Adding Mechatronic Experiential Learning into Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校的这个项目致力于为这个拉美裔服务机构(HSI)的学生开发一种有效的机器人学和机电一体化工程教育方法。这项研究的重点是提高高级工科课程的保持率，并帮助学生在新设计的综合和构建中转移和应用知识。这项工作将开发一门将理论与一系列实践调查和项目相结合的高级机电一体化课程。本课程的体验部分将帮助学生学习使用机电一体化系统的基本组件，如执行器、电机、传感器和处理器。该项目解决了这样一个问题，即高级工程课程强调工程科学主题的理论和数学方面，而往往提供与实际硬件的有限连接。该项目还解决了一个问题，即来自代表性不足群体的学生不太可能通过非正式方式获得实践技能，并有助于确保这些学生在常规工程课程中积累使用关键硬件的经验。项目工作将侧重于在机器人导论课程中实施体验式学习方面。本课程将面向工科低年级和高年级学生。主要的机电一体化硬件主题包括：复杂的传感器，如超声波测距仪、三轴加速度计、陀螺仪、红外接近传感器、环境光传感器和编码器。其他纳入的设备将包括执行器、步进电机、齿轮电机、伺服电机和微处理器。这些实验将与机电系统中的理论主题相对应，如动态仿真、基于模型的闭环系统控制、采样频率和数字滤波。评估将侧重于完成体验式高级机器人课程的学生在多大程度上成功地将课程之外的知识转移到随后的顶峰设计课程。预计体验式机器人课程将使学生，特别是那些代表人数较少的少数族裔的学生，能够设计和建造比其他情况下更复杂的机电系统。将根据考虑所用组件的数量和复杂程度、开发适当的数据采集、信号处理硬件和软件的设计、系统集成以及团队成员贡献的平等程度的标准来评估复杂性。

This project at the University of Texas Arlington is working to develop an effective approach in robotics and mechatronics engineering education for students at this Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The research focuses on improving retention in upper-level engineering courses and helping students to transfer and apply knowledge in the synthesis and construction of new designs. This work will develop an upper-level mechatronics course that combines theory with a series of hands-on investigations and projects. The experiential portion of the course will help students learn to use fundamental components of mechatronic systems such as actuators, motors, sensors, and processors. The project addresses the problem that upper-level engineering courses emphasize the theoretical and mathematical aspects of engineering science topics while often providing limited connection to actual hardware. The project also addresses a concern that students from underrepresented groups are less likely to acquire hands-on skills through informal means, and helps to ensure that these students develop experience working with critical hardware as part of the regular engineering curriculum. Project work will focus on the implementation of an experiential learning aspect to an Introduction to Robotics course. This course will be taken by junior and senior engineering students. Key mechatronic hardware topics to be included are: complex sensors such as ultrasonic range finders, 3-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, infrared proximity sensors, ambient light sensors and encoders. Other devices incorporated will include actuators, stepper motors, geared motors, servo motors, and microprocessors. These experiments will correspond to theoretical topics in mechatronic systems such as dynamic simulation, closed-loop model-based control, sampling frequency and digital filtering. Evaluation will focus on the extent to which students who have completed the experiential upper-level robotics course are successful in transferring knowledge beyond the course to a subsequent capstone design course. It is anticipated that the experiential robotics course will enable students, in particular those from underrepresented minorities, to design and build more complex mechatronic systems than would otherwise be possible. Complexity will be evaluated based on a rubric which considers the number and sophistication of components utilized, development of appropriate data acquisition, design of signal processing hardware and software, system integration, and equality of contribution among team members.