Robotics, Automation, and Systems Control Lab (RASCL)

Current News

The introductory workshop takes place on Tuesday, 28 October in the Engler Villa’s Seminar Room (Building 11.20) from 13:00 to 16:00. An invitation has been sent to the participants – please check your mail and contact the lecturers (rascl∂irs.kit.edu) in case you have not received an invitation.

Lecturers

M. Sc. Pirmin Breisacher

Lecturer

M. Sc. Eric Wagemann

Lecturer

M. Sc. Linus Witucki

Lecturer		    

Overview

Contact  If you have any questions concerning the lecture or the exercise, please contact the lecturers using
rascl∂irs.kit.edu.
Enrollment Due to the limited number of places available, students must apply to participate. The application window for the current Winter Term is now closed. There are no vacant spots available. Students interested in participating can apply for the Summer Term in 2026 after this semester. Please check the Labs site regularly for announcements.
Recommendations

Knowledge in automation, control and robotics in general. Recommended, but not mandatory, lectures are:
 
Teaching Content

This module is designed to teach students the stated qualification objectives in the fields of automation, robotics
and control by means of a complex automation task. The task not only covers the automation concept itself
but also underlying aspects like hardware design, communication using an industrial bus system, drive system
control and others. To do so, laboratory systems, namely laboratory scale robotic manipulator arms, are provided
to the students.
Mode of the Lab Course Students work in teams of three, which are formed during the kick-off workshop. Each team can book individual time slots in the lab space. The schedule for the current semester is shown below.
Course Material On Ilias all relevant course material (including lecture slides, exercise and tutorial sheets and semester schedule) can be downloaded.
Workload
  • Introduction to the test stand (15h)
  • Introduction to single-axis motor control (15h)
  • Construction and print of end-effector components (30h)
  • Introduction to ROS (15h)
  • Implementation of hardware-interfaces in ROS (30h)
  • Automation, motion planning and control (30h)
  • Implementation on the real robot (15h)
  • Presentations and preparation (15h)
  • Oral exam and preparation (15h)
Goals
  • Students are enabled to develop approaches to various problems in a group, solve them, and present and
    defend their results. In addition, they are able to present their approach, thought processes, applied methods,
    and results in a comprehensible and scientifically precise style.
  • Students are able to familiarize themselves independently with a complex technical system and its components
  • Students can discuss problem-solving strategies with team members in technical language and argue their
    preferred solution. Further they are able to reflect on the solution approaches used.
  • Students can implement and validate automation solutions in various development environments (e.g. MATLAB/
    Simulink, ROS, …). They are further able to apply their solutions across various system boundaries
    (e.g. automation concepts on Windows, ROS on Linux).
  • Students gain insights into various engineering disciplines (e.g. mechanical engineering) and in rapid prototyping
    processes.
  • Students are able to use industrial bus systems (e.g. EtherCAT) in an automation context.
  • Students are able to apply methods that they have previously acquired in lectures on automation, control and
    robotics.
Exam

The examination takes place in the form of other types of examination. It consists of pitches after every thematic block, a final presentation and an oral examination in the amount of 20 minutes. The overall impression is evaluated.
The module grade results of the assessment of the pitches, presentation and the oral exam. Details will be given during the lecture at the beginning of the semester.
Evaluation