ENME480 · Lab track
Labs
Every lab builds on the one before it, and the final project uses all of them at once.
How lab sessions work
Labs alternate between two settings. Programming studios open each assignment and run in the Kim Engineering Building, so you have time to write, test and debug code with a TA in the room. Robot sessions run in the Robotics and Autonomy Lab in the IDEA Factory, where that code goes on the physical arms.
Most work is done in instructor-assigned groups. Studio attendance is mandatory; if you have to miss a session, arrange it with the TAs on Piazza beforehand.
Progression
Weeks and rooms follow the course outline in the syllabus, which is the authority if the two ever disagree.
| Week | Dates | Lab topic | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 31 – Sep 4 | Lab intro, safety, accounts | KEB 2111 |
| 2 | Sep 7 – 11 | RAL intro and setup | EAF 3119 |
| 3 | Sep 14 – 18 | Python intro, ROS intro, Studio 1 | KEB 2111 |
| 4 | Sep 21 – 25 | Gazebo demo, Studio 2 | KEB 2111 |
| 5 | Sep 28 – Oct 2 | FK Lab 1.1 | EAF 3119 |
| 6 | Oct 5 – 9 | FK Lab 1.2 | EAF 3119 |
| 7 | Oct 12 – 16 | No lab — makeup and office hours | — |
| 8 | Oct 19 – 23 | IK Studio | KEB 2111 |
| 9 | Oct 26 – 30 | IK Lab | KEB 2111 |
| 10 | Nov 2 – 6 | IK Lab | KEB 2111 |
| 11 | Nov 9 – 13 | IK Lab testing | EAF 3119 |
| 12 | Nov 16 – 20 | Camera lab | EAF 3119 |
| 13 | Nov 23 – 27 | No lab — Thanksgiving | — |
| 14–15 | Nov 30 – Dec 11 | Final project | EAF 3119 |
Exam 1 is Monday 19 October and Exam 2 is Wednesday 18 November, both during lecture.
Locations
- Programming studio
- Kim Engineering Building — KEB 2111 (sections 0101 and 0102), KEB 2107 (section 0103). Workstations and simulation tools.
- Robot lab
- E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory — EAF 3119, the Robotics and Autonomy Lab. UR3e arms, suction grippers, overhead cameras.
What you need installed
Set this up before Week 2. Ubuntu Setup and ROS Setup walk through it, and a small number of loaner machines are available if you cannot get a stable install.
| Requirement | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu | 22.04 LTS | Native install preferred; a VM works |
| ROS 2 | Humble Hawksbill | Matches the lab machines |
| Python | 3.10+ | Ships with Ubuntu 22.04 |
| Gazebo | Bundled with ROS 2 | Installed by the desktop ROS package |
| Git | Any recent version | For cloning lab code |
Before you touch a robot
The safety seminar and online training are prerequisites for entering the robot lab. Running AI-generated code on a physical arm is prohibited and can cost you robot access for the rest of the semester.