ROBOTIC STEM EDUCATIONPROJECTS
FROM A ROBOT QUEST
TO
ROBOT SCHOOL
HELLO HUMAN
BILL’S BACKGROUNDDegrees in Electronic Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. With initial degree work in aerospace Engineering.
5 years in satellite guidance, control and station keeping.
4 years research in Ion Propulsion for Inter-planetary travel and station keeping
3 years Design, Development, Test & Evaluation (DDT&E) on USAF weapons system - Cruise Missile.
30 years embedded/FPGA Industrial controls development.
15 years high speed fiber optic controls communications
Co-developer of the MIX module interface for Intel Multibus II.
30+ years developing robotic systems.
6 card stacked systems developed for industrial use
8 man-years (14,750 hours) technical teaching
CONTENTS
Overview
How we define a robot
Quest project
Innovation approach to STEM
Mentoring
Technical High School curriculum
OVERVIEW
The use of robotics in our daily life is here to stay and growing. A discussion about this recently had a simple take-away, “you can either embrace and work with the future or lie down because it will drive over you shortly” harsh but true words.
Companies need to be working with their local school systems both public and private so the young people will have an edge in this global economy.
HOW WE DEFINE A ROBOT
Current ROBOT definition: a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer. Problem is this also defines automation and they are not the same.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, a robot is "any automatically operated machine that replaces human effort, though it may not resemble human beings in appearance or perform functions in a humanlike manner." This is more acceptable.
PAST or FUTURE
QUEST PRIMARY GOAL
This Quest is configured for the local middle-school, for us old-timers it was better know as junior high school.
Through the use of a robotic design, development and production cycle, we will show students the start to finish of a single robot design and build. Basically from the birth of an idea to shipment of a robotic product.
This whole project is to re-enforce STEM as a viable education direction and to ensure the understanding of equality and safety in the work place.
PRIMARY AREAS OF WORK & STUDY
WORK PLACE SAFETY
Team decision making - type of robot based on functional needs
Multi-team work integration
3D design, modeling and simulation
Basic material science
Motion and motion control concepts
Power plant basics
Guidance system basics
Basic electricity and electronics
Electronic/electrical design and assembly
Metal fabrication and assembly
Programming
Electronic testing
System integration and test.
Total robot assembly and test
WORK PLACE SAFETY
PROGRAM REALM
c-Link Systems, Inc
Located in Norway, Maine
One day a week for a school year
Both hands on and white board work
Robot stays with the school for further usage
Possible show at years end.
Primary instructor: Bill Lovell
INNOVATION APPROACH TO STEM
EDUCATION WITH A COMPUTER GAME, SANDBOX AND ROBOTS
By: William Lovell, CEO, c-Link Systems, Inc.
OVERVIEW
Times have changed since I was in Junior High School or Middle School. Prior to that during the summer I spent hours in the woods or sand pile when not helping on the farm or around the home. It was during this time I realized that being an engineer was everything. Fast forward to today and the after school club I work with has never played in a sand pile with trucks, cars or hundreds of little green army men. But they have played for hours on a computer of one form or another. Students that I have conversed with over the years do not have an idea what they want to do in life. It seems my generation was “odd” we all had some idea of what we wanted to do.
SANDBOX KID TELE-OPERATED ROBOTAND SANDBOX
QUICK SHOW OF WHAT IS HAPPENINGWe start with a computer game called Minecraft®1 a sandbox indie game with a Lego® look about it. This whole scenario takes place on a world where you can construct whole towns, gather/grow resources or do as all Middle Earth Dwarfs do and delve deep into the mountains. I am partial to the Dwarven theme. The version is actually MinecraftEDU; this package has a large educator backing and utilization. It is low cost in comparison to other STEM or robotic packages. Because this is a pilot program and a work in progress it will be limited in size and scope.
Than we move to the sandbox where everything becomes real and falling off a cliff has dire consequences in most cases.
The full white paper can be found at;
http://c-linksystems.com/educational.html
SANDBOX CAN BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM
The caveat of the sandbox is it has the ability to be moved into a normal STEM classroom. An example is the construction of a moon base remotely. Because we can introduce into the control system the time lag from earth to moon the students will experience what ground controllers have always dreaded.
MENTORING
http://www.youngmindawards.com/
TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUMDue to the length only snippets are shown, the complete curriculum is located here;
http://c-linksystems.com/educational.html
The curriculum was combined with a long run class project to build a factory CIM cell consisting of a CNC mini-lathe, CNC mini-mill and a 7-axis robot. Also an AGV for materials movement.
Also included with the curriculum was a study guide, workbook, labs, lab book and tests. The instructors also got the materials listing for the lads and added reference material.
All students will be required to maintain an Engineering Notebook and a Lab Notebook. These books to be randomly collected to check on usage and grading of assigned work.
Testing is done on a per topic block basis.
CURRICULUM START YEAR ONE
First Year – 60/40 split classroom/lab
Objectives
Understanding what engineering is and where it came from. The student gains a glimpse into the myriad of fields available to them.
Student will gain an understanding of two basic tools available to engineers; Excel and Visio.
The student will gain an understanding of basic electrical and analog/digital electronic components.
The comprehending of Test and Measurement procedures and basic test equipment as it applies to digital electronics.
An introduction into Industrial/Process control engineering. The student will gain knowledge in automation and the basic associated equipment.
YEAR TWOSecond year – 50/50 split classroom/lab
Objectives
Student will be introduced into aspects of mechanical engineering as it pertains to robotics and automation.
The student will append the current understanding of basic analog/digital electronics with advanced topics and components.
Student will be introduced to microcontrollers and the software programming of them.
The student will gain understanding and utilize manual and CNC machine shop equipment. Included with the equipment is understanding CAD/CAM.
A building on prior year instruction in Industrial/Process control engineering. The student will gain knowledge in plant/cell communications, cell configuration and SAFETY.
Student will begin advanced studies in guidance systems and robotics systems.
YEAR THREE
Third Year – 25/75 split classroom/lab
Objectives
The student will gain further understanding in advanced digital electronic components.
The comprehending of vision systems as applied to process control and robotics.
Students will undertake an independent study in one of the following areas; robotics, industrial controls, factory automation or production equipment.
FOR THE CURIOUS THIS IS WHAT C-LINK SYSTEMS BUILDS
TELCHAR PAYLOADAUTONOMOUS DISASTER SEARCH AND RESCUE SYSTEM (ADSRS)
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