ME132a TA-Instructor Meeting, Winter 2011: Difference between revisions

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=== Course Organization ===
=== Course Organization ===
* Homework
* Homework
** How many: 1 per week? 1 per module?
** How many: 1/week
** Due date: 1 week later? When will the first homework be assigned?
** Due date: 1 week later.
** How to turn in: box in Steele? Thomas?
** How to turn in: Shuo's mail box and/or Andrea's email address
** Office hours: once or twice per assignment?
** Office hours: Instructors -- 303 TOM, TA -- '''TBD'''
** Grading: when? how (percentage, late hw)?


* Midterm/Final
* <del>Web page, mailing list</del>
** Is there one?
** Where to set up the web page: Murray Wiki redirected from IMSS
** Percentage?
** Upload: by TA
** Access: solutions -- Caltech only, others -- open to the public
** Mailing list: me132-students@caltech.edu, me132-tas@caltech.edu


* Web page, mailing list
* Honor code
** Where to set up the web page: Murray Wiki? IMSS? Andrea/Shuo's site?
** Collaboration policy: '''wait for Larry''' (cf. [[CDS_101/110a,_Fall_2008]])
** Format: plain HTML? Wiki?
** Use of other materials: other than solutions from past and/or other courses
** Upload: by TA (probably easier)? by instructors?
** Access (incl. solutions, hw sets, lecture notes): outside Caltech OK? enrolled student only?
** Mailing list: email IMSS to set up one?


* Honor code
* <del>Textbooks/references</del>
** Collaboration policy: hw? lab? exams? (cf. [[CDS_101/110a,_Fall_2008]])
** Use of other materials: previous hw solns, other textbooks


* Textbooks/references?
* Prerequisites: '''check with Richard & Joel''', linear algebra, basis prob and stat.


* Prerequisites?
* Programming skills: '''TBD'''


=== Platform ===
=== Platform ===
* Which robots we are going to use (ER-1 from Joel's lab vs Pioneers from JPL)
* Which robots we are going to use
** ER-1: there is some maintenance to do. The unit I was using summer had a motor controller failure. We have bought the
** ER-1 (old ctrl module): being kept by Pete (''can fail in the middle of the course, not the current best bet'')
replacement, but haven't installed yet (it is not a 5 minute thing, as the software driver has changed, so there will be a little tinkering required).
** ER-1 (new ctrl module): need to write drivers for the new motor control module? ('''check with evolution robotics''', ''in any case, rewriting the drivers ourselves seems more trouble than worth'')
** <del>Richard's Pioneer?</del> (''Pete will use it for thesis work. Shouldn't plan on using it.'')
** JPL's Pioneer? ('''wait for Larry and Rob''')
 
* Server for simulation
** <del>Install Ubuntu Lucid</del>
** Wait for Aaron to see if a static IP address and a hostname can be assigned ('''wait until 5 Jan''')
** <del>Think about rwx permissions</del> (''everyone's directory is 750, TA's use sudo -u to enter students' directory'')
** Check how to add users in batch ('''will write a Python script''')
** <del>Create a system for student to submit account info (name & username)<del>
*** see: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDZqNVVLdkl3RU5la2Ria0JVZmZqSnc6MQ
 
* Sensors:
** SICK: should be enough
** Stereo cameras: should be enough
 
* Laptops
** Need a Firewire ports


* Software stack.
* Software stack.
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* Labs organization
* Labs organization
**For example, the first lab assignment: Should I give them a charged robot with installed drivers, and let them write the software to collect the log? Or should I write all the software and let them collect the log? Is this done as a group (all the students together), as many small groups, or once for individual students?
**For example, the first lab assignment: Should I give them a charged robot with installed drivers, and let them write the software to collect the log? Or should I write all the software and let them collect the log? Is this done as a group (all the students together), as many small groups, or once for individual students?
** First test on a simulator


* Matlab vs. Python
* Matlab vs. Python
=== Things to finish before Week 1 ===
* Complete the course website
* Finish setting up the server: software (player/stage), account admin tests, backup
* Finalize HW set #1

Latest revision as of 09:12, 27 December 2010

This page is used for facilitating discussion between the instructors and TAs of ME/CS 132a (Winter 2010). Please note that the content of this page is open to the public.

Course Preparation

Course Organization

  • Homework
    • How many: 1/week
    • Due date: 1 week later.
    • How to turn in: Shuo's mail box and/or Andrea's email address
    • Office hours: Instructors -- 303 TOM, TA -- TBD
  • Web page, mailing list
    • Where to set up the web page: Murray Wiki redirected from IMSS
    • Upload: by TA
    • Access: solutions -- Caltech only, others -- open to the public
    • Mailing list: me132-students@caltech.edu, me132-tas@caltech.edu
  • Honor code
    • Collaboration policy: wait for Larry (cf. CDS_101/110a,_Fall_2008)
    • Use of other materials: other than solutions from past and/or other courses
  • Textbooks/references
  • Prerequisites: check with Richard & Joel, linear algebra, basis prob and stat.
  • Programming skills: TBD

Platform

  • Which robots we are going to use
    • ER-1 (old ctrl module): being kept by Pete (can fail in the middle of the course, not the current best bet)
    • ER-1 (new ctrl module): need to write drivers for the new motor control module? (check with evolution robotics, in any case, rewriting the drivers ourselves seems more trouble than worth)
    • Richard's Pioneer? (Pete will use it for thesis work. Shouldn't plan on using it.)
    • JPL's Pioneer? (wait for Larry and Rob)
  • Server for simulation
    • Install Ubuntu Lucid
    • Wait for Aaron to see if a static IP address and a hostname can be assigned (wait until 5 Jan)
    • Think about rwx permissions (everyone's directory is 750, TA's use sudo -u to enter students' directory)
    • Check how to add users in batch (will write a Python script)
    • Create a system for student to submit account info (name & username)
  • Sensors:
    • SICK: should be enough
    • Stereo cameras: should be enough
  • Laptops
    • Need a Firewire ports
  • Software stack.
    • What interface/drivers do you want people to work with? (player, ROS, ...)
    • What would be the format for data files? (HDF, carmen, ...)
  • Labs organization
    • For example, the first lab assignment: Should I give them a charged robot with installed drivers, and let them write the software to collect the log? Or should I write all the software and let them collect the log? Is this done as a group (all the students together), as many small groups, or once for individual students?
    • First test on a simulator
  • Matlab vs. Python

Things to finish before Week 1

  • Complete the course website
  • Finish setting up the server: software (player/stage), account admin tests, backup
  • Finalize HW set #1
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