Introducing Undergraduates to Complex Systems through Rapid-prototyping of Low-cost, Networked Mobile Robots

计算机工程（32）移动的机器人技术在教学中的应用有可能通过以下四个领域的进步而发生革命性的变化：（a）计算功能强大的目标硬件;（B）现代自动代码生成工具，允许这些设备直接从基于Matlab /Simulink的高级设计中编程;（c）这些设备的内置联网能力，使机器人群体能够以复杂的方式相互交流;（d）越来越多地采用跨学科的方法来处理这种复杂性。该项目通过将所有这些组件集合在一系列示例性实验室模块中来实现这一潜力，这些模块直接从Matlab / Simulink环境中编程，并在i）用于简单算法的Lego MindStorms NXT或ii）用于更苛刻应用的Nokia N800 Internet Tablet上自动编码。项目涉及首先开发和部署必要的软件和硬件工具，以实现这些特定目标设备的快速原型设计，然后利用它提供的功能来开发新的实验室模块，以增强课程。该工具集的多功能性及其满足不同学科和不同教育成长阶段学生教育需求的能力在各种实验室模块中得到了证明，其中包括搜索和救援项目，移动的自平衡机器人，机器人进化和动态多机器人通信。该项目产生了以下学生学习成果：（a）学生学习效率更高，可以更充分地认识到在课程中使用机器人的好处，因为他们可以自由地专注于更高层次的教学目标，而不是低层次的实施细节。(b)学生能够理解和利用由机器人群体形成的复杂工程和社会系统，这些机器人通过其内置的声音，视觉，WiFi和蓝牙网络功能相互作用。(c)来自不同学科和非计算机工程或计算机科学背景的学生能够使用认知科学，生物学，机械，电气和计算机工程的方法有效地参与解决复杂的移动的机器人问题。(d)学生能够使用自动编码方法在嵌入式计算机中实现算法，并为工作场所做好更好的准备。这些主张经过来自学术、工业和K-12 STEM社区的机器人和教育专家组成的咨询小组的严格评估。

Computer Engineering (32)The use of mobile robotics in teaching has the potential to be revolutionized by advances in four areas: (a) computationally powerful target hardware; (b) modern Automatic Code Generation tools which allow these devices to be programmed directly from high-level Matlab / Simulink-based designs; (c) the built-in networking capabilities of these devices, which enables groups of robots to interact with one another in complex ways; (d) increasingly interdisciplinary approaches to dealing with this complexity. This project realizes this potential by bringing all these components together in a series of exemplary Laboratory Modules, programmed directly from the Matlab / Simulink environment, and autoCoded for implementation on either i) the Lego MindStorms NXT for simple algorithms, or ii) the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet for more demanding applications. To project involves first developing and deploying the necessary software and hardware tools to enable rapid prototyping for these specific target devices, and then exploiting the capabilities it provides to develop new Laboratory Modules which enhance the curriculum. The versatility of the resultant toolset, and its ability to address the educational needs of students in different disciplines and at different stages of their educational growth is demonstrated in the variety of Laboratory Modules which include a search and rescue project, mobile self-balancing robots, robotic evolution, and dynamic multi-robot communication.This project produces the following student learning outcomes:(a) Students learn more efficiently and can more fully realize the benefits of using robots in the curriculum because they are free to focus on higher level pedagogical aims rather than low level implementation detail.(b) Students are able to understand and harness the complex engineering and social system formed by groups of robots which interact with one another through their in-built sound, vision, WiFi and Bluetooth networking capabilities.(c) Students from different disciplines and non-computer engineering or computer science backgrounds are able to participate effectively in solving complex mobile robotics-based problems using methods from Cognitive Science, Biology, Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Engineering.(d) Students are able to use autoCoding methods to implement algorithms in embedded computers and are better prepared for the workplace.These assertions are rigorously evaluated by an advisory group of robotics and educational experts from the Academic, Industrial and K-12 STEM community.