| Unit name | Robot Learning & Teleoperation (UWE, UFME7R-15-M) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SEMTM0001 |
| Credit points | 15 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Charlie Yang |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
The programme structure has foundational level skill mandatory units in teaching block 1, followed by units covering more specialised subject areas in teaching block 2. This amendment of a new optional unit fits appropriately into teaching block 2, where students select to study specialisms. The new unit proposed is unique relative to the current optional unit offerings, and provides a useful complement to increase relevance to on-going career prospects for graduating students. Following teaching block 2, students will move into the dissertation project, where skills from teaching blocks 1 + 2 are applied.
Overview of Content:
The teaching and learning method involves a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical implementation to enhance students' understanding of robot learning and teleoperation concepts. Teaching will utilise a standard lecture format and seminar style discussions with students. Students will complete coursework and make group discussions and presentations. By incorporating hands-on experimentation and practice, students gain state-of-the-art theoretical knowledge of robot learning as well as practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of robot learning and teleoperation. This teaching and learning method encourages active engagement, critical thinking, and application of theoretical knowledge in real-world applications. Assessment split across 50% exam and 50% coursework helps to address diverse learning styles, and both are amenable to reasonable adjustments. These areas of teaching/learning are complementary to AHEP4 Level 7 criteria provided by the professional accreditation body The Engineering Council (https://www.engc.org.uk/media/3464/ahep-fourth-edition.pdf).
Student Value:
The new unit helps to meet University Vision and Strategy through:
- Attracting/Inspiring Students: This unit reflects state of the art robotic technology and so helps to refresh the offering of value within the broad context of MSc Robotics to students. - Future Skills: The new unit provides students with exposure to learning based technologies, which are more relevant than conventional control-based methods for teleoperation – and so better equips students for further research or employment prospects in this area. - Future of the Planet: Teleoperation has been playing an important role for nuclear waste disposal in the UK. - The inclusion of this unit in a specialist area (teleoperation, machine learning) will allow students to better determine a specialism in the TB2 phase of MSc Robotics.Intended Learning Outcomes:
ILO1: Examine the fundamental concepts and principles of robot learning and teleoperation, including their roles and significance in robotics.
ILO2: Evaluate different robot learning methods and teleoperation techniques, including Dynamic Systems, Probabilistic Systems, Dynamic Movement Primitives, and Gaussian Mixture Models and considering their strengths, limitations, and applicability to real-world scenarios.
ILO3: Apply robot learning algorithms to teach robots new skills and behaviours, enabling them to adapt and generalize from training data.
ILO4: Design and implement teleoperation systems for safe and efficient human-robot interaction, with considerations of control architectures, communication protocols, and user interfaces.
This unit adopts a practice-based / project-based approach to learning, which will be articulated as essential when working with robotics, and anticipating a career in this area. It is necessary to gain direct experience with robotic hardware, as opposed to a purely theoretical approach. Supervised laboratory sessions will provide hands-on experimentation and practice, students gain state-of the-art theoretical knowledge of robot learning as well as practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of robot learning and teleoperation. This teaching and learning method encourages active engagement, critical thinking, and application of theoretical knowledge in real-world applications.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The lecturer will provide presentations and discussions with students. The students will complete coursework, hold group discussions and give presentations – providing opportunities within the teaching block for formative feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
a) Online exam (individual): Students will be required to complete an online exam for assessment of accomplishment of LO1 and LO2. (50%)
b) Coursework project (individual): LO3 and LO4 will be evaluated based on the performance and outputs in coursework completed project. (50%)
When assessment does not go to plan:
Resit strategy: The course offers a resit option, including completing an independent coursework and passing an additional examination. This unit (module) will run under the UWE provision of re-assessment, such as an uncapped mark.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SEMTM0001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
