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SqueakBot:a pedagogical platformfor educational robotics

Julien Bourdon - Planète SciencesSéverin Lemaignan - Planète Sciences

Serge Stinckwich - University of Caen, GREYC

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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Planète Sciences

• Since 1962, proposes scientific andtechnical activities to young people.

• Several sectors including a sectordedicated to robotics and IT.

• Each year, 50000 children discoverscientific and technical culture bypractice while having fun thanks to 1000organizers and trainers.

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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What is a robot?

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Specificities for children (1)

• Fast learning curve.– No complicated language to learn.

• Must use their native language.– Interface in French.

• Must have FUN while making robots.

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Specificities for children (2)

• Usually do not have a technicalbackground.

• Problem: building robots involve a lot oftedious electronics and programmingadded to sometimes not straightforwardmechanics.

• Short period of time (2 weeks summercamp with 4 hours of science a day).

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Pedagogical robotics

• Build ready-to-use electronic moduleswhich can be programmed easily.

• BUT must not restrain the creativity ofchildren. Let the children experiment.We do not make them assemble kits.

• Several modules which could beinterfaced with LOGO have beendeveloped.

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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SqueakBot

• Drawbacks of LOGO:– Our version works only on Windows.– Necessity to learn a syntax.– OO approaches more natural to modelise

robots.• Open source Squeak/EToys approach

developed in partnership with theUniversity of Caen for several years.

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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SMEC

• Super Moduleélectronique decommande.

• Controls 1 or 2 DCmotors + 5 binaryinputs.

• Can bei n t e r c o n n e c t e dthanks to an I2Cbus.

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ASPIC

• Analogical & Servomotors by PIC.• 4 analogical inputs.• 4 servomotors.• Connection via USB port.• Can be connected to I2C bus.• Card program can be modified.• Remote control for debug.

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ASPIC

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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EToys

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EToys

• Programming by dragging & droppingtiles into scripts.

• Very intuitive. Accessible to childrenwith no prior knowledge ofprogrammation.

• Possibility to switch to Smalltalk syntax.

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Implementation

• Plugin written in C using FFI.• Classes handling the I2C protocol.• Classes representing the real devices.

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Outline

• Planète Sciences• Pedagogy• SqueakBot

– Electronic interfaces– Software

• Application examples

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Mars rover

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Walker

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Caterpillar

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Video

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Intruder detector

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Intruder detector

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Conclusion

• Allows children with no technicalknowledge to develop robots.

• Fast results keep the motivation high.• Tested in a summer camp.• Part of a larger project called “Boîte à

Bots” containing everything needed tobuild robots with children.

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Perspectives

• Make it work with Linux and Mac(problems with USB port handling).

• Test with a wider audience (e.g. atschool)

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Why so much energy spent insuch a project?

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Links

• http://www.planete-sciences.org: theassociation website. (French)

• http://www.squeaksource.com/SqueakBot.html: project source code.

• http://www.planete-sciences.org/robot/boiteabots/: the botbox website. (French)

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