[comp.robotics] Maple course: call for participation

tlee1@daisy.waterloo.edu () (02/25/91)

This is a second call for participation.  The details included in this
posting are in response to requests generated from the first posting.


                        THE MAPLE COMPUTER ALGEBRA SYSTEM
                      IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

                   A two day course for engineering academics.

                                May 9-10, 1991

                            University of Waterloo 
                          Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Presented by the Engineering Education Research Center 
             and Symbolic Computation Group 
             at the University of Waterloo, 
             and Waterloo Maple Software.

THE COURSE

The course will provide participants with the MAPLE techniques required to solve
complex engineering problems from a variety of engineering disciplines.  It will
cover the basics as well as more advanced programming concepts.  All of the 
sessions will be hands-on using the extensive Waterloo computing facilities.

The course should be  suitable for novice to intermediate users
of Maple.  Even if you've had a considerable experience with Maple, we
believe that the problem-oriented approach that we will take will
provide you with many practical techniques for your own work.

Experts from the Maple development organizations will be present at
all times to answer your questions on anything from Maple syntax to
philosophies behind why and how Maple does certain things.  This will
also be a chance for you influence the future evolution of Maple. The
Maple group is very interested in and responsive to user
suggestions.

A course schedule is included in this document.

Advisory Commitee:

Dr. William J. Wilson
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Glenn R. Heppler
Systems Design Engineering

Dr. Keith O. Geddes
Computer Science


FEES

The course will cost $500 (Can$) per participant (plus 7% G.S.T.).

Included with this fee is the following:

- full access to all sessions and seminars
- copy of all printed course material
- a complementary copy of the 386/486 version of the MAPLE system
- semi-formal dinner
- lunches and snacks during the day


SPACE IS STRICTLY LIMITED AND WILL BE ALLOCATED ON A FIRST-COME,
FIRST-SERVED BASIS.

Deadline for application is April 15, 1991.  Please apply early, using the 
application form at the end of this file.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

COURSE SCHEDULE 


==============
THURDAY, MAY 9
==============


8 - 9 am		Registration
			Coffee and pastries

9 - 10 am		Welcome	Messages
			Introduction to key people for the course
             	 	Brief walking tour of campus

10 - 10:30 am		Introduction Lab Facilities

10:30 - 12:30 pm	Session 1a: Overview of Maple
			What is Maple?  History of computer algebra.
			How does Maple work?

              	 	Session 1b: Interactive Maple
			Maple expressions and mathematical data entities.
 			Functions and libraries -- standard library
			functions, selection of specialized functions,
			Maple packages (linear algebra, power series, etc.)
			Hands-on exercises.

			Session 1c: Plotting and graphics with Maple
			2-D and 3-D plots.  Parametric plots.  
			Misc. plot types and options.
			Hands-on exercises.

12:30 - 1 pm		Lunch (provided)

1 - 2 pm		Session 3 : Special Maple techniques for Engineering.
			Dealing with floating point arithmetic. 
			Coordinating symbolic techniques and numerical
			data.  Operator notation (Lamda calculus)
			Techniques for manipulating complicated
		 	expressions.  Special library functions for
			engineering applications. 			
			Hands-on exercises.

2 - 5:30 pm	        Session 4 : Major applications.
			Intended to introduce a broad range of Maple 
			functions and techniques within a context of
			a larger, multi-faceted engineering application.
			Problem areas were chosen to have a reasonable
			appeal for many fields of engineering.
			Participants are not expected to have significant
			experience the the application areas.

			Application 1 : Modelling with differential
			equations.  Maple techniques for formulating, 
			solving, and analyzing ordinary and partial
			differential equation based models.  Topics
			include, analytical solutions, numerical 
			solutions, systems of equations, and
			Lagrangian formulation,

			Coffee Break
			
			Application 2 : Design and analysis of control
			systems.  Topics include, Laplace transform
			analysis, complex number techniques and frequency
			analysis, transfer function manipulation, and
			optimal control.

6:30 - 8:30 pm 		Dinner (provided)
			Speaker: Dr. Keith Geddes (Co-inventor of Maple)
			on the evolution of Maple, the past and the future.

8:30 - 11:00 pm		Dessert, and a chance to mingle with other participants
			and members of the University of Waterloo community.
			Engineering Education Research Centre show and tell.


==============
FRIDAY, MAY 10
==============

8 - 9 am		Coffee and pastries

9 - 10:30 am	        Roundtable discussion : Computer algebra in
			engineering education.  
			Speaker : Dr. Glenn Heppler, Systems Design Engineering,
			University of Waterloo. Dr. Heppler will comment on
			his experiences in introducing Maple into the 
			curriculum.  A lively discussion is expected to follow.
			
10:30 - 12:00 noon	Session 5 : The essence of Maple style.
			Introduction to Maple programming and handling
			larger engineering problems.  Working with files.
			Loops, control structures, advanced data types.
			General points of programming style.  
			Code generation and working with traditional 
			computing tools.

12 - 1 pm		Lunch (provided)

1 - 4:30 pm		Session 6 : Comprehensive exercises that attempt
			to bring together many concepts covered in earlier
			sessions, as well as illuminating the many issues
			that may arise when using Maple for large problems.

			One of,

			Application 3a : Maple for robotics applications.
			Development of Maple techniques for analyzing and
			designing the kinematics and dynamics of robot
			linkages.  Maple topics will involve advanced
			linear algebra, calculus, and general expression
			management techniques.

			or

			Application 3b : Introduction to toolkit development.
			Introduction to developing custom libraries in Maple.
			The problem context will be the development of
			engineering utility procedures that currently do not
			exist in Maple. Topics include procedure development, 
			advanced programming techniques, and creation of 
			personalized libraries.  Participants are expected
			to have prior experience in general computer 
			programming.

4:30 - 5:30 pm		Concluding roundtable discussions : The future
			of Maple in engineering research and education.
		        Speaker : Mr. Ron Neumann, Chief Executive Officer
			of Waterloo Maple Software. Mr. Neumann will 
			discuss the near and longer-term future of Maple
			and how it may influence engineering computation.
			Participants will then be solicited for concluding
			comments on the course, and Maple in general.  
			We will also develop a platform for future 
			correspondence.

At this point, the course officially comes to a conclusion. However, optional 
events have been planned for those wishing to stay longer.


6:30 - 8:30 pm		Informal dinner at a local restaurant (not included
			in course fee).

8:30 - 11 pm		Informal get-together at the Graduate Club Lounge.


================
SATURDAY, MAY 11
================

All day			Participants will have access to lab facilities on
			this day.  However, staff support may not be available.

			Depending on demand, a casual excursion to the
			near-by village of St. Jacobs may be planned.  
			St. Jacobs is a quaint rural tourist area that features
			an interesting array of antique and craft shops.  
			Many of the items are Mennonite in origin. There are
			also several buildings and displays that are of 
			historical interest.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

Founded as a school of Engineering in 1957, The University of Waterloo has
evolved to be a diversified institution of higher education and research.
The university offers programs and has research interests in:  Applied Health
Studies, Arts, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Science. 

MAPLE is a product of an on-going research project by the Symbolic Computation
Group of the Department of Computer Science.  The Engineering Education Research
Center serves the Faculty of Engineering and has been actively investigating the
appropriate use of computer algebra systems such as MAPLE in engineering problem
solving.

Waterloo is recognized as a leader in many fields of technical research as well
as educational innovation.


THE WATERLOO REGION

The University of Waterloo is located in the city of Waterloo, adjacent to its
twin city Kitchener.  Kitchener-Waterloo (KW) is located in the agricultural 
heartland of Ontario and lies roughly 100km South-West of Toronto and is easily 
accessible from Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

The region is noted for its rural setting and German heritage.  
The countryside is dotted with quaint country inns and shoppes celebrating the 
region's rich heritage.


ACCOMODATIONS

Inexpensive accomodations are available at the University residences.  Contact:

Village 2 Box 610 
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
N2J 4C1
Tel: 1-800-565-5410

Motels near the campus include:

Journey's End Motel
Tel: 1-800-668-4200

Waterloo Inn (full-featured hotel)
Tel: (519) 884-0220

There are ample parking facilities at the University.


LOCATION OF KITCHENER-WATERLOO

Kitchener-Waterloo is located roughly 100km Southwest 
(along Highway 401 West) of Toronto.  It is roughly a 50 min - 1 hr
drive from Pearson International Airport (serving Toronto).  Shuttle
services are available from the airport.  Hamilton international
airport is also roughly 1 hour away (via Highway 6 North, and 
401 West).

Driving Access:  ~3 hours from Detroit/Windsor (along 401 East) and
1.5 hours from Buffalo (along QEW to Hamilton, 6 North to 401, and
401 West to KW).


========================================================================

APPLICATION FORM


________________________________________________________________________
Name


________________________________________________________________________
Title


________________________________________________________________________
University/College


________________________________________________________________________
Department


________________________________________________________________________
Street


________________________________________________________________________
City                                              Prov./State


________________________________________________________________________
Postal/ZIP Code


________________________________________________________________________
Phone                                             Electronic mail

Please rate your MAPLE ability (please check)

  ___  Novice
  ___  Some experience
  ___  Considerable experience


  ___  I am interested in the optional session on library and toolkit 
       development.

========================================================================

Return completed form by mail, FAX, or E-mail to:

Tom Lee, Course Coordinator
Engineering Education Research Center
University of Waterloo,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3G1

FAX: (519) 888-4521
Tel: (519) 885-1211 ext 2522
Email: tom@steam.uwaterloo.ca

gowj@novavax.UUCP (James Gow) (02/26/91)

I am looking for a kb shell written in Logo. Nyone got one?
linc
James