9 research outputs found

    Makers at School, Educational Robotics and Innovative Learning Environments

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    This open access book contains observations, outlines, and analyses of educational robotics methodologies and activities, and developments in the field of educational robotics emerging from the findings presented at FabLearn Italy 2019, the international conference that brought together researchers, teachers, educators and practitioners to discuss the principles of Making and educational robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education. The editors’ analysis of these extended versions of papers presented at FabLearn Italy 2019 highlight the latest findings on learning models based on Making and educational robotics. The authors investigate how innovative educational tools and methodologies can support a novel, more effective and more inclusive learner-centered approach to education. The following key topics are the focus of discussion: Makerspaces and Fab Labs in schools, a maker approach to teaching and learning; laboratory teaching and the maker approach, models, methods and instruments; curricular and non-curricular robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education; social and assistive robotics in education; the effect of innovative spaces and learning environments on the innovation of teaching, good practices and pilot projects

    Autonomous wheelchair with a smart driving mode and a Wi-Fi positioning system

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    Wheelchairs are an important aid that enhances the mobility of people with several types of disabilities. Therefore, there has been considerable research and development on wheelchairs to meet the needs of the disabled. Since the early manual wheelchairs to their more recent electric powered counterparts, advancements have focused on improving autonomy in mobility. Other developments, such as Internet advancements, have developed the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). This is a promising area that has been studied to enhance the independent operation of the electrical wheelchairs by enabling autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance. This dissertation describes shortly the design of an autonomous wheelchair of the IPL/IT (Instituto Politécnico de Leiria/Instituto de Telecomunicações) with smart driving features for persons with visual impairments. The objective is to improve the prototype of an intelligent wheelchair. The first prototype of the wheelchair was built to control it by voice, ocular movements, and GPS (Global Positioning System). Furthermore, the IPL/IT wheelchair acquired a remote control feature which could prove useful for persons with low levels of visual impairment. This tele-assistance mode will be helpful to the family of the wheelchair user or, simply, to a health care assistant. Indoor and outdoor positioning systems, with printed directional Wi-Fi antennas, have been deployed to enable a precise location of our wheelchair. The underlying framework for the wheelchair system is the IPL/IT low cost autonomous wheelchair prototype that is based on IoT technology for improved affordability

    Actas de las XXXIV Jornadas de Automática

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    Makers at School, Educational Robotics and Innovative Learning Environments

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    This open access book contains observations, outlines, and analyses of educational robotics methodologies and activities, and developments in the field of educational robotics emerging from the findings presented at FabLearn Italy 2019, the international conference that brought together researchers, teachers, educators and practitioners to discuss the principles of Making and educational robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education. The editors’ analysis of these extended versions of papers presented at FabLearn Italy 2019 highlight the latest findings on learning models based on Making and educational robotics. The authors investigate how innovative educational tools and methodologies can support a novel, more effective and more inclusive learner-centered approach to education. The following key topics are the focus of discussion: Makerspaces and Fab Labs in schools, a maker approach to teaching and learning; laboratory teaching and the maker approach, models, methods and instruments; curricular and non-curricular robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education; social and assistive robotics in education; the effect of innovative spaces and learning environments on the innovation of teaching, good practices and pilot projects

    Formation and organisation in robot swarms.

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    A swarm is defined as a large and independent collection of heterogeneous or homogeneous agents operating in a common environment and seemingly acting in a coherent and coordinated manner. Swarm architectures promote decentralisation and self-organisation which often leads to emergent behaviour. The emergent behaviour of the swarm results from the interactions of the swarm with its environment (or fellow agents), but not as a direct result of design. The creation of artificially simulated swarms or practical robot swarms has become an interesting topic of research in the last decade. Even though many studies have been undertaken using a practical approach to swarm construction, there are still many problems need to be addressed. Such problems include the problem of how to control very simple agents to form patterns; the problem of how an attractor will affect flocking behaviour; and the problem of bridging formation of multiple agents in connecting multiple locations. The central goal of this thesis is to develop early novel theories and algorithms to support swarm robots in. pattern formation tasks. To achieve this, appropriate tools for understanding how to model, design and control individual units have to be developed. This thesis consists of three independent pieces of research work that address the problem of pattern formation of robot swarms in both a centralised and a decentralised way.The first research contribution proposes algorithms of line formation and cluster formation in a decentralised way for relatively simple homogenous agents with very little memory, limited sensing capabilities and processing power. This research utilises the Finite State Machine approach.In the second research contribution, by extending Wilensky's (1999) work on flocking, three different movement models are modelled by changing the maximum viewing angle each agent possesses during the course of changing its direction. An object which releases an artificial potential field is then introduced in the centre of the arena and the behaviours of the collective movement model are studied.The third research contribution studies the complex formation of agents in a task that requires a formation of agents between two locations. This novel research proposes the use Of L-Systems that are evolved using genetic algorithms so that more complex pattern formations can be represented and achieved. Agents will need to have the ability to interpret short strings of rules that form the basic DNA of the formation

    The Complete Reference (Volume 4)

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    This is the fourth volume of the successful series Robot Operating Systems: The Complete Reference, providing a comprehensive overview of robot operating systems (ROS), which is currently the main development framework for robotics applications, as well as the latest trends and contributed systems. The book is divided into four parts: Part 1 features two papers on navigation, discussing SLAM and path planning. Part 2 focuses on the integration of ROS into quadcopters and their control. Part 3 then discusses two emerging applications for robotics: cloud robotics, and video stabilization. Part 4 presents tools developed for ROS; the first is a practical alternative to the roslaunch system, and the second is related to penetration testing. This book is a valuable resource for ROS users and wanting to learn more about ROS capabilities and features.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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