Day 2: (Thu Aug 27, Week 1) Webots Simulator Introduction

Notes for 2026-08-27.

New Assignments

New assignment, due Tue Sep 1 at noon: Exercise: Simulator Wheelies. Please submit documentation to the Assignment 1 Shared Folder prior to class.

The sample worlds are all documented on Webots Robot Simulator and can be downloaded together in the Webots.zip file.

Administrative

1. All of you who completed the RCP Fall 2026 Skill Survey, thank you.

2. Did anyone have trouble getting the simulator and Python installed?

3. Anyone try their card with the door lock?

4. IDeATe is in the process scheduling special IDeATe fire extinguisher training sessions, details TBD.

Words of the Day

Note: Non-Glossary

1. kinematics, degrees of freedom, state

2. control, closed-loop, feedback

3. movement primitive

Agenda

1. more related work

   • Survival Research Labs

   • Arthur Ganson, Machine with Chair

   • https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=snake+robot

   • https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brachiating+robot

   • https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=passive+dynamic+walker

   • Simon Penny

2. tour of the Webots robot simulator

   • introduction to kinematics

   • dynamic models

   • contact models

3. walkthrough of exercise Python control code

   • Wobbly Robot Model

4. in-class experimentation with simulator

5. breakout session: what kind of dynamic mobility machine would you make?

Breakout Notes

Brainstorming ideas

• deflating beanbag chair

• chalk-drawing human shepherd

• bleeding mobile

• self-shading solar-powered robot

• wacky inflatable guy on wheels

• lawn mower scared of the grass

• machine learning to move

• stalker bot