Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU):

National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Projects

The Automation, Robotics, and Mechatronics Lab at University at Buffalo recruited numerous undergraduate students to work on various exciting research projects throughout the years. Here in this site we report the projects that are sponsored by National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) in recent years. Past projects included: (1) Haptic Rendering of Virtual Mechanisms; (2) Haptic Rendering and Visualization; (3) Examining Virtual Prototyping Techniques; (4) Building a Small Mobile Manipulator.

Visit the website for details of the above mentioned projects: NSF REU

 Workshops, Interns, Teaching, Seminars:

Tech Savvy 2012 Haptics Workshop - "Haptics: Come Explore the Touchy-Feely Side of Robotics"

Here we are again at the 7th year of Tech Savvy- "Doing Well by Doing Good"-- the annual workshop for middle school and high school girls that took place in University at Buffalo. There were over 500 girls from many different local high schools with a "Haptics: Come Explore the Touchy-Feely Side of Robotics" Workshop from the ARMLAB once again!!! In the hour-long workshop Dr. Krovi, Shefalika Prasad (local high school student), Ziyun Jo Zhou (REU student), Light Le and Justin Storms (undergraduates at UB) presented fundamental concepts and basics of robotics/ haptics outlining the application needs, engineering challenges and highlighting the bright future of robotics/haptics -- before the FUN and DEMONSTRATIONS began!...

Partners: AAUW Buffalo Branch; Praxair Foundation; UB; School of Engineering. In the news: [UB Engineering]

To View: 1.  View the Highlights on ; 2. View workshop pictures from .

2011 Buffalo Museum of Science: Surgical Robotics and Haptic Workshop

This summer we in ARMLAB hosted a series of workshops including the most recent one which took place in the second week of August in collaboration with Buffalo Museum of Science as well UB Program Development crew. The major theme of this workshop was informed as surgical robotics and haptics. The workshop was attended by 25-30 high school students from different schools mostly within Buffalo. The primary presenters of the workshop included Dr. Venkat Krovi, who was joined by our collaborators (Dr. Frank C Mendel, Professor in Gross Anatomical Science and Dr. Sudha Garimella, Pediatrics Nephrologist) and our very own senior doctoral students -- Seung Kook (SK) and Madu.

To View: 1.  View the Highlights on ; 2. View workshop pictures from .

Tech Savvy 2011 Robotics Workshop - "Haptics: The Touchy-Feely Side of Robotics II"

Continuing the tradition over the previous years, the Automation, Robotics, & Mechatronics Laboratory hosted the Robotics Workshop and Outreach Program for the third consecutive time as a part of this year's "Tech Savvy 6-Tech Savvy Girls with No Limits… Anything! Anywhere!" by working together with AAUW-Buffalo branch on March 12, 2011. The outreach program comprised of an overview presentation of robotics/mechatronics and virtual reality/haptics, given by Dr. Krovi (click here to download the PPT slides) and "touchy-feely" hands-on demos. The workshop was attended by 45 students belonging to 6th- 9th grades split into three groups. The complete workshop brochure can be obtained by clicking here. Partners: AAUW Buffalo Branch; Praxair Foundation; UB; School of Engineering. In the news: [UB Engineering]

To View: 1.  View the Highlights on ; 2. View workshop pictures from .

Tech Savvy 2010 Robotics Workshop - "Haptics: The Touchy-Feely Side of Robotics"

Our lab hosted a Robotics Workshop for "Tech Savvy 5: Tapping into our Technological Future" for girls in grades 9 - 12 in the Western New York region on March 13, 2010. Approximately 36 students (in 3 sessions) attended our workshop. The workshop, consisting of presentations followed by 3 hands-on demos, allowing the students to explore use of different haptics devices, expose them to the multiple applications and even program sample motions of a mobile robot (a first programming experience for many of them). Partners: AAUW Buffalo Branch; Praxair Foundation; UB; School of Engineering. In the news: [UB Engineering]

To View: 1.  View the Highlights on ; 2. View workshop pictures from .

Gifted Math Program March Symposium 2010 - "Mechanisms & Robotics: Geometry in Motion".

Working with Gifted Math Program (GMP), Dr. Krovi gave a presentation titled "Mechanisms & Robotics: Geometry in Motion" (in 2 sessions) to approximately 50 students with outstanding mathematics ability from 7-12 grades in the Western New York region, on March 10, 2010. Information about GMP can be found here.

View: 1.  Workshop Highlights on ; 2. Workshop pictures from .

ARMLAB/CSTEP '09 Summer Robotics Workshop- "Robotics Workshop for Underrepresented Students".

Working with CSTEP (The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program) and LSAMP (The University at Buffalo (UB) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation), The Automation, Robotics, & Mechatronics Laboratory hosted a 5-weeks Robotics Workshop for underrepresented undergraduate students. The workshop run from June 1 - July 9. The website for the workshop is here.

View: 1.  Workshop Highlights on ; 2. Workshop pictures from ; Poster Presentation on ; Poster Presentation Picture from .

Tech Savvy '09 Robotics Workshop - "Robotics Workshop for girls in grades 6-9".

The Automation, Robotics, & Mechatronics Laboratory hosted a Robotics Workshop for "Tech Savvy 4: Charting a Pathway to Success" for girls in grades 9 - 12 in the Western New York region on March 07, 2009. Approximate 40 students (in 3 sessions) attended our workshop. 03/07/2009. Partners: AAUW Buffalo Branch; Praxair Foundation; UB; School of Engineering.

In the news: [UB Engineering]

To View: 1.  View the Highlights on ; 2. View workshop pictures from .

Maplesoft e-Symposium Series - "Advanced Research Techniques in Mechatronics: Vehicle Dynamic Modeling in Steer-By-Wire Systems". - Talk given by Dr. Krovi.

Abstract: Today’s vehicles are demanding increasingly sophisticated models in order to complete the design and prototyping process in a timely manner. Automotive OEMs continue to look to new-generation modeling, simulation, and control techniques to provide them with an analytical and competitive edge. 03/28/2008.

To View: 1. QuickTime Streaming from [MAPLE]; 2. View the First 8 min version on ; 3. Download the full avi video [218MB].

Summer Workshop in Robotics*

[2003] Summer workshop in Scientific Visualization and Robotics, July 7-11th, 2003. View it on

[2005] Robotics Summer Workshop, August 3-5th, 2005. View it: Part I , Part II:

[2006] 2006 Fisher-Price Cyber Engineering High School Workshop, July 10-21st, 2006.

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* with NYSCEDII

Web-Based Self-Paced Virtual Prototyping Tutorials for Mechanisms Designs

Currently, considerable numbers of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and technology tools are commercially available to support simulation-based design-refinement of mechanical systems. Many of these tools not only allow a user to geometrically model mechanical devices in a 3D virtual environment, but also permit the simulation and testing of product functionality virtually. ...

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Taking Virtual Prototyping to High Schools 26 October, 2002.

A workshop organized with Newfane High School. ...

SUNY Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (SUNY LSAMP)

Freshman Summer Research Internship Program

Students:

Sara Forde - CAD Modeling of a RF Truck. 

Philana Owusu - CAD Modeling of a Wheeled Mobile Robot.

Web-Based Teleoperated Virtual Laboratories

Interactive technological tools have tremendous potential to address a broad range of educational objectives from presentation and exploration, i.e. in providing opportunities to explore alternative choices and vary system parameters within a constrained system, analysis to student assessment. This project deals with the architecture and implementation of a web-based virtual access laboratory – Web Labs. ...

 Undergraduate Senior Design Projects:

LEGO NXT Project (Undergraduate Independent Study)

Controlling a LEGO NXT wirelessly (blue tooth): 1. Through MATLAB GUI (Computer controlled); 2. Through a Wii Remote; 3. Through Internet Browser; with 4. Obstacle Avoidance.

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Student: Colin Lea

Date: Fall 2008.

View the Yuotube Channel for this project on , Download project report [PDF]

Virtual and Physical Prototyping of an Articulated Leg Wheel System

Student: John Amend & Shajan Thomas

Date: Fall 2007, Spring 2008.

Sponsored by: National Science Foundation: Research Experience for Undergraduates.

View more videos of this project on Yuotube Channel for this project:

Web-Based Self-Paced Virtual Prototyping Tutorials for Mechanisms Designs

Students:

[2002] Leng-Feng Lee 

[2003] Jonathan Westcott 

Virtual Prototyping of the Suspension System of an All-Terrain Vehicle

Students:

[2003] Arturo Machura, Neexon Khoo, Kok Kuan Leong & Swee-Lei Pang.

Design and Implementation of a Wheeled Mobile Robot

Students:

[2001] Rachel Ibaugh, Mike Sleasman & Damon Knapp.  

 Courses:

Undergraduate Courses:

MAE 340 System Analysis (Lab) 

MAE 412 Machines and Mechanisms II 

MAE 476 Mechatronics 

Also check out:

1. MAE412 Final Project Competition Videos (Fall 2004) on

2. MAE412/512 Final Project WikiSpaces (Fall 2007) on , and all Videos on

MAE 596 Robotics* 

MAE 512 Machines and Mechanisms II 

MAE 576 Mechatronics* 

* Enginet option available

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