University of Toronto - Fall 2017/Winter 2018
Department of Computer Science

CSC199Y: Can We Make a Robot See Like a Human? (Section L0161)

Instructor: Sven Dickinson

Course Description: We've all seen movies of robots whose intelligence rivals our own. Such intelligence is a long way off, in part because we've been largely unsuccessful in building robot vision systems that rival the human vision system. Unlike HAL or the Terminator, which can recognize objects and activities as effectively as humans do, today's robots lack the capacity to recognize your dog if she's wearing a Leafs jersey or that a six-wheeled car is still a car. This multidisciplinary course explores the challenge of enabling a robot to see more like a human. Students will learn some of the basic mechanisms of human vision, and learn how to use basic techniques in computational thinking to model these mechanisms in a machine. A glimpse into the challenges facing human and robot vision provides a lens through which we can better understand what today's robots are capable of, how they're evolving, and what their impact on our society will be.

Breadth Category: The Physical and Mathematical Universes


Recent Announcements:
(see old announcements)

(April 2, 2018, 5:30pm) Just a reminder that your final reports are due at 2:10 this Wednesday (our last class).

(March 26, 2018, 10:00am) Just a reminder that this Wed, we have our final presentations. Please come and support your colleagues' presentations. It counts for class participation!

I'll also leave some time this Wed for you to enter your course evaluations, so please bring your laptop along.

(February 12, 2018, 2:45pm) A reminder that Lab #4 is due this Wed, Feb 14, 2:00pm via e-submission.

(February 12, 2018, 2:45pm) Note that I will be out of town both Tuesday, Feb 20, and Tuesday, Feb 27 for office hours. However, I will be available to answer any qustions you might have by email.

(February 7, 2018, 6:30pm) Note that I will be out of town during reading week and so there will be no tutorial. I will, however, be reachable by email, in case you have any questions you need help with.

(February 6, 2018, 11:00am) With the TA's help, we have found a workaround for Lab 4 that doesn't require actually running the program. The posted lab has been modified slightly (see link to Lab #4), and you'll be able to work on this anywhere where you can access a web browser -- there's no need to be in the lab. It's posted and, as originally scheduled, is due one week from posting (see course information sheet), i.e., February 14, 2:10pm, vis e-submission.

(February 5, 2018, 11:00am) Reminder that for this week's class, please read the three articles listed inder "Readings" on the website.

(February 5, 2018, 11:00am) Reminder that Assignment #8 due this Wed.

(January 29, 2018, 6:00pm) For this week's class, please read the three articles listed inder "Readings" on the website.

(January 29, 2018, 6:00pm) The Lab #4 server has unfortunately gone down, and the university that maintains it is working to fix it. The deadline for Lab #4 has therefore been extended to a date TBD.

(January 29, 2018, 6:00pm) Assignment #7 is due this Wed, January 31, 2:10pm via e-submission.

(January 29, 2018, 6:00pm) Assignment #8 posted -- due Wed, February 7, 2:10pm via e-submission.

(January 29, 2018, 6:00pm) Reminder: Presentation schedule has been posted below under "Projects".


Announcements! PMU199 course board
Lectures lecture slides
Readings resource readings
Assignments the assignments
Laboratories the laboratories
Projects the project
presentation schedule
Handing in Work electronic submission instructions
how not to plagiarize (university perspective)
how not to plagiarize (computer science perspective)
advice about academic offenses
writing at the University of Toronto
getting help from a writing center
the teaching approach of the college writing centres
English Language Learning (ELL) Communication Cafes Fall 2016
Course Administration course information sheet (class info, rules, due dates, etc.)
Other links CDF lab home page
MATLAB support
Department of Computer Science home page
University of Toronto home page


For further information about the course or to report problems with the web page, contact the instructor:

Sven Dickinson: