Teaching Kids Robotics: Robot Building Engineering Part-1

A series of workshops that run on Saturdays since May 2017 to teach kids age 6-15 years on how to build robots from scratch based on Vex IQ robotics components.

Introduction: The projects will be in several parts in which each is either addressing certain problems, challenges, engineering skills and other transferable skills for kids.

Table of Contents: TBF

Part-1: in this part I will present and report on engineering, product assembling and building skills. I will present materials that could be downloaded for use by other people. I will also highlights on problems and challenges surrounding teaching kids, contextualisation and attainment target for age 6-15yr.

We started in May 2017 but we have ran into components problems where we have to use Arduino 101 to address some short comings in our delivery Vex IQ resources. We have to resort into adapting some micro controllers into our workshop robotics resources due to competition rules and our teaching aims.

We also have software problems that stem from interfacing to contextualisation for our regional use and rules. For example we have to use Python as programming language as it is the teaching language in UK for programming. So we are in processing of either write our own python language or adapt existing ones for use in our areas. This is a major challenge as not only for one particular hardware/MCU but we want something that could from downtown Arduino UNO to BeagleBone and others that we are using now or in the future. We will cover this in parts of the series.

VEX IQ Robotics Kits:

A Lego like kits for building genre of robot by students to enhance their construction skills and also to be able to build a robot that could compete in any of their annual World wide competitions.

Workshop encourages mixed ability levels among learners, promotes peer learning and collaboration in team work.

As you know by now that kids have to work in group to build a robot that solve problems. Agreed work are given out by each group leader who also track the progress of those tasks.

Building the robot while at the same time not leaving the documentation to the end is of paramount important. So there must be who is doing what scenario being established naturally.

One of downside of the VexIQ robotics kit is that parts are not labelled so kids have to manually figure out matching parts. Also it would have been nice if parts can be made locally using 3D printers.

With structure made from plastics then you could expect the unexpected if they are dropped or fall from heights

Finding matching parts and sizes are time consuming exercises for mostly the under 11 year kids. It could quickly become a boring or a no go repeating routines for those age group. So it is important to make sure group are well represented with skills for designers, builders and programmers.

Vex IQ kit comes in range from standard to super kit with costs from £219 to £269 per kit. It is important to consider how to incorporate the kit with other controller boards like Arduino 101, STM32 family, PIC Microchip, Lego controllers or other general purpose micro controllers.

I will present and Arduino 101 adaptation and also show other MCUs that we have been using along with the kit.

On the software side, it is good if trainer can adapt programming software and knows how to program in few languages.

We have used Block based like Blockly, ArduBlock. Our own flow based environment that is currently being developed (based on Drakon). We have used the C/C++ programming environment but we are also developing a python programming environment to cater for our learners and to maintain the school link

We also use RobotC and Modkit sparingly in our beginners' sessions.