First Level Theses

Here you can find proposals for first level thesis (7.5 CFU for each student)

Machine Learning

Title:	Learning API for TORCS.
Description:	TORCS is a state-of-the-art open source racing simulator that represents an ideal bechmark for machine learning techniques. We already organized two successfull competitions based on TORCS where competitors have been asked to develop a controller using their preferred machine learning techniques. The goal of this project is to extend the existing C++ API (available here) to simplify the development of controller using a learning framework. Such an extension can be partially developed by porting an existing Java API for TORCS that already provides a lot of functionalities for machine learning approaches.
Tutor:	Daniele Loiacono (loiacono-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	1 to 2
CFU:	5 to 12.5

Robotics

Title:	Simulation of 6-DOF Robot Manipulator
Description:	The goal of this project is to develop a simulator for a 6-DOF robot manipulator, using the ode (open dynamics engine) library for simulating the rigid body dynamics. The project involves three different phases: Building the physical model of the manipulator Implementing the forward and inverse kinematic routines Implementing the trajectory planning routines Implementing the control modules Implementing an interface to control the robot movements This project allows to put into practice what has been explained during the first part of the course of Robotics. The project can be turned into a thesis, by using the simulated manipulator to perform some learning experiments.
Tutor:	Marcello Restelli (restelli-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	2-3
CFU:	10-15

Title:	Robot games
Description:	The goal of this activity is to develop an interactive game with robots using commercial devices such as the WII Mote (see the Robogames page) Projects are available in different areas: Design and implementation of the game on one of the available robots and extension of the robot functionalities Design and implementation of the game and a new suitable robot Evaluation of the game with users (in collaboration with Franca Garzotto) These projects allow to experiment with real mobile robots and real interaction devices. Parts of these projects can be considered as course projects. These projects can also be extended to cover course projects.
Tutor:	Andrea Bonarini (bonarini-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	1-2
CFU:	7.5-12.5

Affective Computing

Title:	Affective VideoGames
Description:	The goal of this activity is to develop an interactive video game (Car game, Shoot them up, Strategic game ..) able to adapt its behaviour in order to maximize your enjoyment. The game will measure your excitement by analizing your biological signals, which mirror your emotional state. The system will be able to adjust some parameters (i.e difficulty of car game circuits, opponets strength ...) in order to keep you egnagemet constant: "In your flow zone!". Project phases: Design and implementation of the game (it is possible to start form avaliable open source game) Design of experimental protocol used to stimulate particolar emotions. Data acquisition by usign biological sensors during the playing experience. Off-line classification of data with avaliable tools. Desing and develop of on-line classifier sistem for emotion recognition Closed loop control: the game reacts to the user emotional state changing its behaviour. These projects allow to experiment with biological-data acquisition tools and videogames design. The project consists on the realization of one or more phases depending on the difficulty/cfu to be achieved and to the competences of the candidate(s)
Tutor:	Cristiano Alessandro (alessandro-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it), Simone Tognetti (togetti-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	1 to 3
CFU:	2.5 to 20

Title:	Affective recognition in multimedia contexts
Description:	The goal of this activity is to develop an interactive multimedia application (advertisement, e-learning, reccomenadation system) able to capture your emotional state (interests, excitement, anger, joy) while whatching to images, sounds etc. The application will measure your excitement by analizing your biological signals, which mirror your emotional state. The system could be used to give feedback on the quality of multimedia content (i.e goodness of the advertisement, enjoyment of the movie ...) Project phases: Design and implementation of the multimedia application. Design of experimental protocol used to stimulate particolar emotions. Data acquisition by usign biological sensors during the multimedia experience. Off-line classification of data with avaliable tools. Desing and develop of on-line classifier sistem for emotion recognition Closed loop control: the multimedia application will provide contents according to your enjoyment . These projects allow to experiment with biological-data acquisition tools and multimedia application design. The project consists on the realization of one or more phases depending on the difficulty/cfu to be achieved and to the competences of the candidate(s)
Tutor:	Cristiano Alessandro (alessandro-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it), Simone Tognetti (togetti-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	1 to 3
CFU:	2.5 to 20

Title:	Affective robotics
Description:	The goal of this activity is to develop an rehabilitation robotic game able to capture your emotional state (interests, excitement, anger, joy, stress) while intereacting with the robot. The application will measure your excitement by analizing your biological signals, which mirror your emotional state. The system could be used to adapt the therapy (executed by the game) according to the patien's needs. We believe the quality of the theraphy is related to the subject's emotional state. The long term goal is to keep the user into a specific emotional state in order to maximize the theraphy efficacy. Project phases: Design and implementation of the robotic game on the avaliable robot. Design of experimental protocol used to stimulate particolar emotions. Data acquisition by usign biological sensors during the interaction with the robot. Off-line classification of data with avaliable tools. Desing and develop of on-line classifier sistem for emotion recognition Closed loop control: the thrapy will be adapted to the patient's needs. These projects allow to experiment with biological-data acquisition tools, robots and videogame design. The project consists on the realization of one or more phases depending on the difficulty/cfu to be achieved and to the competences of the candidate(s)
Tutor:	Cristiano Alessandro (alessandro-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it), Simone Tognetti (togetti-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	1 to 3
CFU:	2.5 to 20

Title:	Driving companions
Description:	The goal of this activity is to develop an application that is able to capture your emotional state (stress, attention level .. ) while driving standard cars. The application will measure the driver's stress level by analizing his biological signals, which mirror the phisiological state, and could be used to give feedbacks to the driver in dangerous situations. Project phases: Design of experimental protocol used to stimulate particolar emotions. Data acquisition by usign biological sensors while driving in different conditions (city, highway, country ..) Off-line classification of data with avaliable tools. Desing and develop of on-line classifier sistem for emotion recognition Closed loop control: the car will give audio/visual feedbacks to the user letting him know its phisiological state These projects allow to experiment with biological-data acquisition tools, robots and videogame design. The project consists on the realization of one or more phases depending on the difficulty/cfu to be achieved and to the competences of the candidate(s)
Tutor:	Cristiano Alessandro (alessandro-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it), Simone Tognetti (togetti-AT-elet-DOT-polimi-DOT-it)
Start:	Anytime
Number of students:	1 to 3
CFU:	2.5 to 20