MYMUP/EID 111 Design, Illusion and Reality
Robotics and Theater
SAMPLE SYLLABUS
Dr. Carl Weiman weiman@optonline.com, Background
Adrianne Wortzel, muse@cooper.edu
Works at: http://artnetweb.com/wortzel
Week 1:  
Carl Weiman presents Introduction to Robotics
      • Myth vs. Reality
      • Holism vs. Reductionism
      • Control vs. Out-of-Control
      • Bibliography on website
    • Adrianne Wortzel presents Introductions and Announcements, description of the course, process, requirements, and expectations:
      1. A completed project in the form of models, scenarios, script, drawings, descriptions, web site, etc.
      2. Ongoing journal with weekly documentation in the form of a web site or notebook, consisting of reference quotes, original text and imagery (drawing, photo, video, collage, animation etc.)
      3. A formal final report along with the final model and drawings.
      4. Delivery of all documentation of your groups project, using electronic media
    • Demo of class website for assignments,  information and class project administration
    • Introduction of all the class participants
    • Film in class: Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
Assigned reading:
  1. Hofstadter, Douglas R.; Dennett, Daniel C. (Editors) ; The Mind's I, Fantasies and Reflections on Self and Soul, Basic Books, New York, 1981.
  2. Selection 16, pp 253-268, excerpt from Software, Rudy Rucker, Avon Books, New York, 1982.
  3. Capek, Karel; R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robot), 1923, Oxford Univ Press, London, 1961.
Prepare a response to be presented in the next class:  that reflects a comparison between the texts and the film Fast, Cheap & Out of Control.  This can be done by written text or image or whatever medium you find appropriate.
Week 2:  
Carl Weiman presents The Metaphor of  Robot in Art and Science.
      • Illustrations from literature and film.
        • Hero and Villain
        • Pet and Monster
        • God and Devil
        • Human and Superman
      • Illustrations from industry
        • Worker
        • Artisan
        • Surgeon
        • Machine
        • Thinker
        • Weapon
    • A 3 minute verbal presentation of student responses to the assignments.
    • Open class critique. Discussion of robots as metaphor, as symbol, as structure, as form, as function, as narrative. Discussion of the human body in relation to artificial constructed bodies.
Assignment for Class 3:
Assigned viewing: Videotape  Death by Design
Assigned reading: Engelberger, Robotics in Service, Flyleaf, Preface, & Chapters 1, 2, 3 (through page 44).
Prepare a response to be presented in the next class:  What is a robot?  Your response can be written text or image or whatever medium you find appropriate.
Week 3:  
  • Carl Weiman presents: TechTools: Components and Techno-anatomy
    • Power, weight, form, function, capability, brains, aircraft design analogy
  • Students give 3 minute verbal presentation of research and responses to assignment, open class discussion
Assignment for Class 4:
  • Assigned Reading:
  • Engelberger, Robotics in Service, Chapters 4, 5.
  • Hofstadter & Dennett,  The Mind's I, (to be selected)
  • Hofstadter,  Goedel, Escher, Bach, (to be selected)
  • Develop an individual proposal for the robot project you would like to develop in this class.
Week 4: 
  • Adrianne Wortzel Presents  Robots in Theatrical Presentations
  • Carl Weiman presents TechTools: Controls and Sensors
  • Students give 5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion. Decide on the basis of these presentations who you would like to work with. Form groups. Discuss within groups the research, rough ideas of what you want to do.Work in class. Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.
  • Assignment for Class 5: Decide the topic you will to develop during the semester.
    Meet with your group to produce the following:
  1. Describe your idea for the proposal in writing. Think about characteristics of the robot, and the function of your project
  2. Complete an outline/drawing/model of your proposed project, i.e., as a sketch with an example worked out.
Assigned Reading:
"Borges and I" by Jorge Luis Borges, pp. 19-22 in The Mind's Eye
"Rediscovering the Mind" by Harold J. Morowitz, pp. 34-49 in The Mind's Eye
"The Princess Ineffabelle" by Stanislaw Lem, pp. 96-99 in The Mind's Eye
Week 5:  
  • Carl Weiman presents Freedom and Control, Chaos and Out-of-Control
  • Students present 5 minute project proposal (and schedule) of your groupÕs project, open class discussio
Assignment for Class 6:  Storyboard, drawings and a paper model of your project and individual assignments for each group
Week 6:  
  • Adrianne Wortzel presents MOO (Multi-Used Dungeons and Dragons (MUDD) , Object Oriented) theater demonstration
  • 5 minute project presentation of storyboard and drawings, open class discussion
Assignment for Class 7:  Storyboard, drawings and a paper model of your project and individual assignments for each group
Assigned Reading: To be determined
Week 7:  
  • Students give 5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion
  • Student teams work in class, professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.
Assignment for Class 8:  Individual assignments for each group
Assigned Reading: To be determined
Week 8:  
  • 10 minute midterm presentations with materials and worked out examples: including drawings, models, electronic imagery, storyboard, texts etc.)
  • Critiques by instructors and by a guest (to be announced)
Assignment for Class 9:  Individual assignments: readings from bibliography, writings, and exhibitions and sites to see
Assigned Reading: To be determined
Week 9:  
  • Reading seminar - Group 1: discussion of readings assigned in week 7
  • Discussion: the soul and personality of the robot
  • Work in class. Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.
Assignment for Class 10: Individual assignments for each group
Assigned Reading: To be determined
Week 10  
  • 5 minute student project presentation to the class, open class discussion
  • Reading seminar - Group 2: discussion of readings assigned in week 7
  • Work in class. Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.
Assignment for Class 11:  Individual assignments for each group
Assigned Reading: To be determined
Week 11:
  • 5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion
  • Reading seminar - Group 3: discussion of readings assigned in week 7
  • Discussion: Robots in movies
  • Work in class. Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.
Assignment for Class 12:  Individual assignments for each group
Assigned Reading: To be determined

Week 12:
  • 5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion
  • Reading seminar - Group 4: discussion of readings assigned in week 7
  • Discussion: Robots in movies
  • Work in class. Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.
Assignment for Class 13:  Individual assignments for each group
Week 13: 
  • Dry runs of final presentations.
Assignment for Class 14:  Individual assignments for each group
Week 14: 
Final Presentation to the class and guests. Critique.
Week 15:
DOCUMENTATION CLASS all deliverables due.