Robotics Institute
Capstone Programs
Master of Science Robotic Systems Development (MRSD)
January–December (with a summer break)
Sponsorship Fee: $15,000 per student (4-5 students per team), with a $60,000 maximum (Discounts available for startups.)
MRSD is an advanced robotics graduate degree with a focus on technical and business skills. The curriculum provides a broad education in the sciences and technologies of robotics, reinforces theory through hands-on laboratory projects, and exposes students to practical business principles and skills. Students work as a team toward practical system-level robotics development and integration projects. Key business concepts and practices in the curriculum include technology planning, product conceptualization and development, team management, project management, prototyping, production, marketing, and sales.
NOTE: Project proposals from companies are due in mid-July.
Past projects can be found on the MSRD website.
Program Lead
John M. Dolan
Principal Systems Scientist, Robotics Institute
Master of Science in Computer Vision (MSCV)
Mid-January to early December (with a summer break)
Sponsorship Fee: $15,000 per student (2 student minimum)
The MSCV is a professional degree that prepares students for industry work in careers related to computer vision. Students gain proficiency at implementing computer vision applications based on state-of-the-art algorithms; presenting the background and implementation details of a state-of-the-art computer vision technique; conducting experimental analysis and testing consistent with current practice in computer vision, including standard metrics and benchmark data sets; and applying mathematical and machine learning tools, such as geometry, optimization and statistics to computer vision applications.
Program Lead
Michael Kaess
Associate Professor, Robotics Institute
Director of the MSCV Program
Robotics Systems Engineering and Robotics Capstone
(Additional Undergraduate Major in Robotics)
September–December (fall semester)
January–May (spring semester)
Sponsorship Fee: $2,500 per team, 4-7 teams; $10,000 for all projects
Systems engineering examines methods of specifying, designing, analyzing and testing complex systems. In this course, principles and processes of systems engineering are introduced and applied to the development of robotic devices. The focus is on robotic systems engineered to perform complex behavior. Such systems embed computing elements, integrate sensors and actuators, operate in a reliable and robust fashion, and demand rigorous engineering from conception through production. The course is organized as a progression through the systems engineering process of conceptualization, specification, design and prototyping with consideration of verification and validation. Students completing this course will engineer a robotic system through its complete design and initial prototype.
NOTE: Unlike graduate courses, this undergraduate course is entirely student-driven. Companies are encouraged to sponsor the course as a whole (all projects) rather than individual teams.