Depecabot: A hands on workshops to teach robotics and to improve students electronics knowledge

This paper describes the hands on workshop experience using a robot kit DepecaBot, as a part of a global effort of teaching robotics as a way of improving skills for students in field of computer science, electronics, and telecommunications. The Robotics Week has been taking place at the University of Alcala since 2000. This Robotics Week comprises different activities: sumo fighting robots, autonomous race robots, conferences, mini-conferences and workshops. In this framework, the DepecaBot hands on workshop is held in parallel with other working activities. In this paper, the bases, creation, evolution, development, and assessments of this hands on workshop are shown as a part of a continuous effort. These efforts try to improve skills, motivation, by making things by using robotics. Participants in the workshop make a complete working robot, from the scratch. A small competition takes place in the end of the workshop in order to test the acquired skills.