Sensors and Perception Systems

This unit investigates the hardware and software that give robots sensory capability, covering light, temperature, motion, audio/speech, and video systems. Students will build and program sensor subsystems, establish wired and wireless video/data links, and evaluate placement and integration for real-world robotic applications, preparing them for higher-level control and autonomy in the next unit.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the operating principles, strengths, and limitations of light, temperature, motion, audio/speech, and camera sensors to select appropriate sensors for specified robotic tasks
• Build and test sensor hardware assemblies, including temperature-sensor circuits, motion-detector systems, and mounted board cameras with tethered and wireless connections, following safety and wiring practices
• Program, debug, and integrate software routines that acquire, process, and interpret sensor data (analog/digital readings, speech input, and video streams) to drive basic robot decision logic
• Evaluate and optimize sensor placement, camera positioning, and wireless data link configurations to meet performance, latency, and reliability requirements in real-world application scenarios