55-709601 Robotcs and Advanced Control Methods Assessment Brief 2026 | Sheffield

55-709601 Assessment Brief

Assignment Summary and Rationale

This assignment should be submitted on Blackboard as an academic report with all working and explanations, given for each step taken as demonstration in class. Marks will be awarded based on understanding of the subject, sound justification of the method used, and supported by calculations where needed. All sources of information must be properly referenced.

In this assignment, you will program the Stäubli RX90 six-axes/ ABB IRB1600 industrial robot at Studio to perform a task that involves writing the two initials of the student name using basic motion commands. You will develop and implement a robotic arm sequence to trace or print the initials in the physical environment.

Scope: You will understand Industrial Manipulators with offline and online programming using MATLAB/SIMULINK for various applications in real world.

Assignment Requirements

1. Robot Setup:
   You will work with the Stäubli RX90 six-axes/ ABB IRB1600 industrial robot at Studio, which has six degrees of freedom. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the robot system, movement capabilities, and programming environment.
2. Programming Objective:
   Write a control program that moves the robotic arm to trace initials in the allocated time. The robot should:
   • Use its end-effector to trace the digits in a legible way.
   • The robot can either “write” the digits by simulating pen movements in the air or use a marker/pen if physically available.
   • Focus on precision, accuracy, and safety in the robotic motion sequence.
3. Constraints:
   • The robot must operate within its defined workspace.
   • Avoid collision with surrounding objects and follow safety procedures.
   • You must control the end-effector speed to ensure a smooth tracing of the initials.

Steps to Complete

1. Robot Initialization:
   Initialize the robot and set its reference position.
2. Movement Planning:
   Break down the task into individual strokes required to trace the initials. Define the waypoints for each stroke (starting and ending points for each line segment).
3. Program Execution:
   Implement the motion commands in the robot’s programming environment compatible software. Ensure that the robotic arm follows the path accurately.
4. Testing and Validation:
   Test your program to make sure the robot traces the initials correctly. Adjust parameters like speed and position if needed. You will receive summative feedback post demonstration of work in lab to the tutor on the informed date near to submission weeks.
5. Submission: Submit the following (as a zip file on BB):
   • The code for the robot’s movement sequence.
   • A short report (max 2000 words) describing how you approached the task, including challenges and how you resolved them.
   • A video demonstration of the robot executing the task.

Note:
The students who miss the in-class demonstration for summative feedback will have the marks capped and safety reduced from 20% to 10%.

Assignment Marking Criteria

Refer to the Marking Rubric provided on the Assessment Folder to know about criteria to be marked. Students will receive summative feedback post demonstration of work in lab to the tutor on the informed date near submission weeks.

Formative Feedback

There will be Formative Feedback Sessions which will be organized during the allocated lab hours during the teaching term. Exact details will be communicated close to the organization week.

Assignment Resources and Important Information

Tools and Resources:

• Software: Use VAL3 or any compatible software to program the RX90B robot.
• Hardware: Stäubli RX90 six-axes industrial robot.
• Resources: Access the user manuals and online resources for the Stäubli RX90 robot for detailed movement commands and control. (Contact Jeremy for manuals.)