DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Agans, David J. Debugging: The 9 Indispensable Rules for Finding Even the Most Elusive Software and Hardware Problems. New York, NY: American Management Association, 2002. Print.

 

This source covers one of the hardest parts of programming, fixing mistakes inside thousands of lines of code and massive circuit boards. Debugging is process of getting rid of all the ‘bugs’ in a code and circuitry so that it runs properly and efficiently to carry out a goal. This source goes over 9 very useful debugging rules that help find, prevent, and remove bugs from code much more efficiently than looking through code line by line and circuits wire by wire.

 

Aylett, Ruth. Robots: Bringing Intelligent Machines to Life?. First Edition. London: Quarto Publishing plc, 2002. Print.

 

This source mainly focuses on artificial intelligence and making robots that can think for themselves, being completely automated. Another point the source focuses on is natural mimicry, the style of engineering in which the engineer tries to copy a system that is already working in nature through biological means and recreating it by mechanical means. These forms of thinking are on the frontier of robotics and are highly researched fields of study.

 

Beyer, Mark. Robotics. New York: Rosen book Works, Inc., 2002. Print.

 

This source shows a very basic overview of robots and how they can be integrated into our society. It also delves into the topic of how robots will slowly seem like humans and act more like humans do so that they can fit into society easily such as in hospitals, restaurants, houses, businesses, and other everyday places to make life easier for human kind.

Bleicher, Ariel. "The UAV Data Glut." IEEE Spectrum 21 Sep 2010: n. Web. 20 Sep 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/military-robots/the-uav-data-glut. This article talks about a system of analyzing UAV video feed data by using computer code to search out the useful information in a way that could be interfaced between multiple drones. This way the estimated 16,000 data analysts will not have to work to keep up with all hours of UAV video that is recorded, especially with the coming upgrade to 65 video streams per UAV. This system will use many algorithms to track human movement, car movement, and other important objects in a thick mess of data by using multiple drones or multiple feeds to pick out the patterns.

 

Browne, Michael. Physics for Engineering and Science. Second Edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.

 

This source looks at an extremely large array of physics that can be used while working with robots and how robots can interact with external objects. All the major concepts in the source can be applied to situations that either the robots can influence or can be a part of. This is pinnacle to understand these physics ideas such as potential energy, kinetics, collision, oscillations, forces, temperature, fields, and electrical circuitry.

 

"Computers." Ferguson's Careers in Focus. Fifth Edition. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2008. Print.

 

This source describes all the careers and options available for someone interested in computers, this source delves in depth on possible careers such as computer science, computer engineering, video game design, computer programming, networking, and other careers based on computers and their application to real life and careers. This source really elaborated on what someone interested in computers could do and exited the reader to join in on the opportunities that computers could offer as a career.

 

Guizo, Erico. "Autonomous Vehicle Driving from Italy to China." IEEE Spectrum 21 Sep 2010: n. Web. 21 Sep 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-software/autonomous-vehicle-driving-from-italy-to-china.

 

This article talks about a robot that has learned to drive itself on roads using AI developed at the University of Parma. The car uses sensors to detect cars, lanes, and obstacles so that it can drive without issue. Right now the scientists have decided to give the task to the car to drive from Italy to China, a 13,000 km and three month drive, to test out the capabilities of the car on a very long test course.

 

Guizzo, Erico. "DARPA Seeking to Revolutionize Robotic Manipulation." IEEE Spectrum 18 Oct 2010: n. Web. 18 Oct 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-software/darpa-arm-program.

 

This source talks about the new initiative in the ARM program. This program is meant to allow robots to think for themselves to complete a task while only receiving high level instructions instead of direct directions like pick up object. This new initiative will allow for more AI to be created under DARPA so both the private sector and the military will be advanced.

 

Guizzo, Erico. "Humanoid Robots Rise. Now, Can They Walk?" IEEE Spectrum 4 Oct 2010: n. Web. 4 Oct 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/humanoid-robots-rise.

 

This article talks about the different advances in humanoid robotics and having them walk. Walking is a very difficult and complex process inside a human and the scientists are recreating a system of walking but through mechanics instead of biology. This raises the debate of using rotational actuators or linear actuators. The first humanoid robot to walk in the US was made in Virginia Tech and uses linear actuators like human muscles to walk around the room autonomously. 

 

Guizzo, Erico. "Japanese Snake Robot Goes Where Humans Can't." IEEE Spectrum 17 Oct 2010: n. Web. 17 Oct 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/industrial-robots/japanese-snake-robot-goes-where-humans-cant.

 

This source talks about a whole new robot which mimics a snake. This biological mimicry allows the snake robot to be able to fit in very small areas and navigate complex paths through, under, and over objects. This robot shows a future for robots to be used in surveillance and maintenance.

 

Hornyak, Tim. "Researchers Using Rat-Robot Hybrid to Design Better Brain Machine Interfaces." IEEE Spectrum 4 Oct 2010: n. Web. 4 Oct 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/medical-robots/researchers-using-rat-robot-hybrid-to-design-better-brain-machine-interfaces.

 

This article talks about a test that the University of Tokyo were doing on rats and interfacing their brains with a cart. They would implant electrodes into the brain of the rat and then find the electrical signals that would control motor function. Then they would lift the rat off the ground by the cart and switched the system on to electrode control and have the rat run the motors on the cart. This new test brings up the future research of connecting those with disabilities to outside devices so that those without motor function could control wheel chairs and the like.

 

Hornyak, Tim. "Researchers Using Rat-Robot Hybrid to Design Better Brain Machine Interfaces." IEEE Spectrum 4 Oct 2010: n. Web. 4 Oct 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/medical-robots/researchers-using-rat-robot-hybrid-to-design-better-brain-machine-interfaces.

 

This article talks about a test that the University of Tokyo were doing on rats and interfacing their brains with a cart. They would implant electrodes into the brain of the rat and then find the electrical signals that would control motor function. Then they would lift the rat off the ground by the cart and switched the system on to electrode control and have the rat run the motors on the cart. This new test brings up the future research of connecting those with disabilities to outside devices so that those without motor function could control wheel chairs and the like.

 

Ichbiah, Daniel. Robots: From Science Fiction to Technological Revolution. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2005. Print. This source, a book by a famous French Robotic Specialist, walks through the entire history of the robot and then continues on to all the applications of robots in the modern world such as robots being used in medicine for exact and delicate work, and robots in security to keep a more constant and unrelenting watch on everything. The source later searches through a though process of how robots could be used in the future to make life easier and safer for all life. The section on how robots will be used in future life really sparks interest and ideas into the mind of the reader because of the massive expanse of possible direction that robots can go in the future from space travel to coexisting robots that assist in the everyday lives of the public.

 

Luckey, Teresa, and Joseph Phillips. Software Project Management. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2006. Print.

 

This source slowly goes through the steps to manage and complete a full software project. It stars from the very beginning of the project with big picture ideas through the management steps and actual completion of steps, finally ending up with a section on how to improve for the next time a software project is carried out.

 

Malone, Robert. Ultimate Robot. First American Edition. London: DK Publishing, Inc., 2004. Print.

 

This source goes through many different robots that have been used over a long period of time to show the scope of imaginative uses for robots in many aspects of life. It also talks about how robots integrated themselves in pop culture such as Star Wars and Doctor Who. The most interesting part of the source is when it describes the future of robots and the robots that will go to other planets like Mars.

 

Prachi, Patel. "Sniff Control." IEEE Spectrum Aug 2010: n. Web. 2 Sep 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/devices/sniff-control. This source talks about a new system in which the barometric pressure in a nose can be converted to electrical signals. This idea is then being added to for the idea of paralyzed patients to be able to control external systems using their nose. They could use this technology to control computers, wheel chairs, and all the other systems with human-electrical interfaces.

 

Raucci, Richard. Personal Robotics. Natick, MA: A K Peters, Ltd., 1999. Print.

 

This source goes over the background of robotics and gives an extensive definition of what a robot actually is. It goes through a long list of characteristics about robots that describe the basis of what a real robot is. It also goes through basic programming theory and other basics that go with creating, planning, and programming a robot to do tasks to the specifications of the builder.

 

Sande, Warren. Hello World!. Connecticut: Manning, 2009. Print.

 

This source is a manual on how to do the basics of programming through the language of Python. It goes through concepts such as loops, basic math, GUIs, Objects, Modules, graphics, simulations, and file interfacing. These programming concept cans be translated into almost any other programming languages, making them very useful to learn and understand to make anyone better at programming.

 

Waibel, Markus. "Omniwheels Gaining Popularity in Robotics." IEEE Spectrum 4 Oct 2010: n. Web. 4 Oct 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/industrial-robots/omniwheels.

 

This article talks about the building popularity of a certain type of wheels called omniwheels. These wheels can be used to have a robot go in all directions while only have 4 wheels. This wheel design can be applied to allows robots a much better system of maneuvering through different terrains and is even being applied to areas such as the FIRST Robotics competitions.

 

Waibel, Markus. "The r3 Rope Robot" IEEE Spectrum 27 Sep 2010: n. Web. 28 Sep 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/medical-robots/eth-zurich-r3-rope-robot.

 

This article talks about a curious type of robot that is based on the manipulation of ropes. This robot is connected to a bed that is supposed to help sleep by providing the perfect position for the sleeper by manipulating the bed with ropes on all sides. This robot uses many different sensors to see the sleeper and his position while also using lots of different algorithms to manipulated the bed and the sleeper to keep the sleeper asleep while also moving them to the optimum position in their bed.

 

Wallich, Paul. "3-D Printers Proliferate." IEEE Spectrum Sep 2010: n. Web. 20 Sep 2010. http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/diy/3d-printers-proliferate.

 

This article delves into the very useful machine, the 3-D printer. 3-D printers print out full 3-D models that you create on the computer in certain programs. These models can be made of many different materials and actually work if they were created right on the computer. The article talks about the price versus the reliability of the printers. These printers revolutionize the speed at which different parts can be made and tested upon.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.