Chapter 15: Robotics and Automation Program

Program Advisor: Dr. Christopher Kitts

Overview

Robotics and the automation sciences relating to intelligent machines and smart systems is a burgeoning field that is fueling the economy, driving employment in Silicon Valley and beyond, and transforming the nature of work in a wide range of applications. We offer a multi-disciplinary master’s degree in Robotics and Automation, which balances deep technical expertise with practical application-oriented experience and insight into the societal impacts, ethical challenges, and entrepreneurial opportunities relevant to this field. A technical core ensures competence in the areas of design, controls, and perception. Elective-based focus areas within the degree provide opportunities for students to build knowledge and expertise in application areas such as industrial internet-of-things and manufacturing, field robotics, etc. Furthermore, partnerships with local companies and agencies provide highly applicable project experiences, ensure a relevant curriculum, and contribute to a strong student recruitment pipeline. Finally, a novel co-curricular option certifies student competencies in modern skills and tools relevant to the robotics and automation industry.

Master’s Degree Program and Requirements

Students interested in this major must satisfy the standard admissions criteria used by the School of Engineering, which include an undergraduate degree in a field of engineering or related area, appropriate GRE scores, and demonstrated proficiency in English. Students must also have an academic background or be able to demonstrate proficiency in computer programming, electrical circuit design, and mechanical design; students deficient in one or more of these areas may be required to take additional courses in these areas at either the graduate or undergraduate level prior to entering or early in their degree program. Students are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 while enrolled in the program. They must also develop a Robotics and Automation Program of Studies with an academic advisor and file this document with the Graduate Services Office by the end of their first quarter at SCU.

The degree requires completion of a minimum of 46 graduate units, to include:

Graduate Core (Refer to Chapter 6)

Graduate Core: one course each from Engineering and Society and one course from Professional Development minimum of 4 units)

Mathematics (8 units): Students must complete at least one Applied Math 4-unit sequence in either linear algebra or probability. The additional 4 units may be completed by taking another Applied Math course or by completing 4 units of technical elective courses that have significant mathematical components (a list of applicable elective courses is maintained in the program office).

AMTH 245 Linear Algebra I (2) and AMTH 246 Linear Algebra II (2) or Amth 247 Linear Algebra I & II (4)
AMTH 210 Probability I (2) and AMTH 211 Probability II (2) [or AMTH 212 Probability I & II (4)]

Technical Core (13 units): Students must complete 13 or more units of core courses covering basic mechatronic device design, mechatronic control systems, robotic kinematics/dynamics/ control, and advanced sensing/perception techniques:

ECEN 460 / MECH 207 Advanced Mechatronics I (3)
ECEN 461 / MECH 208 Advanced Mechatronics II (3)
ECEN 337 / MECH 337 Robotics I (2)
ECEN (338 / MECH 338 Robotics II (2)
3 or 4 units of course content in advanced sensing/perception, which may be satisfied by either:
(1} CSEN 240 Machine Learning (4), or
(2) CSEN 340 / ECEN 640 Digital Image Processing I (2) and CSEN 341 / ECEN 643 Digital Image Processing II (2)
(3) Other possible courses as approved by the program advisor

Technical Electives (8 units): Students must complete a minimum of 8 units of technical electives based on the following list or by a course approved by the student’s advisor via the Program of Studies prior to enrolling in the course. Students are encouraged to select technical electives to build expertise in one or more application areas; a list of these application areas and their associated electives is maintained in the program office.

AMTH 377/CSEN 279 Design and Analysis of Algorithms (4)
BIOE 252 Computational Neuroscience (2)
BIOE 277 Biosensors (2)
BIOE 281 Introduction to Pattern Recognition (2)
CSEN 201/ECEN 233 Digital Signal Processing I (2) & CSEN 202/ECEN 234 Digital Signal Processing II (2) [or CSEN 201E /ECEN 233E Digital Signal Processing I & II (4)]
CSEN 240 Machine Learning (4)
CSEN 242 Big Data (4)
CSEN 243 Internet of Things (4)
CSEN 266 Artificial Intelligence (4)
CSEN 277 User Experience Research & Design (2)
CSEN 281 Pattern Recognition and Data Mining (4)
CSEN 317 Distributed Systems (4)
CSEN 319 Parallel Programming (4)
CSEN 340/ECEN 640 Digital Image Processing I (2) & CSEN 341/ECEN 643 Digital Image Processing II (2)
CSEN 342 Deep Learning
CSEN 344 /ECEN 644 Computer Vision I (2) & CSEN 345 / ECEN 645 Computer Vision II (2)
CSEN 376 Expert Systems (4)
ECEN 235 Estimation (2)
ECEN 236 Linear Control Systems (2)
ECEN 237 Optimal Control (2)
ECEN 238 / MECH 420 Model Predictive Control (2)
ECEN 239 Introduction to Self-Driving Car Technology (4)
ECEN 271 Microsensors (2)
ECEN 329 / MECH 329 Introduction to Intelligent Control (2)
ECEN 331(L) Autonomous Driving Systems (and Lab)
ECEN 333 Digital Control Systems (2)
ECEN 335 Estimation II (2)
ECEN 501 Embedded Systems (2)
ECEN 501L Embedded Systems Lab (1)
ECEN 502 Real-Time Systems (2)
ECEN (503 Hardware-Software Codesign (2)
ECEN 520 Introduction to Machine Learning (2)
ECEN 520L Introduction to Machine Learning Laboratory (1)
MECH 218 Guidance & Control I (2) & MECH 219 Guidance & Control II (2)
MECH 285 Computer Aided Design of Mechanisms (2)
MECH 296A Mobile Multirobot Systems (2)
MECH 311 Modeling and Control of Telerobotic Systems (4)
MECH 323 Modern Control Systems I (2) and MECH 324 Modern Control Systems II (2)
MECH 335 Adaptive Control I (2) and MECH 336 Adaptive Control II (2)
MECH 379 Satellite Operations Laboratory (1)

Students are encouraged to complete collections of these electives to meet technology themes within the field of robotics and automation. These collections may evolve over time given technology trends; the program website lists current themes with affiliated industry partners and capstone/thesis opportunities. Examples include topics such as advanced manufacturing, field robotics, bio-robotics/mechatronics, aerospace robotics, automation sciences, and so on.

Culminating Experience (6-12 units): Students must complete 6-9 units of either a Capstone Design Project or a 9-12 unit Thesis research project through an existing Capstone or Master’s Thesis course in a relevant engineering department.

Additional Units (as necessary): Additional units as required to reach a minimum of 46 units must be completed; these must be approved by the student’s advisor via the Program of Studies prior to enrolling in the courses. Typically, any extra units would be completed by enrolling in additional technical elective courses; however, in some cases, it may be of interest to take courses such as the project management or systems engineering course sequences offered by the Engineering Management program. Students may not apply the completion of one course to two different requirement categories, with the exception of the mathematics requirement.

Modern Tools/Skills Competency Badging (Optional): Students may participate in this competency certification system to develop verified capabilities, acknowledged through the awarding of a “badge,” in a variety of areas that are in great demand by employers. Some of these badges will be obtained through completion of courses within the program. Others may be incorporated into the required “culminating experience.” There may also be opportunities to participate in co-curricular non-credit workshops on some topics. Management of these competency badges is managed through an online design portfolio system available to all students.