Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles
Overview
Autonomous vehicles, such as the ones being developed by Google, Uber, and Apple, as well as semi-autonomous cars on the market by Tesla, are generating exciting engineering challenges and catching significant public attention. As one of the goals of the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California San Diego is to provide students with up-to-date relevant knowledge, MAE/ECE 148 (Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles) will incorporate engineering theory and good practices, industry relevant lectures, and practical application with the development of 1/10 scale autonomous cars that must perform on a simulated city track.
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTW3_uxxj80?rel=0 |alignment=center }}
Thank you for your interest in this class. The Winter 2020 section is currently at capacity, but stay tuned because we plan to offer it again in future quarters. See the upcoming Spring 2020 Session.
Instructors
Winter 2020
We are currently at capacity for the Winter 2020 session. Please apply for the Spring 2020 session.
Meetings
- Tuesday from 17:30-19:50,
- Thursday from 18:00-19:20
At ECE Makerspace.
Team's Pages
Access the Winter 2020 Team's.
Check out our projects page.
Access the Fall 2019 Team's.
Access the Spring 2019 Team's.
Access the Winter 2019 Team's.
Spring 2020
Please apply by filling this form.
Curriculum
This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of Autonomous Vehicles using an accelerated and engaging engineering curriculum that leverages the educational benefits of robotics competitions. Students will work in small diverse teams, learning the best engineering methods and practices similar to what they will see in their professional career. Skills to be learned include project management, adhering to a budget and business planning, working within time constraints, designing to specifications, demonstrating performance, and delivering a well documented project that others can build on.
More specifically, students will be introduced and do development in the following areas:
- Computer Vision
- Algorithms for Navigation
- On-vehicle vs. off-vehicle computation
- Computer learning systems such as Neural Networks
- Locomotion Systems
- Vehicle Steering and Traction Control
- Dead Reckoning
- Odometry
- Sensor Fusion
- Global Positioning Based (GPS) Auto-Pilot limitations
- Simulation
- Power Management
Teams of students will be required to build an autonomous car using 1/10 scale R/C based cars that must meet a minimum pre-stabilized performance during a competition on an outdoor scaled track simulating city streets. Through this process of preparing for robotics competitions, students working in small diverse teams will experience a multidisciplinary engineering course that integrates theory and hands-on experience.
Enrollment is based upon instructor approval and limited to 28 students.
Students are encouraged to send an email the instructors with a short introduction and summarizing the reasons why they are interested in the course.
Detailed description on the topics covered will be made available here:
Instruction will be complemented by the following tutorial sections:
Projects
Integral to the class is a team project in which the class is divided in groups of 4 students. Each group has to develop a project that incorporates a new feature to the car, for example a new sensor, new algorithm, new motor, etc, develop the project and present it at the end of the class. Past class projects and ideas for new projects can be found in our project's page:
Expectations
This course requires students to create projects for the development of autonomous vehicles.
Students are encouraged to work in small multidisciplinary teams but have to produce an individual plan for development during the quarter. Projects can cover engineering theory, design and hands-on experience.
Students will work in small diverse teams in which they will learn about best engineering methods and practices. Management skills to be learned include project management, adhering to a budget and business planning, working within time constraints, designing to specifications, demonstrating performance, and delivering a well documented project that others can build on.
Teams are expected to report and present their findings and progress throughout the quarter and produce a final report. The final report shall contain enough detail to provide future students with the knowledge and insights developed throughout the quarter.
In addition to the team report, each student is expected to turn in an individual self reflection detailing his or her participation and providing a personal perspective on the work of the team.
Acknowledgements
Spring 2019
Winter 2019
Fall 2018
Spring 2018
Winter 2018
Fall 2017
