Search-and rescue robots for integrated research and education in Cyber-Physical Systems

This paper presents a novel research-education integration approach that uses the interdisciplinary theme of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) to further advance teaching and learning in such systems and related areas, in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) and computer science (CS). The primary targeted learners in this emerging area are graduate and undergraduate students of ECE and CS, as well as teachers and students of STEM in high schools, who work together over a common CPS design project, with the graduate and undergraduate students teaching and mentoring the high school students. In the first year of this GK12 project, a networked ground and aerial vehicle based Search and Rescue(S&R) Robotics system is selected as the CPS design project with an associated multi-school competition organized via the use of teleoperation over the Internet. The first year results demonstrated great promise not only in terms of improved learning among students and teachers of multiple disciplines and levels, but also provided valuable hardware and software platforms for on-line experimentation and education in CPS, robotics, graphics and animation, UGV and UAV control, communication and networking.