SQUIRLROB: A DO IT YOURSELF ARDUINO AND SMARTPHONE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PLATFORMS FOR ROBOTICS EDUCATION

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2018

Authors

Costa, V (Author) Other; Santos, D (Author) Other; Armando Jorge Sousa (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Proceedings of 12th International Technology, Education and Development Conference

Pages: 413-422

12th International Technology, Education and Development Conference

Valencia, 05 a 07 de março de 2018

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-QV6

DOI: 10.21125/inted.2018.1068

Abstract (EN): The use of Robotics as a teaching tool to foster knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - STEM for high school students is growing. Within this context, the need for solutions that decreases the overall cost of hardware is mandatory. In this work, a 25 euros Android-based mobile robot that allows connecting a smartphone to different robot "bodies" (each composed by different hardware: Arduino, LEGO, etc.) is proposed, targeting mainly high school students. The mobile platform was built using 3D printed parts and uses an Arduino board to control the servos used for the locomotion. To communicate with the Android application, a Bluetooth module is also used. The Android application takes advantage of the smartphone camera and has some pre-implemented image processing modules, allowing actions such as coloured line following, colour proximity detection and coloured object tracking. Another import feature present in the Android application is its coding capability, thanks to an embedded code interpreter. This feature was implemented using BeanShell, a lightweight script interpreter for Java. It allows writing scripts in Java programming language, which are then executed by the robot. This interpreter also provides a way for the user to write a set of instructions that defines the behaviour of the robot, primarily by checking the current status of the sensors and the smartphone camera, and manipulating the velocity of the motors. All of the necessary components (3D source CAD + STLs) of the mobile platform presented here are available online, enabling the recreation of a replica of the robot body. A detailed list of electronic components and its connections are also provided, as well as the Arduino source code along with the installation file needed for the Android application. All the necessary information can be accessed at: https://github.com/ee09115/squirlrob. The high school students are then challenged to solve classical robotics tasks like line following, obstacle avoidance, and using the virtual sensors to create new challenges. By providing this set of tools (Android app, source code, 3D CAD models, documentation), a promotion of knowledge is expected, thus developing enthusiast students in robotics multidisciplinary fields, such as mechanical designing, electronics designing, mathematics, coding, etc. (in short, all the relevant STEM areas). Finally, a general analysis of the usability, interoperability and feature extension capacity is made, always taking into consideration the educational purposes of this work.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10