iRobot Roomba and Arduino as an Accelerated Learning Platform for Interdisciplinary Principles

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Yongqiang Wang, Clemson University

Abstract

Robotics is a field which highlights the importance of interdisciplinary work in STEM. It is important to be able to write efficient and readable code to accomplish a desired task, design hardware components so that they fit together in a way that allows the robot to operate effectively, and to be able to draw on other, more specialized fields of knowledge when necessary. Even at a basic level, some knowledge of software, mechanical, and electrical components is essential. Despite this, most introductory level courses in engineering and computer science fields are taught independently with relatively few courses existing where these skills are taught in conjunction. For students who intend to go into an interdisciplinary field such as robotics, it may prove beneficial to introduce interdisciplinary skills through interdisciplinary means rather than through independent courses. Over the course of my research, a group of students were taught both hardware and software elements simultaneously, with an emphasis on software. By the end of the research period, the students understood enough to create a basic robotic swarm and to troubleshoot the robots with minimal assistance from their mentors. All participating students entered the lab with minimal prior knowledge in these fields.

Location

Wall 223

Start Date

3-25-2017 9:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 9:45 AM

iRobot Roomba and Arduino as an Accelerated Learning Platform for Interdisciplinary Principles

Wall 223

Robotics is a field which highlights the importance of interdisciplinary work in STEM. It is important to be able to write efficient and readable code to accomplish a desired task, design hardware components so that they fit together in a way that allows the robot to operate effectively, and to be able to draw on other, more specialized fields of knowledge when necessary. Even at a basic level, some knowledge of software, mechanical, and electrical components is essential. Despite this, most introductory level courses in engineering and computer science fields are taught independently with relatively few courses existing where these skills are taught in conjunction. For students who intend to go into an interdisciplinary field such as robotics, it may prove beneficial to introduce interdisciplinary skills through interdisciplinary means rather than through independent courses. Over the course of my research, a group of students were taught both hardware and software elements simultaneously, with an emphasis on software. By the end of the research period, the students understood enough to create a basic robotic swarm and to troubleshoot the robots with minimal assistance from their mentors. All participating students entered the lab with minimal prior knowledge in these fields.