Syllabus

Instructor

Dr. Janyl Jumadinova

Office Location: Alden Hall 110

Office Phone: +1 814-332-2881

Email: jjumadinova@allegheny.edu

Office Hours

Description

A study of the design and implementation of autonomous software agents and robotic systems that cooperatively complete complex tasks. In addition to examining techniques for large-scale coordination and group-based decision-making, students learn how to apply the field’s technologies to address the challenges facing local and global communities. Participating in hands-on activities that often require teamwork, students develop and evaluate several multi-agent or multi-robot systems, while also reflecting on the civic issues surrounding the use of these systems. During a weekly laboratory session students use state-of-the-art technology to complete projects, reporting on their results through both written documents and oral presentations. Students are invited to use their own departmentally approved laptop in this course; a limited number of laptops are available for use during class and lab sessions.

Prerequisite: CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 102.

Focus: Quantitative Reasoning, Civic Learning.

Materials

There is no required textbook for this course. All reading material will be provided by the instructor and linked on the course schedule.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify components of the robot and associate each part with its task in a complete robotic system.
2. Design, implement, and test robotic applications for a wheeled, arm, and aerial robots.
3. Demonstrate the use of a robot operating system (ROS) in simulation and in wheeled robots.
4. Demonstrate actuating, sensing, locomotion, navigation, manipulation, and learning capabilities of robotic systems.
5. Describe the ethical and social impact of robotics on public problems and participate in civic engagement activities with robots, while additionally reflecting on the nuances of public problems.

Distribution Learning Outcomes

• Civic Learning (CL): Students who successfully complete this requirement will demonstrate an understanding of economic, political, legal, cultural, natural, historical, or social forces that affect public problems or civic issues.

  Program learning outcomes 2 and 5 satisfy CL learning outcome.

• Quantitative Reasoning (QR): Students who successfully complete this requirement will demonstrate an understanding of how to interpret numeric data and/or their graphical or symbolic representations.

  Program learning outcomes 2, 3, and 4 satisfy QR learning outcome.

Community Guidelines

Interactions of students amongst themselves, as well as with the course instructor must be respectful at all times. All members of the course are expected to contribute to the classroom environment being welcoming, inclusive, and engaging.

Course members are representatives of this course, Computer and Information Science department, and Allegheny College, when engaging in the local community, and as such must present the best representation of themselves. All members must learn about the community with which they are to engage and consider the impacts of their communications, actions and interactions in the community.

When working as a team, all project decisions should be made as a team. Team members must decide how they conduct the work, divide the work as needed, and should hold each other accountable. All project work must be completed in a branch on GitHub, and allow for appropriate GitHub flow process using Pull Requests and Merges. Team members should use Discord and GitHub to communicate with each other about the project.

Each team is responsible for the hardware they work with during each project. All supplies taken out of ALIC need to be documented in the project’s report. All tools and supplies must be returned to ALIC when are no longer in use.

Policies

Communication

GitHub and Discord are the main digital channels used in this course for communication. Students are responsible for regularly checking these platforms to ensure that important messages are not being missed.

Grading Structure

Grading Scale

Class Activities

All students are required to actively participate during all of the class sessions. During a lot of the class sessions, you will be required to complete and submit class activities (individually and in teams). You will receive a checkmark grade (1) if you complete more than 70% of the activity; otherwise you will receive a 0.

Projects

Graded on a percentage and credit/no-credit basis, five project assignments, invite students to experiment with various tools and techniques for designing, implementing, evaluating, and documenting your robotic agent system. Additionally, you will be required to submit reflections on the civic learning components if relevant to the particular project. To best ensure that students are ready to develop software after graduation, students will complete most of the lab asprojectssignments in teams. All lab projects in this course will expect students to give both a presentation and a demonstration of the system that they created. Additionally, you will be required to engage in a code review with the instructor for applicable projects.

Community Engagement

A significant portion of the course asks the students to study and reflect on public problems related to the field of robotics. As a part of civic learning in this course you will be required to engage in the community. This will mainly involve researching and developing systems to be presented to our community partner.

Exams

The exam will cover all of the material in its associated module and are short 10 question assessments completed during the class session. Unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor, all students will be expected to take the exams on the scheduled dates.

Assignment Submission

All assignments have a stated due date and are to be turned in on that due date. By submitting each assignment a student pledges that they have complied with Allegheny Honor Code. You must follow assignment instructions for submitting your projects in order for them to be graded. Unless special arrangements are made with the course instructor, no assignments will be accepted after the late deadline.

Department Policies

This course will follow department’s policies, with more specified applications of the policies described below.

Attendance

General department’s policy allows for no more than two weeks of absences without the impact to the course grade. In this class this means, you can miss a total of 8 sessions (class and lab combined) before your final course grade is reduced by a letter grade. A miss of of more than 16 sessions results in a course grade reduction of two letter grades, and so on.

Late assignments

Late assignments will not be accepted unless a token is applied, ideally before the assignment deadline. To apply a token, complete this form. The token can not be used for a final project.

These tokens are no‑questions‑asked. They are meant to accommodate emergencies, illnesses, athletic events, so there is no need to provide an excuse when applying a token.

You will have 2 tokens, and each can do one of the following:

• Extends one assignment’s deadline by two weeks OR
• Allows resubmit of one project assignments within two weeks after receiving your grade. Resubmits can only be used on projects where an on‑time attempt was made (an attempt means that you have started the assignment and tried at least half the objectives).

Artificial Intelligence in Class

Use of artificial intelligence is permitted in this class. Students will be asked to supply verbal explanations of their code during code review.

Allegheny College Policy and Awareness Statements

Statement of Community

Allegheny students and employees are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful and safe residential learning community that will actively confront and challenge racism, sexism, heterosexism, religious bigotry, and other forms of harassment and discrimination. We encourage individual growth by promoting a free exchange of ideas in a setting that values diversity, trust and equality. So that the right of all to participate in a shared learning experience is upheld, Allegheny affirms its commitment to the principles of freedom of speech and inquiry, while at the same time fostering responsibility and accountability in the exercise of these freedoms.

Academic Integrity

Allegheny College has a student-run Honor Code designed to promote individual responsibility and integrity in academic affairs. Each student pledges the following: “I hereby recognize and pledge to fulfill my responsibilities, as defined in the Honor Code, and to maintain the integrity of both myself and the College community as a whole.” Your professor will educate you about the meaning of academic integrity in this course, which may be different in some respects from other courses in which you are enrolled. Please ask the professor if you have questions. Please see academic honor program’s website for more details.

Midterm Grades

Midterm grades will be submitted for all students in this course by Monday, March 17, but will not appear on academic transcripts. By giving you an early indication of your performance so far, midterm grades offer an opportunity to make adjustments, if necessary, before the end of the term. While midterm grades are primarily focused on first and second-year students, upper-level students may also receive them in some courses. This feedback is a key part of our commitment to supporting your academic journey.

Seeking Assistance

Assistance with course concepts

Students who struggle to understand knowledge and skills defined in this course are encouraged to seek assistance from the instructor. To meet with me, consult my available office hours (above) and make an appointment. See above for my office hours or go to this schedule for Technical Leaders’ office hours.

Academic Accommodations

Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) at (814) 332-2898. Student Accessibility and Support Services is located in Pelletier Library. Please do this as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Please see student accessibility’s website for more details.

Religious Observance

If you need to miss class or reschedule a final examination due to a religious observance, please speak to the professor well in advance to make arrangements. Please see religious holidays’ website for more details.

Academic Alerts

Allegheny College uses an Academic Alert system to send progress notices to the class deans in the Maytum Center for Student Success (MCSS). The progress notices are not punitive. They are an opportunity to connect you with your class dean who can offer additional support and suggest resources if you need assistance. These notices may encourage faculty advisors, coaches (for student-athletes), or other support staff to provide outreach to you as well.

Mental Health and Wellness

As a college student, there may be times when personal stressors, struggles, and/or traumas interfere with your academic performance and/or negatively impact your daily life. Allegheny College recognizes that mental health is an important piece of the holistic human experience, and that this experience influences your academic success. We encourage students to prioritize their mental well-being by seeking services and support as needed.

Keep in mind, course deadlines, absences, and accommodations for mental health are subject to the course policies and expectations that are set within this syllabus. Students are encouraged to communicate with their professors as soon as possible regarding their needs and seek support if their mental health impacts their academic performance or daily life. When you find yourself struggling emotionally, remember that there are supports available, and you are not alone.

Students who are in need of mental health services can access resources to receive support. Allegheny College has partnered with ECPS (Edinboro Counseling and Psychological Services) to provide in-person therapy on campus. The ECPS partnership with Allegheny College delivers holistic mental health services to the Allegheny College student community through brief individual counseling, and crisis support. Students may request services from ECPS by calling (814) 734-3975 or, if you have any questions, please email the Wellness Case Manager at wellness@allegheny.edu.

All students also have access to the TimelyCare Telehealth platform. These services are free to all actively enrolled students and do not require insurance to use. TimelyCare gives all actively enrolled students up to 6 therapy sessions with licensed clinicians per academic year virtually over your phone or computer. This service also includes access to a 24/7 TalkNow telephone support line that students can call and talk to a mental health professional when needing extra support. Additionally, this app also provides a variety of self-guided modules that students can utilize independently to support their wellbeing.

Download the TimelyCare app on your electronic device or visit timelycare.com/allegheny to register and log in using your Allegheny College student email. Please send all questions regarding the services or about registration/log-in to wellness@allegheny.edu.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Public Safety (814-332-3357), or 911. All of these urgent resources are available 24/7/365. When in doubt, reach out.

Gator Success Grants

The Gator Success Grant program is designed to provide students with additional financial assistance to offset the total cost of college attendance and to encourage successful on-time degree completion. Currently enrolled students who have an unanticipated need are invited to apply. Grants are usually from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the request and the student’s need. Please direct questions to studentsuccess@allegheny.edu.

Writing and Speaking Consultants

Experienced peer writing and speaking consultants in the Maytum Center for Student Success help writers and speakers make academically responsible choices and determine strategies for effective communication at any stage in the writing or speaking process, for assignments in any discipline, or for writing and speaking situations unrelated to coursework (e.g., personal statements, cover letters, interviews, conference presentations). Both appointments and drop-in sessions are available. To view the hours of operation, and to make an appointment, visit the Maytum Center for Student Success website.

Gator Days and Scholar Symposium

In each semester, we have one Gator Day set aside for programming, with no classes. Fall Gator Day is held on the first Tuesday in November (coinciding with election day). Spring Gator Day is held on a Monday in early April. These all-college programming days feature programs and workshops that highlight educational opportunities at Allegheny, that prepare students for life after graduation, and that help to create a greater sense of campus community. Additionally, in the Spring, during the Richard J Cook – Teresa M Lahti Scholars Symposium (the day immediately after classes end and before exams begin), we gather to celebrate student research, scholarship, and creative activities on campus. We

Class Deans

The Office of Class Deans in Pelletier Library serves as a place for students to begin seeking assistance and answers to their questions related to college life. If you have a question and don’t know who to ask – ask a class dean. If you want advice – talk to a class dean. Aacha Gregg is the First Year Class Dean, Amy Stearns is the Second Year Class Dean / Director of Transfer Advising, and Carene Shipley is the Third/Fourth Year Class Dean. Dom Turner is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, located in Schultz Hall. Please contact them individually or through studentsuccess@allegheny.edu.

The Well

The Center for Wellbeing, Life Design, and Community Engagement (The Well) empowers students to live meaningful, connected, and balanced lives at Allegheny College. The Well nurtures student wellbeing, affirms identity, and cultivates lifelong habits of service, purpose, and reflection through holistic support and programming from professional staff. Please visit The Well (in the Campus Center and Pelletier Library) if you would like to chat with professional staff about your purpose or need more information about community engagement opportunities. For more information, please feel free to contact Dom Turner (dturner@allegheny.edu).

Recording Policy

Allegheny College values freedom of expression and respects individuals’ rights to privacy, the integrity of the classroom experience, faculty and College rights in instructional materials and applicable copyright law. Both faculty and students have the reasonable expectation that class content is shared only with those who are members of the Allegheny College community; therefore, audio, video, or cell phone recording of any class at Allegheny is prohibited unless prior written permission of the instructor has been obtained and all students in the class as well as guest speakers have been informed that audio/video recording may occur. Classes may also be recorded if approved as an educational accommodation through Student Accessibility and Support services. Recordings may not be reproduced or uploaded to publicly accessible web environments, nor may they be exchanged or distributed for commercial purposes, for compensation, or for any purpose other than individual or group study, except with the express written permission of the involved parties. See Section 9.8 of the Faculty Handbook for the full “Recording Policy.”

Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Allegheny College is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct. The College expressly prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, and disability. Allegheny College prohibits sex-based harassment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking regardless of the gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation of the individuals involved in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including admission and employment.

Allegheny College adheres to all federal, state, and local civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and education. The College does not discriminate in its admissions practices, in its employment practices, or in its educational programs or activities. Allegheny College also prohibits retaliation against any person participating in good faith in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internal or external to the institution; for bringing a complaint of discrimination or harassment or for assisting someone with such a complaint.

Allegheny College is required to respond promptly and effectively, utilizing a fair, transparent, and reliable process, when they have knowledge of conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination in its program, and must take steps to prevent the recurrence of discrimination and remedy its effects, the college must communicate their policies and procedures to all students, employees, and other participants in their programs and must monitor and address barriers to reporting instances of sex discrimination.

Allegheny College employees must notify their Title IX Coordinator when they have information that may reasonably rise to the level of sex discrimination, so long as the employee is not a confidential employee, as defined on page 3 of this policy. All employees must be trained upon hiring and annually thereafter on (i) the College’s obligation to address sex discrimination, (ii) the scope of conduct that constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX, including sex-based harassment, and (iii) all duties of employees upon receipt of a report of sex discrimination, including to provide the reporting individual with contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and information about how to report sex discrimination under Title IX. Trae Yeckley, Dean for Student Life and Title IX Coordinator 814-332-3085 (direct line), titleix@allegheny.edu , Student Life Suite, Campus Center

You can access support and resources even if you do not want to take any further action. The College respects your right to file or not file a formal complaint. The Title IX Coordinator may take action only in situations that pose a serious threat of harm to you or the community.

NB: On January 9, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky vacated the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulations. The vacatur applies nationwide, meaning the 2020 Title IX final rule and Title IX regulations are effective. Due to this ruling, Allegheny College reverted back to their Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures prior to August 1, 2024.

Notice that Faculty are Responsible Employees with Mandatory Reporting Obligations:

Unless specifically identified otherwise by policy, all faculty, staff, and administrators of Allegheny College are considered mandated reporters and are required to notify the College’s Title IX Coordinator of any incident of discrimination and harassment disclosed to them, or known to them, involving a member of the campus community. Mandated reporting helps to ensure that individuals who are experiencing or have experienced discrimination or harassment are connected to the full range of resources and options afforded to them. If you are in need of support or advocacy and wish to discuss such matters confidentially, you are invited to consult any of the resources listed below. Unlike other College employees, the options below are confidential and are exempt from mandatory reporting obligations to the Title IX Coordinator. These resources are free and include both internal and external options.

On Campus Options:

• Meadville Medical Center @ Winslow - (814-332-4355) - Walk-ins welcome - Open from M-F 10am-3pm (last patient check-in at 2:30pm) while classes are in session.
• ECPS (Edinboro Counseling and Psychological Services) partnership with Allegheny College - (814- 734-3975) - Please call to schedule an appointment.
• Wellness in Student Life - wellness@allegheny.edu - (814) 332-2782

Off Campus Options:

• Meadville Medical Center Emergency Room, 751 Liberty Street – (814) 333-5500
• Meadville Crisis Line, (814) 724-2732
• Women’s Services, Inc., (814) 724-4637 (office)
• 24-hour Hotlines: (814) 333-9766 or (888) 881-0189
• If you would like more information on the College’s Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy click here.
• Resources | Title IX | Allegheny College