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.
Thank you for your interest in this class. The Summer 2018 II section is currently at capacity, but stay tuned because we plan to offer it again in future quarters. See the upcoming Fall Session.
Instructors
Meetings Spring 2018
- Tuesday from 17:30-18:50,
- Thursday from 17:30-18:50
At the ECE Makerspace.
Summer Session II 2018
We are currently at capacity for the Summer II session. Please apply for the Fall session.
Fall 2018
Acknoledgements
Spring 2018
Winter 2018
Fall 2017
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:
The class is divided in groups of 4 students. Each group has to develop a project at the end of the class. Ideas for projects can be found here:
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.