Description: Robots have fascinated people for generations. Today, robots are built for applications as diverse as exploring remote planets, de-mining war zones, cleaning toxic waste, assembling cars, inspecting pipes in industrial plants and mowing lawns. Robots are also interacting with humans in a variety of ways: robots are museum guides, robots pets entertain, and robots assist surgeon sin life threatening operations. The field of robotics studies not only the design of new mechanisms but also the development of algorithms, and frameworks to make these mechanism useful in the physical world, integrating science, engineering, mathematics and more recently biology and sociology, in a unique way. This class will present fundamental algorithmic advances that enable today’s robots to move in real environments and plan their actions. The class involves a significant programming project. Cross-list: COMP 450, MECH 450. Repeatable for Credit.