Robotics in Education Challenges Developing an Adequate Curriculum

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Robotics in Education Challenges Developing an
Adequate Curriculum
Dr. Antonio Soares Florida AM University Electron
ic Engineering Technology Antonio.soares_at_famu.edu
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Overview

• Education Packages
• Saturated Market
• Technology Crossover
• Lego and Boebot
• Mechatronics
• Whats New!!!

• Intro to Robotics
• Definitions
• Types of Robots
• Applications
• Industrial Robots
• Degree of Freedom
• Joints
• Coordinates
• Complexity

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Industrial Robots

• A machine that resembles a human being and does
  mechanical routine tasks on command.
• An industrial robot is a re-programmable,
  multifunctional manipulator designed to move
  materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices
  through variable programmed motions for the
  performance of a variety of tasks.

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What is Robotics?

• Robotics is the art, knowledge base, and the
  know-how of designing, applying, and using
  robots in human endeavors.

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Types of Robots

• Mobile Robots

• Crawling Robots

Parallax
Mars Explore
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Types of Robots

• Stationary Robots

• Autonomous Robots

Industrial Robot
EET Robot (Mechatronics)
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Humanoids Robots
HONDA (ASIMO) Biped Robot
Fujitsu Biped Robot
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Pet Robots
Sony (AIBO) Toy robot
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Robot Applications
Machine loading Pick and place operations Welding
Painting Sampling Assembly operation Manufacturing
Surveillance Medical applications Assisting
disabled individuals Hazardous
environments Underwater, space, and remote
locations
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Industrial Robots

• A manipulator (or an industrial robot) is
  composed of a series of links connected to each
  other via joints. Each joint usually has an
  actuator (a motor for eg.) connected to it.
• These actuators are used to cause relative motion
  between successive links. One end of the
  manipulator is usually connected to a stable base
  and the other end is used to deploy a tool.

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Industrial Robots
Painting Robot
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Industrial Robot Arms

• Manipulator
• Pedestal
• Controller
• End Effectors
• Power Source

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Manipulator

• Base

• Appendages

• Shoulder

• Arm

• Grippers

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Pedestal
(Human waist)

• Supports the manipulator.
• Acts as a counterbalance.

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Controller
(The brain)

• Issues instructions to the robot.
• Controls peripheral devices.
• Interfaces with robot.
• Interfaces with humans.

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End Effectors
(The hand)

• Spray paint attachments
• Welding attachments
• Vacuum heads
• Hands
• Grippers

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Power Source
(The food)

• Electric
• Pneumatic
• Hydraulic

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Manipulator Body

• Typically defined as a graph of links and joints

A link is a part, a shape with physical
properties. A joint is a constraint on the
spatial relations of two or more links.
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Robots degrees of freedom

• Degrees of Freedom Number of independent
  position variables which would has to be
  specified to locate all parts of a mechanism.
• In most manipulators this is usually the number
  of joints.

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Robots degrees of freedom
what is the degree
1 D.O.F.
2 D.O.F.
3 D.O.F.
A Fanuc P-15 robot. Reprinted with
permission from Fanuc Robotics, North America,
Inc.
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Robot Joints
Prismatic Joint Linear, No rotation involved.
(Hydraulic or pneumatic
cylinder)
Revolute Joint Rotary, (electrically driven with
stepper motor, servo motor)
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Robot Coordinates
? Cartesian/rectangular/gantry (3P) 3
cylinders joint
? Cylindrical (R2P) 2 Prismatic joint and 1
revolute joint
? Spherical (2RP) 1 Prismatic joint and 2
revolute joint
? Articulated/anthropomorphic (3R) All
revolute(Human arm)
? Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm
(SCARA) 2 paralleled revolute joint and 1
additional prismatic joint
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Math Complexity

• In Order to Model the Motion of a Manipulator
• Odometry - Position Updates Using Wheals
• Kinematics
• Inverse Kinematics
• Complex PID Controllers

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Math Complexity

• Kinematics
• Kinematics is the study of motion without regard
  for the forces that cause it.
• It refers to all time-based and geometrical
  properties of motion.
• It ignores concepts such as torque, force, mass,
  energy, and inertia.

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Forward Kinematics

• Given the starting configuration of the mechanism
  and joint angles, compute the new configuration.

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Advantages And Disadvantages
? Robots increase productivity, safety,
efficiency, quality, and consistency of products.
? Robots can work in hazardous environments
without the need. ? Robots need no environmental
comfort. ? Robots work continuously without
experiencing fatigue of problem. ? Robots have
repeatable precision at all times. ? Robots
can be much more accurate than human. ? Robots
replace human workers creating economic
problems. ? Robots can process multiple stimuli
or tasks simultaneously. ? Robots lack
capability to respond in emergencies. ? Robots,
although superior in certain senses, have limited
capabilities in Degree of freedom, Dexterity,
Sensors, Vision system, real time response. ?
Robots are costly, due to Initial cost of
equipment, Installation costs, Need for
Peripherals, Need for training, Need for
programming.
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Robots Taking Over?

• Design Limitations
• we design them, we code the tasks to be performed
• Emotionless Machines
• Cannot logically reason, and/or plan activities,
  unless the designer program it to do so.
• Ethical Issues

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Educational Platforms
VEX Robotics
Lego Robotics
Boebot From Parallax
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Mechatronics The Solution
Robotics is an interdisciplinary subject that
benefits from mechanical engineering, electrical
and electronic engineering, computer science,
biology, and many other disciplines.
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Conclusions

• For K-12 Robot Kits are Appropriate
• Plan in Advance
• Most of these kits are not easy to follow
  because they share applications
• For Higher Education
• Mechatronics with some Industrial robots is
  Advised

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Lets Talk!!!
FALL 2012 Technical Elective (All Majors) EET
4931 - SPEC TOP ELECTRO ENG Introduction to
Robotics and Automation Instructor Antonio
Soares Antonio.soares_at_famu.edu