Program Plan at a Glance
Total number of credits: 64 (17 Core + 21 Soft Core + 26 Thesis Project)
Term | Research | Other | ||||
Sem 1 (Aug-Dec) | CP241 (3) (Core) | CP220 (3) (Core) | CP214 (3:1) (Core) | CP 212 (2: 1) (Soft Core) | Optional | |
Sem 2 (Jan-Apr) | CP260 (2:1)(Soft Core) | Soft Core (3) | Soft Core (3) | Soft Core (3) | CP210 -Seminar(0:1)(Core) | Assignment of Thesis Project Advisor |
Summer (May-Jul) | CP280 (1:2) (Core) | Thesis Project (3) | ||||
Sem 3 (Aug-Dec) | Soft Core/Elect ive (3) | Soft Core/Electi ve (3) | Thesis Project (8) | Placement Interviews | ||
Sem 4 (Jan-Apr) | Soft Core/Elect ive (3) | Thesis Project (15) | ||||
Notes:
1. 17 Credits are from the mandatory (Core) courses
- List of Soft Core courses is below
- Electives can be any course offered in IISc (with due permission of the instructor)
Final project will focus on research or technology innovations for industrial or research problems, and will include a mix of analysis, design and implementation.
Program Details
Note: Explanation of the credits
a:b => ‘a’ hours/week of lectures and ‘b’x 3 hours/week of laboratory work.
Core Courses:
Course No | Course Name | Course Contents in Brief | Credits | Instructor | Semester |
E1241 | Dynamics of Linear Systems | State space modeling, Linear Systems, Linear Control | 3:0 | Vaibhav Katewa | Aug-Dec |
CP 220 | Mathematical Techniques | Intro to Probability, Linear Algebra, Bayesian Inference, Introduction to Optimization | 3:0 | TBD | Aug-Dec |
CP230 | Autonomous Navigation & Planning | Navigation and planning for autonomous robots | 2:1 | Debasish Ghose/Mukunda | Jan-Apr |
CP280 | Experimental Techniques in Robotics | ROS/ROS2, SLAM, Networking, Navigation, Planning, Competition Project | 1:2 | Suresh/Mukunda /Naveen | Summer |
CP214 | Foundations of Robotics | Modelling and simulation of robots | 3:1 | Shishir NY | Aug-Dec |
CP210 | Seminar | Exposure to latest topics in research and industry | 0:1 | Ashitava Ghosal | Jan-Apr |
Soft Core courses:
Course No | Course Name | Course Content | Credits | Faculty | Semester |
AE372 | Applied Optimal Control and State Estimation | Calculus of Variations & optimal control formulation, Two point boundary value problems, LQR,STM,SDRE,HJB theory, MPSP design & extension etc | 3:0 | Radhakant Padhi | Jan-Apr |
E1242 | Nonlinear Systems and Control | Consensus over networks with applications in synchronization & opinion dynamics, stabilization over rate limited & quantization channels, Network protocol design, Decentralized optimal control & information patterns, security & privacy in networked control systems | 3:0 | Pavan T | Jan-Apr |
E1246 | Topics in Networked and Distributed Control | Relevant background topics in control,Estimation & control under communication constraints,event triggered control,connectivity maintenance,security in networked & distributed control systems,applications in robotics & transportation | 3:0 | Vaibhav L./Pavan T | Aug-Dec |
E1277 | Reinforcement Learning | MDP, Reinforcement Learning | 3:1 | Shalabh B/Gugan Thoppe | Jan – Apr |
E0272 | Formal Methods in Software Engineering | Domain modeling using first-order predicate logic and relational calculus — the tools Alloy and Event-B. Verification of finite-state systems, and concurrent systems — Spin. Verifying code correctness using logical reasoning — VCC. Testing and bounded-exploration of applications — Pex and AFL. | 3:1 | K V Raghavan /Deepak D’Souza | Jan-Apr |
E3258 | Design for IoT | Introduction to IoT, Challenges in IoT – Power, Security, Identification, Location, Low Power Design, Energy harvesting systems, Power management algorithms, ARM processor low power features, multiprocessor systems, Lifetime estimation, RFID and its applications, Backscattering techniques, Working with protocols such as MQTT, COAP, for low power and energy harvesting sensor nodes, Low power wireless networks – Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and IEEE 802.15.4e TSCH. Low Power Wide Area Networks – LORA, NBIoT and power-saving modes, CAT-LTE-M1. | 2:1 | T V Prabhakar | Aug-Dec |
CP312 | Design of CPS -II | C/C++, Realtime OS, Embedded Programming | 2:1 | Darshak Vasavada/ Ashish Joglekar | Jan-Apr |
CP212 | Design of CPS-I | Sensor Front ends, Actuators, Motors and Motor Drives, EMI/EMC, Sensor Noise and data conversion, Imaging/acoustic/infrared/lidar/radar transducers | 2:1 | Ashish Joglekar/D arshak Vasavada | Aug-Dec |
CP232 | Swarm Robotic System | Autonomous operation of Drone/Robots, Swarm Intelligence (Self-Organization & emergence). Motion control, planning, target tracking, predator-prey, formation, Cooperation and Coordination, Market, team theory, game theoretic approaches, decision making under uncertainty | 2:1 | Suresh Sundaram/ Jishnu Keshavan | Jan – Apr |
PD232 | Human-Computer Interactions | Basic psychology of Perception and Motor Action, Collaborative Robots, Introduction to AR/VR and Haptics systems, Facial Expression Recognition, Case studies on HRI | 2:1 | Pradipta Biswas | Aug-Dec |
CP 314 | Robot Learning and Control | Machine learning based control for robotic systems | 3:1 | Shishir NY | Jan-Apr |
CP260 | Perception & Intelligence | Localization & Mapping, Multi- Sensor Perception, Knowledge Representation, Reasoning | 2:1 | Bharadwaj Amrutur/R aghu K | Jan-Apr |
CP216 | Industrial IoT systems | Industrial protocols such as Time Triggered Ethernet, Time Sensitive Networks, Detnets, Modbus/TCP, PLC systems, Construction of Digital twins, Condition monitoring, | 2:1 | TV Prabhakar | Jan-Apr |
New Course (MN30 4) | Human Robot Interactions | Introduction; Cross-disciplinary foundation; Hardware and Software components and architecture; Research themes; Building blocks; Navigation, Interaction, | 2:1 | Pradipta Biswas/A mit Pandey | Jan-Apr |
Manipulation, and Behavioral aspects for Social Robots; AI for social robots (including Autonomy and Learning for Social Intelligence); Designing a social robot (including Humanoid, mobile and interactive robots); User Studies; Pointers to advanced Topics in the domain. | |||||
NE250 | Entrepreneurship | Entrepreneurship, Ethics & Societal Impact | 1:0 | Madhu Atre | TBD |
Laboratory Modules (will be embedded in the courses as well as in CP280):
Name | Contents |
Mobile Robot Programming | Learn to program mobile robots to navigate around an obstacle course |
Control of Industrial Robot Arms | Learn to program industrial robot arms to do various tasks like pick and place, movements, gripping, welding etc. Program collaborative arms. |
Programming of Drone Systems | Program drones for landing, sorties, pattern flying, etc. |
Telerobotics | Control robot arms/humanoids over the network. |
Robot simulation frameworks | Exercises in Simulation frameworks like PyBullet, Gazebo by creating robot and world models, demonstration of various algorithms |
VR/AR & Speech Interfaces | Programming VR/AR, haptics and speech interfaces to machines/robots |
Human Robot Interaction | Interfacing Robots with interactive devices like gesture and speech recognition systems, eye gaze tracker, Industrial CoBoT, TeleRobotics, HRI for semi- autonomous vehicle, cognitive load estimation (“human/operator state” might be a broader term?) |
ROS/ROS2 Software Stacks | Robot programming using ROS/ROS2 |
Machine Learning for Robots | ML based Control for Grasping and Manipulation |
Robot Sensor and Actuator Systems | Integrate new sensor and actuator system to a robot’s perception system |
3D Design and Prototyping for Robotics | 3D CAD design, URDF model creation, 3D printing of part and attachment to a robot |
Drone piloting | Learn to fly drones in IISc testbed |
Multi-sensor odometry | Wheel, IMU, GPS, Lidar, wireless, and combinations by filter-based fusion |
Visual navigation | Tag-based, landmark-based, feature based, direct methods, deep learning based, monocular and stereo methods |
Relevance and Need of the Program
Robotics and autonomous systems are an integral part of Industry 4.0 and robotic automation will see an exponential growth in the future. The shortage of skilled labor in transport, agriculture, and supply chain management; operations in hazardous environment like mines and waste processing and recovery; remote monitoring, space explorations and defense will drive the future of robotic automation solutions. Co-design of Cyber and Physical components of such systems and their safe operation along with humans in unstructured and uncertain environments will be key characteristics of such systems.
Robotics and Autonomous Systems have also changed over the last decade – with the confluence of AI/ML with cheap sensors/Actuators and Battery technologies
With substantial investments by the Govt of India and Govt. Of Karnataka in this area at IISc through the AI & Robotics Park Initiative (ARTPARK), as well as investments from companies like Cisco, Nokia, Garrett etc. via CSR grants – IISc has started developing state of the art experimental facilities in Connected Robots and Autonomous Systems. These facilities to not only support our research, but also develop rich experiential/laboratory-based training programs for the students.
Robotics and Autonomous System has always fascinated our UG students as evidenced by their keen participation in many robotic competitions. However, there is no comprehensive course program in this domain in the country that can train then in the foundational aspects as well as the experimental aspects of the subject.
Key Learning Outcomes of the program
▫ Foundational concepts in Mathematical Foundations like Linear Algebra, Computational Techniques, Probability and Statistics, Control & Optimization, Statistical Signal Processing, Planning & Decisions, Stochastic and Data driven Control, AI for Robotics, Dynamics & Kinematics, Formal Techniques for CPS
▫ Applied concepts in Networking for Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Real-Time Embedded Systems, Sensing & Actuation Systems, Applied Machine Learning for Speech & Vision, Reinforcement Learning for Robot Control, Swarm & Team Robotics, Human-Machine Interactions & social robotics, Security, Safety & Privacy for Autonomous Systems, Autonomous ground/air Robots, Navigation & Guidance, Perception via Signal & Image Processing
▫ Experiential learning via laboratory modules for: Mobile robot programming, Control of Industrial Robot Arms, Programming of Legged Robots, Programming of Drone Systems, Tele-Robotics, Secure Data Pipelines, Robot Simulation Frameworks, VR/AR & Speech Interfaces for Robots, ROS/ROS2 Software stacks, Machine Learning for Robots, Robot hardware for Sensor & Actuator Systems, 3D Design and Prototyping for Robotics, Drone Piloting, Game engine programming, GPU Programming.
About RBCCPS
RBCCPS under Div. Of Inter-Disciplinary Sciences, is in a unique intersection of Div. Of EECS and Mechanical Sciences and hence can offer such training spanning both the disciplines – and will be the pillar of this program. ARTPark (AI & Robotics Technologies Park) has been incubated by RBCCPS and will provide laboratory support.
How will this program benefit Industry?
Graduates will have a good exposure to foundational and applied topics in Robotics and Autonomous Systems. Hands on exposure to engineering with robots – including mechanical prototyping, ROS/ROS2 programming, AI/ML based programming, VR/AR and other HCI Technologies, 5G and WiFi6 experimentation, indoor and outdoor ground, and aerial robot experiences, will make them well rounded and prepared for many industry problems. They will be able to contribute effectively to create innovative technologies and products in the emerging AI & Robotics applications in industry 4.0, medical, agriculture, mining, defense, smart cities etc.
How will this program benefit academia?
Good theoretical and practical grounding will prepare the graduates of this program to participate in innovative experimental research in Robotics and Autonomous Systems.
Target Audience
Students with UG/PG background in EE, ECE, CS, Mech, Aero and related fields
Target Stakeholder Beneficiaries
Industries in Robotics and Autonomous Systems like: ABB, Bosch, TCS, Wipro, GE, Defense PSUs, Amazon, Flipkart, Target, Nokia, Google, CAIR, ADA, NAL, Intel, Siemens, etc. and many startups
Research Labs in academia like in IISc and IITs.
Laboratory Facilities:
- Robot Arms,
- Indoor Mobile Robots & Drones,
- Outdoor Mobile Robots & Drones,
- Outdoor autonomous driving testbed
- Indoor Connected Robots Lab
- Humanoid Robots,
- Legged Platforms & Treadmills,
- Indoor Mocap system,
- Indoor Drone Testbed, Windshaping Facility & Indoor Drones,
- Ware-house Robotics Testbed,
- Electronics and Mechanical Prototyping Facilities
Fees:
As per IISc Norms
Selection:
- Background Degree: BE, BTech, BS (4years)/Equivalent with Gate about
- For Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship: GATE needed in one of (EE, EC, ME, AE, IN, CS)
- Sponsored Candidates: Selection as per institute norms
- Selection based on : Gate (70%) + Interview (30%)
Numbers:
30/year for first two years – increasing to 50/year post that. Allot 10% for sponsored students.