COMPSYS 726 : Robotics and Intelligent Systems
Engineering
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course will focus on the principles and fundamentals of intelligent autonomous agents, of which a robot is a physical agent. The course covers the history of AI and Robotic development, from expert systems to modern deep learning-based perception and control. The course will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can enhance and improve the autonomous behaviour of robots and other agents. Exploring intelligent perception, planning and control, and decision-making with a focus on Reinforcement Learning for learning autonomous behaviours.
The course theory will be supplemented by hands-on practical assignments, where the students will learn to use AI and ML methods/tools to create their own autonomous agents through Expert Systems and Reinforcement Learning. By the end of the course, students should understand how to understand the fundamentals of AI/ML-based agents and be capable of applying AI and ML to real-world scenarios.
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of an Intelligent Agent and the types of tasks it can perform (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1 and 8.2)
- Demonstrate the use of Machine Learning techniques for robotic applications (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Critically evaluate algorithms used in AI applications (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 8.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Practical | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| Reports | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| Practical | ||||||||||
| Reports | ||||||||||
Notes:
1. A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
2. Late submissions are not allowed
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 10 hours of tutorials, 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 54 hours of work on assignments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
The first lab will include a health and safety induction to the laboratories; if this is missed, students will be unable to attend the labs. The labs will be using physical robots; as such, there is a risk of harm. No food or drink is allowed in the robotics laboratories, and the teaching assistant's instructions must be followed.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
The primary improvement for next year will be providing supplementary videos and content on the usage of the libraries provided by the lecturers for doing the assignment based on the primary technical hurdles encountered in 2024. This will include a rundown of the existing code base beyond the existing documentation (designed for those familiar with the content) and updated installation steps for Mac/Windows machines.
Additional supplementary videos and content will be created and provided to the class to assist with report writing and to provide clearer guidelines on report expectations.
The primary challenge of the reinforcement learning task will be toned down, but the fundamental principle of the assignment will not. The third design essay will be removed to accommodate the complexity of the reinforcement learning assignment.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.