SUNY Plattsburgh1 Facilitating Active Learning with Inexpensive Mobile Robots Stephen Paul Linder Brian Edward Nestrick Symen Mulders Catherine Lavelle

SUNY Plattsburgh2 Goals Improve student learning throughout the computer science curriculum Improve student retention rates Promote good problem solving skills, including skills in synthesis of relevant information, design of viable solutions using partial information, and implementing designs

SUNY Plattsburgh3 Approach Use of simple wheeled robots as a software platform

SUNY Plattsburgh4 Rationale From Magnesen, 1983

SUNY Plattsburgh5 Why a Car? Stable mechanical base Easily understood by anyone who has ever driven a car Provides exposure to embedded and real-time software

SUNY Plattsburgh6 Pedagogy Active learning The ability to learn through interaction with one’s environment. Examples are Team projects Lab classes Collaboration with faculty Constructivist Learning requires the construction individual models of knowledge a manipulation space which reflects the effects of the student’s actions Real machines rather than simulation

SUNY Plattsburgh7 Robot Overview

SUNY Plattsburgh8 Parts List Total Cost: $602

SUNY Plattsburgh9 Example Projects

SUNY Plattsburgh10 Locate and Find a Beacon Locate beacon and then traverse obstacles to beacon. Beacon Infrared source modulated at 38 kHz Detector Sharp IS1U60 TV remote control sensor Obstacles “Short” 2x4 studs on edge “Tall” copier paper boxes

SUNY Plattsburgh11 Active Steering of a Tractor Trailer Can a trailer automatically steer its back wheels so that the turning radius is reduced? Remember to show videos

SUNY Plattsburgh12 Maze Mapping Using a robot under control of a PC to automatically generate maps of simple mazes, e.g. Remember to show videos

SUNY Plattsburgh13 Website Website contains Parts and price list Mechanical and electrical assembly instruction Software Library Find link at Academic/ProgrammingProject/index.html

SUNY Plattsburgh14 Conclusion The Handy Car has provided a valuable facilitator of active learning at SUNY Plattsburgh. Future work Upgrade processor board to HC12 to facilitate faster communications to Handy Car. Finalize software to share one Handy Car among multiple students using a client/server architecture.