Course offerings cover the areas of Sensing/Perception

Cognition/Learning

Mechatronics (vehicle architecture, dynamics, electronics and control)

A popular program feature for most students is the relevant team-oriented robot design and field work associated with Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition that the AML regularly participates in.

Robots developed by our students took the First Place Grand award for 2010, 2009 and 2008 IGVC, and received third place awards for 2007 and 2006 competitions.

2009 IGVC

The ECE Robotics masters program provides two paths for degree completion.  The first is a 5th year program that extends a student’s undergraduate financial aid package to cover the masters (open to UDM undergraduates in electrical and computer engineering with a strong GPA; students will apply at the beginning of their Senior year).  This 5th year program is the result of several years of curriculum planning that commenced at the undergraduate level with grant support from the National Science Foundation. The revised spiral-curriculum-based undergraduate program was phased in over three years, being fully implemented by 2007.  Led by the electrical and computer engineering department and in partnership with the mechanical engineering and computer science departments, the 5th year program builds upon a highly focused and structured undergraduate program with an embedded systems emphasis, that utilizes robot project and design platforms from freshman through senior years.  Regular participation in the AUVSI’s Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) is an example of UDM’s robotic systems focus.  CS and ME majors may apply for the 5th year program but may need to complete additional coursework. The second degree path for robotics study is a two-year masters degree in robotics.  This course of study will be an ideal choice for those from a broader group of majors.  All graduate courses in the program are offered in the late afternoon and evening in order to accommodate those already in the work force.