Computer Science and Software
Engineering Faculty Projects
Using mobile game development to improve student learning and
satisfaction in introductory computer Science courses
Professor Delvin Defoe
An overarching goal of this project is to improve student
success and satisfaction, and, as a result, decrease student
attrition in introductory Computer Science (CS) courses at high
school, college, and university levels. This project will produce a
comprehensive set of learning modules consisting of laboratory
projects and accompanying instructional materials for introductory
CS courses taught using Java. This approach uses mobile game
development early in the CS curriculum as a motivational learning
context. Each learning module serves as a platform to introduce
students to one of advanced topics in CS, such as artificial
intelligence, computer security, databases, networking, and others.
By demonstrating these and other non-programming and diverse
aspects of the discipline to the students, this approach may help
dissolve a widely popular misconception that "CS is all about
coding." Research literature and our own experience demonstrate
that most CS students seem to be very interested in computer game
development, and introducing students to this topic early in the
curriculum could serve as a good tool to increase student
retention. More broadly, current research literature indicates that
students perform better when they find their course material
relevant and motivating. This project promotes teaching and
learning, help improve student experience in the critical
introductory CS courses when student attrition is at its highest,
and ultimately will help train outstanding computer scientists.
Based on the experiences of both students and instructors,
formative and summative evaluation will help direct the project
development and measure the degree of the project success.
This project is a collaboration between Dr. Stan Kurkovsky
(Central Connecticut State University) and Dr. Delvin Defoe
(Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology), and is supported by NSF
awards DUE-0941348 and DUE-0941658. Emily Graetz is currently
working with Dr Defoe on developing educational modules for this
project.
Agile methodologies
Professor Sriram Mohan
In-depth study and comparison of modern Agile software
development methodologies and practices. Includes "plain" Agile,
Scrum, Extreme Programming, Kanban, and feature-driven development.
Emphasis on contrast between individual Agile concepts and their
applicability to software projects, especially in academic
settings.
Students will assume roles and develop one of five similar
projects for each Agile process. Progress and review meetings occur
twice weekly; end of each Agile process (and corresponding project)
includes a substantial presentation. Students will also prepare a
final review of benefits and risks in each Agile process, as well
as recommend changes to processes used for future improvement.
Recycling Robot
Professor Michael Wollowski
To support the CSSE soda machine, we are looking to develop a
recycling robot. This robot would be summoned to CSSE labs and
offices to pick up empty soda cans and deliver them to a recycling
bin. A senior project team built a robot for this purpose, however,
the sensors used at the time were not sufficiently precise, as such
the robot was never put into service. We have since purchased a
camera. The goals of this project would be to (1) resuscitate the
robot, (2) mate the camera to it, and (3) develop software that
through rudimentary image processing enables the robot to sense its
location in the CSSE department. Based on this set-up, a
rudimentary path finding algorithm should be developed. We are
looking for a small team of students who have expertise in software
development, expertise in vision processing (or the willingness to
learn about existing packages) and who can wield a soldering gun
with confidence.
A Robotics Hotline - Service-Learning of Robotics and
Teamwork
Professor David Mutchler
We propose a pilot implementation and study of a "Robotics
Hotline" whose goal is to inspire middle and high school students
to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math
(STEM). This Robotics Hotline program will follow the lead of
Rose-Hulman's highly successful Homework Hotline program. In
the latter program, Rose-Hulman students acting as tutors have had
over 280,000 conversations with middle and high school students,
answering those students' questions about mathematics and
science.
The students in this IPROP project will design, develop and
implement the above pilot implementation and study.
Software challenges in autonomous vehicle navigation
Professor David Mutchler (CSSE)
Professor JP Mellor (CSSE)
Professor Carlotta Berry (ECE)
Professor David Fisher (ME)
In this project, students will design and develop software
to solve challenges in navigation faced by autonomous vehicles
(robots). The problems are real problems faced by real robots
in a real competition.
The software to be developed is for challenges faced by a
particular pair of robots that will be entered in the 2012
Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition (IGVC), although the
software will be designed to apply to other robots as well.
In that competition, robots navigate a football-sized field laced
with obstacles, as suggested by the diagram above. The robot
arrives at the competition knowing the general nature of the course
but not its specifics.
The particular robots of interest are:
- Husky A200: a commercial robot whose chassis (wheels, motors,
body, power, etc) is complete. Students in this project will
choose and attach sensors (with help from the Rose-Hulman Robotics
Team) and write software for it.
- Moxom's Master: the Robotics Team's current robot (they
are beginning the design of a 2nd-generation
robot).
Students in this project will receive credit for CSSE 290,
Software Challenges in Autonomous Vehicle Navigation. They
will attend the IGVC 2012 competition where their software will be
used in the above robots. Results of their research will be
reported at that competition, at one or more conferences in
Robotics, and at one or more conferences in Engineering
Education.