Roboval: Robot Contest and Education with Arduino in … · Roboval: Robot Contest and Education...

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Roboval: Robot Contest and Education withArduino in High School

Maurizio Boscaini1 Alberto Valente2

1maurizio.boscaini@gmail.comHigh School "G. Marconi", Piazzale Guardini 1, Verona, Italy

and Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Italy

2alberto@plumake.itPlumake Srl and Verona FabLab, Viale del lavoro 2, Grezzana (Verona), Italy

ISSEP 2015 September 28 – October 1, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Outline

1 ContextRoboval, an educational robotics experience in highschoolHardwareSoftware

2 Challenges

3 Contents and educational methodology

4 Our Results/Contribution

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Roboval, an educational robotics experience in high school

Outline

1 ContextRoboval, an educational robotics experience in highschoolHardwareSoftware

2 Challenges

3 Contents and educational methodology

4 Our Results/Contribution

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Roboval, an educational robotics experience in high school

Roboval

Maurizio BoscainiCS Teacher at ITIS G. Marconi of VeronaCS Adjunct Professor at the University of VeronaRoboval Contest organizerAlberto ValentePlumake Srl ceo,Verona FabLab cofounder,former CS Teacher at ITIS G. Marconi of VeronaRoboval fair creator and organizer

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Roboval, an educational robotics experience in high school

Roboval

Roboval is an annual fair organized by Verona FabLababout robotics, in novations, and makers since 2012.For many students the central event is the roboticcompetition, attended by some high schools from theprovince of Verona

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Hardware

Outline

1 ContextRoboval, an educational robotics experience in highschoolHardwareSoftware

2 Challenges

3 Contents and educational methodology

4 Our Results/Contribution

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Hardware

Hardware: Kit Roboval Easy

To the schools involved the FabLab provides free of chargesome kits (assembled or unassembled).Other kits can be purchased at a cost of around 100 Euros.

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Hardware

Hardware: Kit Roboval Easy Components

Arduino to control the robots movementsThe structure to assemble (wheels, motors, plastic,...)Custom shield developed specifically for Roboval byPlumake SrlTwo motorsFront luminosity sensors (Pololu)

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Hardware

Hardware: Kit Roboval Easy Components

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Software

Outline

1 ContextRoboval, an educational robotics experience in highschoolHardwareSoftware

2 Challenges

3 Contents and educational methodology

4 Our Results/Contribution

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Software

Tools

The Arduino IDEPololu library for line sensorLine sensor test firmwareMotor test firmware

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Software

The canvas of a program for Arduino

/* it is performed only once at the launchof the program */void setup(){/* Put your initialization code here */}

/* is performed after the setup and calledcyclically until the end of the program */void loop(){/* Put your code to be repeated forever here */}

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Hardware: Kit Roboval Easy

Teams of 3–5 membersLabyrinth contestSpeed contest

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Preparation phase at the Roboval contest

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

How things are done

CS (mainly), Maths and Physics teachers involvedThe training/design process is developed completelyautonomously by the participating schools"Learning by doing" is the mottoCooperative working and learningPositive challenge (positive competitiveness)

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

A simple Syllabus for the course

Introduction to roboticsBasic features of a robotIntroduction to the Arduino platformIntroduction to the Kit Roboval EasyIntroduction to ProgrammingProgramming ArduinoProblem Posing and Solving

In about 12 – 15 hours.

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

Conclusions

Peer tutoring and collaborative spiritGood motivation and direction for studentsTo start from a challenge, create a project and make ithappen, was much appreciatedExperiential and heuristic learningIs not an "only for geeks" course/experience like othermore challenging contests

The conceptual contents are sometimes sacrificed

Context Challenges Contents and educational methodology Our Results/Contribution

The end

Thanks!

Appendix

References I

Roboval, Web. 11 Jul. 2015. http://www.roboval.it/

What is Arduino? Arduino. Web. 11 Jul. 2015https://www.arduino.cc/