The best aspects of this course included the hands-on experience, opportunities to build a robot, and the exposure to design. Some students felt they were not provided feedback on labs and homework in a timely fashion. Students also felt the groups they worked within did not consist of other motivated individuals and that the building materials provided were not always adequate. Suggestions included letting students know they wil be using MATLAB before the semester begins and providing students with feedback sooner. Prospective students should know that this course requires MATLAB and acrylic laser cutting.

The highlight of this class is the project based nature of the course where students design and build a robot. Students learned basic camera vision, how to calculate holonomic and non-holonomic drive trajectories, and have freedom to learn from mistakes. The worst aspects of this class were the 8 am lectures, the shoddy tools in the lab, and the time commitment of the class. But you get to build a robot. Additional time for the project, a bigger budget, and better communication between the instructor, TA, and students were al suggestions to improve the class. Prospective students should know the class requires a significant time commitment and you should be sure to have the prerequisites before starting the class. If you want to build a robot, take this course.

The best aspects of the course included the chal enging design project and the knowledgeable instructor. Students felt that the class was too early in the morning and the project was too difficult. Assignment expectations and deadlines were not clear and lectures were not helpful or applicable to projects. Suggestions for improvement included al owing students to pick project teams, having grades reflect effort over competition rankings, teaching more focused and relevant lectures, and hosting workshops on how to use the required technology. Prospective students should be prepared for a heavy course load and are encouraged to choose teammates carefully. A background in CAD, Arduino, programming, and manufacturing would be helpful.