Readings

The textbook for the course is the online textbook Masayuki Yano, et al. Math, Numerics, and Programming (for Mechanical Engineers). V2.1, August 2013. Unpublished manuscript. The entire textbook is This resource may not render correctly in a screen reader.available for download as a single file (PDF - 18.6MB). The textbook is referred to as MATLAB®: Textbook in the table below.

The less-is-more variant of the textbook is available in the Nutshells & GUIs section: Masayuki Yano, et al. Math, Numerics, & Programming for Mechanical Engineers... in a Nutshell, V1.1, 2014. Unpublished manuscript.

READINGS ASSIGNMENTS SUPPORTING VIDEOS
Unit I: (Numerical) Calculus—Interpolation, Integration, Differentiation

Math and Numerics

MATLAB: Textbook

  • Chapter 4
  • Section 5.1

The Macro-Me Robot

Video of a 2.086 robot performing IR range finding and odometry. (Courtesy of James Penn. Used with permission.)

Unit II: Probability; Statistical Estimation; Monte-Carlo Methods

Math and Numerics

MATLAB: Textbook

  • Sections 6.1–6.4
  • Section 5.3

There are no supporting videos in this unit.

Unit III: (Numerical) Linear Algebra I—Matrices and Vectors, Least-Squares; Regression

Math and Numerics

MATLAB: Textbook

  • Chapter 18

The Macro-Me Robot: Friction Test

Video of a 2.086 robot attempting to push a load on two different surfaces. (Courtesy of James Penn. Used with permission.)

Unit IV: Numerical Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs); Eigenproblems

Math and Numerics

MATLAB: Textbook

  • Sections 6.5 & 6.6

Macro-Me Suspension

Video of a 2.086 robot driving over a small bump at three different velocities. (Courtesy of James Penn. Used with permission.)

Unit V: (Numerical) Linear Algebra II—Linear Systems; Nonlinear Systems

Math and Numerics

(Electively, you may read Chapter 29 of the textbook for some background on nonlinear problems; however this chapter is not required for Assignment 5: Assignment 5 includes a self-contained discussion of nonlinear problems (and associated MATLAB issues).)

MATLAB: Textbook

  • Chapter 28

Robot Arm Demo

Video of a 2.086 robot arm tracking a specified trajectory. (Courtesy of James Penn. Used with permission.)