This course provides fundamental engineering knowledge of static systems, bodies at rest, force and moment equilibrium of rigid bodies, and mechanics of materials and deformable bodies. Course topics include forces; moments of forces; couples; resultant and equilibrium of force systems; distributed loads; equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies; analysis of structures including beams, structural analyses including trusses, frames, and machines; mechanical joints, the concept of internal forces, shear and moment forces and diagrams, relations between distributed load, shear and moments; friction forces on mechanical components, centroid, a moment of inertia, parallel axis theory, Mohr’s circle for a moment of inertia, the concept of virtual work.
The essentials for mechanical engineering machine design are taught. This includes the application of appropriate safety factors, failure criteria, failure analysis with application to components under static and fatigue loading conditions, along material selection criteria. The analysis of machine elements such as shafts, fasteners, nonpermanent joints, and welds is covered. Machine elements such as springs, bearings, and gears are analyzed and sized for proper application.
This course provides fundamental engineering knowledge of autonomous and semi-autonomous ground vehicles operating on hard surfaces. This course also presents state-of-the-art longitudinal and lateral control technologies, in addition to autonomous features such as navigation, localization, and vision-based control. Course topics include an introduction to ground vehicles, vehicle kinematics, lateral control, longitudinal control, and autonomous features of ground vehicles.