THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN LEARNING ROBOTICS: BUILDING ROBOTS IN A ROBOTICS COURSE

摘要

Most engineering schools currently include a curriculum component that introduces students to the field of robotics. Multiple methods and techniques are used by engineering educators to help students gain familiarity and interest in robotic systems and their applications. However, very rarely the students get the opportunity to gain the ultimate experience of applying acquired knowledge of the field through building an actual robot. This is because building a robot during a college course involves multiple challenges including robotic systems high complexity and the requirement of combining multiple knowledge bases. Students studying robotics end up, at the most, programming purchased robots, or simulating robots using software, but not actually going through the realities and challenges of putting the system together and making it functional to the point of experimenting with it. In this paper, a unique experience in learning robotic systems and building actual robots is presented. This experience is made available in an elective course on robotic systems engineering at Grand Valley State University (GVSU), School of Engineering (SOE). The produced robots are two or three jointed arm configuration robots, controlled by a programmable microcontroller and built based on classroom gained knowledge. In the classroom, the students learn the kinematics and simplified dynamics of robots, as well as other related topics. In the laboratory, the students are required to apply the learned concepts of kinematics and design in combination with control systems to build a robot that will help them understand and demonstrate these concepts. The course final projects include robotic systems that are built or integrated by teams of students. These projects provide a range of challenges that extends from mechanical design to control systems. The projects are taken up by teams of students having diversified interests and skill bases within the course. The final outcomes of the course are working robotic systems that can demonstrate the students' knowledge and interest, which the students use significantly as a proof of their competence level when putting together their resumes to move into the next level of their careers. From an educational angle, the course provides the students with an opportunity to combine multiple knowledge sets, skills, and interest to gain the ultimate experience in education: producing a functional system to specifications.