TEK3920 – The Art of Building Robots: Practical 3D Printing and Prototyping

After completing this course, you will be able to

• explain the fundamentals of 3D printing processes, materials, and slicer parameters and how they impact the quality and strength of your parts
• apply principles of design for fabrication, ensuring your designs account for fit, clearances, and fastening strategies
• identify and compare robotic components, selecting the right actuators and sensors based on cost, performance, and reliability
• model complex parts and assemblies using parametric CAD tools
• fabricate and assemble mechanisms with appropriate tolerances to achieve reliable, functional motion
• integrate mechatronic hardware into a cohesive, functioning system
• diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and software issues using systematic methods
• manage your project scope, setting realistic milestones and adapting your plans based on test results
• communicate your design decisions and trade-offs effectively through written reports, visual aids, and oral presentations
• collaborate in a makerspace, contributing to a safe, inclusive, and productive environment for yourself and your peers

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

This course is open for admission to students on the bachelor's programme Technology Systems: Science and Engineering. Please refer to the programme description for admission requirements.

In this course, you will engage in a project-based learning model where most of your work happens in a makerspace or lab environment. Your learning experience is divided into two phases:

• Phase 1 Skills Development (Weeks 1-6): You will attend intensive lectures and labs covering CAD, 3D printing calibration, advanced assembly techniques, and electronics prototyping.
• Phase 2: Project Work (Weeks 7-13): You will work in a team to design and build a robot, participating in weekly check-ins, design reviews, and milestone assessments.

You must complete a mandatory safety course during the first lab. You are also expected to participate in peer feedback sessions, electronics audits, and "failure postmortem" to refine your engineering process.

Your final grade is determined by a portfolio assessment that tracks your progress throughout the semester:

• your individual weekly deliverables (weeks 1-6): 25%
• your group project build logs and weekly presentations (weeks 7-13): 15%
• your group final demo, report, and presentation (week 14): 35%
• your individual self-reflection note (week 14+): 25%

For your final report, you must document your design narrative, CAD files, and firmware in an open-source format.

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.