Educating Robot Development in a University Laboratory from First Year - A Trial of a Robotics Club Under Observation at a Laboratory

摘要

A special trial university course by the author in robotics and mechatronics enables students hoping to explore robot development to use the author's laboratory, equipment, machines, and consumable supplies such as screws, aluminum materials, and electrical parts freely in the hope that these students start developing mechatronics devices in their first year at university rather than waiting as is conventional to start research and development in their fourth year. This is, hopefully, an effective educational approach bringing robotics laboratory benefits to a traditional mechanical engineering department while minimizing cost and time. Statistical data on the number of students taking part and student job hunting are provided based on the six-year period of the program's activity.