entail?
The course requires that students possess in-depth knowledge of Algebra, Calculus, Artificial Intelligence and Programming. The course also required some understanding of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, but since most of us were novices when it came to engineering, we were briefed on these topics as part of the course. Techniques such as motion planning, path planning, robot vision and learning were some of the course components. 

What did you learn?
I have learnt that there really is nothing fictional about building robots or robotics in general. Three words - Everything is possible!  I have learnt everything from robot architecture, ANSI C programming, Linux operating systems, "handy board" operations, motion planning, path planning algorithms, machine learning, and human – robot interactions. I was able to put all I had learnt together to help develop my final class project - a robot that can continuously re-plan its path in an ever changing environment.  The robot detects obstacles in spaces that its map originally recorded as free space and re-plans its path by following another path which is free. 

How is Robotics applicable?
Robotics can be applied domestically. For example, a robot can control household appliances using a sense, think and act loop. Robots can also be used for entertainment and surveillance purposes. Robotics in the industrial domain could be applicable in the production of goods; manual means of production could be fully automated using robots. This does not mean human jobs would be taken by robots completely; instead, humans and robots could work along side.

What do you plan to do in the future with respect to the course?
In the future I am considering doing a master degree course in robotics and hence have a complete and total understanding of the subject. Also when I start a family of my own, my first child would have the honor of having a totally customizable robot from his/her father. That would fill me with a sense of satisfaction.

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