LEGO kits in the lab [robotics education]

Author

Fiorini, Paolo

Author_Institution

RAS Educ. Comm., Verona Univ., Italy

Volume

12

Issue

4

fYear

2005

Firstpage

5

Abstract

The article describes how LEGO kits can be used to successfully teach robotic design and kinematic analysis, mostly in mobile and biologically inspired laboratories. To make a laboratory experience more similar to the real design and operation of a robotic system, it is possible to develop an experimental curriculum using the LEGO basic robotics kit, enhanced with additional sensors (either from the standard catalogue or self made) to achieve sufficient freedom in the design and fabrication of the robot prototypes. The article provides the results of the innovative use of the LEGO kits in robotic laboratories for high school and college students at the University of Verona.

Keywords

control engineering education; design; educational aids; educational courses; robot kinematics; teaching; LEGO basic robotics kit; University of Verona; biologically inspired laboratories; kinematic analysis; mobile laboratories; robot prototypes; robotic design; robotics education; Biosensors; Educational institutions; Educational robots; Fabrication; Kinematics; Laboratories; Mobile robots; Robot sensing systems; Sensor systems; Standards development;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Robotics & Automation Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1070-9932

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MRA.2005.1577016

Filename

1577016