OVERVIEW

The Research Track II Course aims at providing students with concepts needed for developing software for robotics. Frontal lessons and class exercises will help the students in learning and analyzing the most relevant software instruments for robotic programming (Linux, Git, C++, Python, Docker) and the robotic framework ROS2.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit aims to provide students with key skills related to the presentation of results and research methodology in the context of robotics. Specifically, it covers software documentation, data visualization techniques, the use of interactive notebooks, basic statistical analysis, and the fundamentals of research design.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Active participation in the proposed training activities (lectures and laboratory activities), individual study and the realization of projects will allow students to:

- learn basic aspects of software programming for robotics;

- know and use the robotic framework ROS / ROS2;

- develop software architecture based on different communication paradigms (publish/subscribe, client/service, actions);

- develop ROS2 components and libraries

- know and use software packages for managing transformations between frames. 

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are needed. Some elements of programming may be helpful.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching activities consist of lectures and practical exercises.

During lectures, examples illustrating the implementation of the various topics will be presented.

Practical exercises will be carried out individually or in groups.

The second part of the course involves the drafting of a paper analyzing the state of the art on a topic chosen by the students among those proposed. 

Students who hold valid certificates relating to Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the lecturer and the school’s disability liaison officer at the start of the course to agree on any teaching arrangements which, whilst respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles.

The contact details for the university’s disability liaison officer are available at the following link: https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course program consists of the following topics:

- Docker 

- Distributed Version Control Systems

- Basic principles of ROS and ROS2

- Services and messages in ROS and RO2

- ROS2 Actions 

- ROS2 Components

- TF2 and transformations between frames.  

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides shown during lectures and other teaching materials will be available on the Aulaweb platform. Generally speaking, notes taken during lectures and teaching materials uploaded to Aulaweb will be sufficient for the course.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the teacher and the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CARMINE TOMMASO RECCHIUTO (President)

RENATO UGO RAFFAELE ZACCARIA

ENRICO SIMETTI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/index.php?view=easycourse&_lang=it&include=corso

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

During the course, students will have to complete two assignments, based on the contents of the course.

The final exam consists of an oral discussion regarding the assignments, aimed primarily at assessing the candidate's ability to manage and modify the implemented code in response to changes in project requirements.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final exam and the two projects aim to ascertain the following aspects of the students' preparation:

- Acquired knowledge about the principles of robotic programming;

- Ability to apply the functionalities provided by the ROS framework.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) may request accommodations for exams at least 7 days prior to the exam date by filling out the “accommodation request form” (available via online services at https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti# no-back), which will be automatically forwarded by the system to the instructor in charge of the course and to the faculty liaison for students with disabilities and SLDs in their School/Department.

The student will receive a copy of their request.