CSE 4990 / 6990 — Spring 2026
A project-driven course at the intersection of engineering and creative practice. From narrative development to final curtain call, you will design, build, and direct robotic actors in an original stage production.
This course is open to all majors with no prerequisites. Whether you're an artist, engineer, writer, or just curious, you have a place here. We operate like a hands-on production team, teaching all essential skills from the ground up to bring a complete theatrical work with robotic cast members to life.
This course is a unique collaboration, taught by a cross-disciplinary team of faculty from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Communication's theatre program.
Robotics faculty and graduate students, with expertise in areas like human-robot interaction, will guide and support your hands-on experience in robotic system design, fabrication, and programming.
With guidance from theatre faculty, with expertise in each area of the field, you'll cultivate skills in dramaturgy, movement composition, costume design, lighting, sound, and theatrical direction.
You will be assessed on your contribution across the full spectrum of development and production areas.
Craft a compelling narrative with clear characters, stakes, and emotional arcs. Refine your script through peer reviews and dramaturgical exploration.
Design and build custom robots. Create physical forms, voices, and costumes that reflect your characters' personalities and roles.
Program expressive gestures, movements, and sounds. Choreograph actions and blocking to create engaging and emotionally resonant interactions.
Create a theatrical world that enhances your story. Design sets, lighting, sound, and projections to convey mood, theme, and transitions.
Execute the many dynamic elements of your show using industry-standard tools in concert with novel integrations and interfaces for robotic actors.
Participate in structured rehearsals and execute a polished public performance. Troubleshoot and adapt in real-time to deliver a professional show.
A fast-paced journey from concept to curtain call over 15 weeks.
Week 1-3: Foundations
Dive into the fundamentals of storytelling on stage and the principles of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI).
Week 3-5: Building Blocks
Get hands-on with the hardware toolkit as you begin designing and building your first robotic structures.
Week 5-8: Bringing Characters to Life
Focus on the details that create personality, from programming expressive movements to fabricating unique costumes.
Week 9-11: Building the World
Expand beyond the robot to design the complete theatrical environment that will support your narrative.
Weeks 12-13: Rehearsal & Refinement
Integrate all elements and focus on performance. This is where the show comes together through intensive practice.
Week 14: Performance!
Present your original creation to a live audience in a public evening of robotic theatre.
Weeks 15: Wrap-Up
Document your project and reflect on the creative and technical process.
The Main Event
The semester culminates in a public evening of robotic theatre, where your team will present your original creation to a live audience. This is your chance to showcase the fusion of technical innovation and theatrical artistry you've worked on all term.
Date: TBD
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: McComas Hall Theatre
Seats are limited for this course, so be sure to sign up soon!