Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Autonomous physical systems operate in complex, open-ended environments with a high level of independence and self-determination. They can sense, perceive, learn and act with self-awareness and respond to uncertain environments. Such systems have made lasting impacts since the era of industrial automation and are continuing to penetrate into broader aspects of human activities.

The UCLA Samueli Master of Engineering’s Robotics & Autonomous Systems area of study has integrated faculty expertise from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science — creating an interdisciplinary program. Taught by faculty with expertise in these fields, we will focus on recent advances in control systems, robot kinematics, dynamics and sensing, machine learning, optimization, embedded cyber-physical systems, and their applications in cutting-edge or emerging technologies (autonomous robots, electric vehicles, unmanned aircraft, transportation networks, smart grids, etc.).

Application Information

Prof. T.C. Tsao

“The curriculum is designed to cover a wide spectrum of robotics and autonomous systems — from self-driving cars to unmanned aircraft systems. Students will get a chance to learn and explore the latest developments impacting such systems.”

Area Director: Prof. T-C. Tsao

Sample Curriculum

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
MECH&AE C274 Digital Control and Learning of Physical Systems (Instructor: Prof. T-C. Tsao)	MECH&AE 270B Linear Optimal Control (Instructor: Prof. T. Iwasaki)	EC ENGR/COM SCI M146 Introduction to Machine Learning (Instructor: Prof. S.N. Diggavi)	Capstone Project
MECH&AE 263A Kinematics of Robotic Systems (Instructor: Prof. D.W.d Hong)	MECH&AE 263B Dynamics of Robotic Systems (Instructor: Prof. J. Rosen)	Engineering Professional Development Elective
Engineering Professional Development Elective	Engineering Professional Development Elective
12 Units	12 Units	8 Units	4 Units

Sample Curriculum Options

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
MECH&AE M270A	EC ENGR/COM SCI 146	EC ENGR C247	Capstone Project
MECH&AE 263E	MECH&AE 263B	Engineering Professional Development Elective
Engineering Professional Development Elective	Engineering Professional Development Elective

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
MECH&AE M271A	EC ENGR/COM SCI M246	CEE 286	Capstone Project
MECH&AE 263F	EC ENGR 236B	Engineering Professional Development Elective
Engineering Professional Development Elective	Engineering Professional Development Elective

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
EC ENGR 236A	EC ENGR 263B	MECH&AE 263C	Capstone Project
MECH&AE 263A	MECH&AE 263B	Engineering Professional Development Elective
Engineering Professional Development Elective	Engineering Professional Development Elective

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
EC ENGR 236A	EC ENGR 246	MECH&AE 277	Capstone Project
MECH&AE 270A	MECH&AE 270B	Engineering Professional Development Elective
Engineering Professional Development Elective	Engineering Professional Development Elective

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
EC ENGR 236A	EC ENGR 263B	CEE 286	Capstone Project
EC ENGR 202A	EC ENGR 202B	Engineering Professional Development Elective
Engineering Professional Development Elective	Engineering Professional Development Elective

Prerequisites (Subject to Change)

All classes indicated with a color were offered in F/W/S 2020. Purple means no prerequisite to take the class. Green has a prerequisite for a purple class. Blue has a prerequisite for a green class.

At least three classes in fundamental knowledge of autonomous systems, which cover at least two areas:

- Dynamic Systems and Control:
  - MECH&AE 171B (F) Digital Control of Physical Systems
  - MECH&AE 172B (W) Control Systems Design Laboratory
  - MECH&AE M270A/EC ENGR M240A/CHE M280A (F) Linear Dynamical Systems
  - MECH&AE 270B (W) Linear Optimal Control
  - EC ENGR M242A/CHEM282A/MECH&AE M272A (W) Nonlinear Dynamic Systems
  - MECH&AE 273A (S) Robust Control System Analysis and Design
  - MECH&AE M270C Optimal Control
- Robotic Systems:
  - MECH&AE 263A (F) Kinematics of Robotic Systems
  - MECH&AE 263E (F) Bionic Systems Engineering
  - MECH&AE 263F (F) Mechanics of Flexible Structures and Soft Robots
  - MECH&AE C237 (F) Design and Analysis of Smart Grids
  - MECH&AE 263B (W) Dynamics of Robotic Systems
  - MECH&AE 277 (W) Advanced Digital Control for Mechatronic Systems
  - C&EE C286 Intelligent Transportation Systems
  - MECH&AE 263C (S) Control of Robotic Systems
- Estimation, Learning, Adaptation and Optimization:
  - MECH&AE C271A/EC ENGR 241A (F) Probability and Stochastic Processes in Dynamical Systems
  - EC ENGR 246 (W) Foundation of Statistical Machine Learning
  - EC ENGR M146/COM SCI M146 (F/W) Introduction to Machine Learning
  - MECH&AE 271B (W) Stochastic Estimation
  - EC ENGR C247 (W) Neural Network and Deep Learning
  - COM SCI 260 (S) Machine Learning Algorithms, prereq. COM SCI 180, restricted to COM SCI
  - EC ENGR 236A (F) Linear Programming
  - EC ENGR 236B (W) Convex Optimization
  - EC ENGR 239AS Special Topics in Signals and Systems: Advanced Neural Networks and Deep Learning
- Embedded and Cyber-Physical Systems:
  - EC ENGR M202A/COM SCI M213A (F)
  - EC ENGR M202B/COM SCI M213B Energy-Aware Computing and Cyber-Physical Systems
  - EC ENGR M202C Networked Embedded Systems Design
  - EC ENGR 232B (W) Queueing Systems and Intelligent Transportation Network
  - EC ENGR 232D (S) Communications Networking and Traffic Management for Autonomous Mobile Systems