Real Robots Don't Drive Straight

Fred G. Martin

Over last fifteen years, robot technology has become popular in classrooms across our whole educational system. Both engineering and AI educators have developed ways to integrate robots into their teaching. Engineering educators are primarily concerned with engineering science (e.g., feedback control) and process (e.g., design skills). AI educators have different goals—namely, AI educators want students to learn AI concepts. Both agree that students are enthusiastic about working with robots, and in both cases, the pedagogical challenge is to develop robotics technology and provide classroom assignments that highlight key ideas in the respective field. Mobile robots are particularly intriguing because of their dual nature as both deterministic machines and unpredictable entities. This paper explores challenges for both engineering and AI educators as robot toolkits evolve.

Subjects: 1.6 Engineering And Science; 17. Robotics

Submitted: Jan 26, 2007
