COMP 461: Senior Design in A Robotized World (Fall 2025)

Credits: 4
Instructor: Kaiyu Hang
Office Hours: Monday 3pm-4pm at DH 3056
TA: Podshara Chanrungmaneekul (pc45@rice.edu)
Office Hours: Tuesday 3pm-4pm at DH 3092

Course Description

Robots are now a wide spectrum of various embodiments, e.g., humanoids, dogs, industrial arms, drones, and self-driving cars, and they are rapidly merging themselves into our society. While we are not fully ready to welcome them, yet, we are more than certain that we need to work with them in ways that we did not know before. On the one hand, we are still challenged by many technical problems to enable robots to be more dexterous and robust. On another hand, in a time where resources are connected and networked, we need to design novel systems to manage different robots, share the robots, or even make them autonomously and adaptively build teams.

In this senior design course, we will develop team-based projects and will look into a robotized future with our imaginations: we will either solve problems that are technically going to enhance the robot skills, or address problems that will make future robots more useful and more organized in the real world. Background in robotics is not required. In our creative projects, your efforts in developing core robot algorithms, databases, machine learning systems, web applications, mobile apps, LLM models, or anything else that can be useful, will together make this robotized world a better place.

Prerequisites

COMP 318 or Equivalent

Grading

The grading of this senior design course is point-based. Students will collect points, as evaluated by their performance, along the course by completing all required course components listed below:

*Essay (10 points): At the beginning of the course, reading materials will be provided. An essay by each student is required after the reading to help students discuss and understand why we are in a robotized world, and what we can do to make it a better world.

*Project proposal presentation (5 points): In the 3rd week, each team needs to deliver a presentation on their research proposal. This is done before the written proposal is due. An approval after this presentation is required before each team proceeds to writing the proposal.

*Project proposal (10 points): By the end of the 4th week (5pm on Friday) of the course, each team is required to submit a project proposal.

*Weekly reports (10 points): After the project proposal is approved and the project begins, every team is required to submit a report by 5pm every Friday to summarize the progress, problems encountered, and the plan for next week.

*Mid-term presentation (5 points): A mid-term presentation is required for each team to show their progress and any potential adjustments to the project plan.

*Project deliverables (50 points): The project deliverables, e.g., a software and code documentation, should be demonstrated and submitted by each team by the end of the course. The evaluation of the deliverables will be based on novelty (10 points), societal impact (10 points), implementation quality (20 points), scalability (5 points), and user experiences (5 points).

*Project final report (10 points): By the end of the course, every team needs to submit a comprehensive final report.

*Project final presentation (10 points): By the end of the course, every team needs to deliver a presentation to show their design.

Late submission: For each submission, 1 point will be deducted every day after the due date.

Grading Scale: A (≥ 100 points), B (≥ 90 points), C (≥ 80 points), D (≥ 70 points), F (<70 points).

Essay

We will read the earliest and the latest US Robotics Roadmaps:
[1] A Roadmap for US Robotics -- From Internet to Robotics 2009 Edition
[2] A Roadmap for US Robotics -- Robotics for a Better Tomorrow 2024 Edition

In the essay, please discuss:
1. Are we in a robotized world now?
2. What are the pros and cons of robotizing this world?
3. How are robots different from machines?
4. What is the relationship between robotics and AI?
5. For robots to work in this world, what infrastructure do we need to build to support them?
6. If you have sufficient skills and resources, what robot applications would you like to create?

Deliverables

Code Repository: A GitHub repository, shared with the teaching team, is required for every project. This repository will be used for version control, progress tracking, and code review.

Optional: Every team can design their own ways to demonstrate the outcomes of the project, such as a website, a phone app, a promo video etc.

AI Policy

Reports/Essay Writing: No AI-generated text is allowed in any written report. There is zero tolerance on this policy.

Coding: AI-assisted coding is allowed. However, everyone is required to clearly state how AI was used, e.g., acquire coding ideas, get code suggestions/snippets, generate code directly. Undeclared AI assistance in coding is considered a violation of the course's honor code.

Reports

Specific sections are required in the reports. Additional sections can be added as needed.

Project Proposal: Abstract, Introduction, Problem Statement, Proposed Solution and Methodology, Expected Challenges, Evaluation Plan, Personnel and Task Assignments.

Project Final Report: Abstract, Introduction, Related Work, Methodology, Evaluation, Conclusion, Contributors and Contributions.

Absence Policies

Please read Rice's Attendance and Excused Absences

Rice Honor Code

All students will be held to the standards of the Rice Honor Code, a code that you pledged to honor when you matriculated at this institution. If you are unfamiliar with the details of this code and how it is administered, you should consult the Honor System Handbook. This handbook outlines the University's expectations for the integrity of your academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process.

Disability Resource Center

If you have a documented disability or other condition that may affect academic performance you should: 1) make sure this documentation is on file with the Disability Resource Center (Allen Center, Room 111 / adarice@rice.edu / x5841) to determine the accommodations you need; and 2) talk with me to discuss your accommodation needs.

Course Schedule (Subject to changes)

Week of Monday Wednesday Note
Aug-25 Introduction Topics Discussion and Team Building Reading and Essay Writing Begin
Sept-1 No Class Topics Discussion and Team Building Essay due @ 5pm Sept. 5
Sept-8 Teamwork Teamwork
Sept-15 Proposal Presentations Proposal Presentations Proposal due @ 5pm Sept. 19
Sept-22 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #1
Sept-29 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #2
Oct-6 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #3
Oct-13 No Class Teamwork Weekly Report #4
Oct-20 Midterm Presentations Midterm Presentations Weekly Report #5
Oct-27 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #6
Nov-3 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #7
Nov-10 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #8
Nov-17 Teamwork Teamwork Weekly Report #9
Nov-24 Teamwork No Class Weekly Report #10
Dec-1 Final Presentations Final Presentations Deliverables due @ 5pm Dec. 10
Final Report due @ 5pm Dec. 10