Syllabus: CS 5541 Artificial Intelligence (Fall 2003)
Course Information
Course Texts
- Artificial Intelligence: A Modern
Approach, by Russell and Norvig. Second Edition, Prentice Hall. 2003.
- Recommended: Felleisen, M., Findler, R. B., Flatt, M., & Krishnamurthi,
S. (2002). How to Design Programs. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. This book is
a Scheme language programming book and is freely available online at: http://www.htdp.org/
Scheme language
Scheme Interpreter:
http://www.drscheme.org
Dr. Scheme documentation:
http://www.cs.rice.edu/CS/PLT/packages/doc/index.html
Scheme r5rs
documentation (.pdf) (Standard technical documentation on the Scheme language)
Python Robotics
http://pyrorobotics.org/
Python language
reference (Nutshell "Learning Python")
http://www.python.org
Course Content and Prerequisites
This course is an introduction to the field of artificial intelligence (AI). You
can expect to learn about AI methods in machine problem solving through (a) search
and reasoning, (b) artificial neural networks, and through (c) robotics related
concepts. You will learn a variant of the AI programming language Lisp
(Scheme), and you will also learn to think and write about the issues which dominate
the field. Some additional
details are given here about what you should expect to learn by taking this course.
You must have completed CS 2511 (Software Development) and Math 3355 (Discrete
Math) or their quarter equivalents.
Course outcomes
Grading Basis
| Material |
Points |
| Homework assignments |
15 pts x 5 = 75 pts |
| Lab attendance |
5 pts per required day |
| Labs (programming assignments) |
15 - 25 pts x 5 = 100 pts |
| Quizzes |
50 pts x 4 = 200 pts |
| Final Exam |
125 pts |
| TOTAL |
500 pts |
Homework and labs account for no more than 35% of the course grade. The instructor
reserves the right to make changes to the grading basis above.
Quiz and Exam Dates
| Exam |
Date |
| Quiz 1 |
Sept 22, 2003 (in class) |
| Quiz 2 |
Oct 13, 2003 (in class) |
| Quiz 3 |
Oct 31, 2003 (in class) |
| Quiz 4 |
Nov 24, 2003 (in class) |
| Final Exam |
Tue, Dec 16, 2pm-3:55pm, Heller Hall 302
|
In assigning grades I will use the cutoffs shown below. Note that these cutoffs
may go lower if I feel that exams or programming assignments were particularly
difficult but they will not go higher (if everyone gets over 90% of the total
points then everyone gets at least an A-). Further note that no matter how low
the cutoffs move, the cutoff for a D will likely never go as low as 50%.
Cutoffs:
- 90% - guarantees an A-
- 80% - guarantees a B-
- 65% - guarantees a C-
- 60% - guarantees a D
Policies
- Assigned reading should be done before coming to class on that
day. See the course web page calendar.
- Homework assignments will be collected at the beginning of class on the
due date. Since I will go over some of the homework problems in class, late
homework will not be accepted.
- You are responsible for all material presented in lecture and labs. Lecture
notes will be available from the course web page (see course
web page calendar). Some supplemental material may be given out in lecture
or provided online.
- Quizzes will be given in lecture. Quizzes and exams will not be given early.
No makeups will be given except for dire emergencies, in which case you should
contact your instructor in advance of the scheduled exam time or as early
as possible. Individual quizzes will not be specifically cumulative, but will
naturally draw on prior material studied in the course. The final exam will
be cumulative.
- Lab attendance is mandatory and will be graded. See the lab calendar.
- Cheating: Programming assignments and homework must be your own
work. You may discuss general ideas with other students, but you should not
discuss actual code and solutions with others. If you are having problems
with an assignment, please email or see the TA, or email or see the class
instructor. You must design your programs and write the code yourself for
your programming assignments.
- Late Lab Assignments: Lab assignments will be docked 25% per University
working day if turned in late. Lab assignments must turned in to the TA's
box in HH 314 by the time HH 314 closes on the due date.
Assignments and Labs
The assignments and labs will be posted on the course website. Assignments will
consist of programming problems, non-programming problems, and potentially some
programming problems in languages other than Scheme (e.g., Python). Programming
assignments will be discussed in the mandatory Tuesday lab (also see the lab
calendar).
Equal Opportunity
As instructor I shall make every attempt to treat all students equally, without
regard to race, religion, color, sex, handicap, age, veteran status, or sexual
orientation. I encourage you to talk to me about your concerns of equal opportunity
in the classroom. To inquire further about the University's policy on equal opportunity,
contact the Office of Equal Opportunity (726-6827), 255 DAdB. Web site: http://www.d.umn.edu/equaloo
Students With Disabilities
If you have any disability (either permanent or temporary) that might affect
your ability to perform in this class, please inform me at the start of the
semester. I may adapt methods, materials, or testing so that you can participate
equitably. To learn about the services that UMD provides to students with disabilities,
contact the Access Center (726-8217
or 726-7380) at 138 Kirby Plaza.