Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 3, 2006. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Under the title “Educational Robotics: The Next Generation”, a “Special Event” took place in room 155 at Siggraph: Speakers presented their projects for bringing robotics into the classroom in order to inspire children and young people about technology.
The most prominent exhibitor was Lego Mindstorm. Mindstorm is a small grey box the size of a cigarette pack that can be fed with programs entered via USB.
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It allows four input and three output elements to be connected and events as well as the robot’s reaction to these events to be defined. Using software with a user interface developed especially for children, small icons can be used to control the program flow and specify events. The finished program is transferred to the small box, and off it goes.
The programming interface on the computer is based on Labview, but is designed so that it can be operated without the slightest knowledge of programming. The flow of information in the robot is displayed purely graphically.
One of the smaller exhibitors in this area was Cricket. Its product is a small box that makes the sound of a cricket when switched on. Up to four input or output elements can be connected to this box. Several boxes can exchange data with each other via infrared. Input modules include, for example, a microphone, a temperature sensor and a button. Loudspeakers and motors are available for output.
#Cri
All elements are transparent on one side and closely resemble the original Lego bricks. As with the Mindstorm model, a starter set here also costs between 200 and 250 dollars.
Last but not least, two MIT students were on site, showing their final project for the “Master of Engineering” course – the “Cogbot”.
#Cog
Their system consists of a base board with connection options for three sensors and two motors. In theory, however, up to 256 of these boards can be stacked on top of one another to obtain more channels. This autonomous robot can also be fed via a computer with information about how it should behave in response to which events. Control here is carried out via a script and is therefore not suitable for children and educational tasks.
What all the projects had in common was that they were intended to be used for technical education in American schools. “Cogbot” was an example of what can emerge from such field trials.
Further Links:
- Lego Mindstorms
Cricket