Educational Robotics Insertion in High Schools to Promote Environmental Awareness about E-Waste

Abstract

The inadequate disposal of obsolete electronic materials over the years has brought negative consequences to the environment. The EDUCABOT3D project seeks, in this sense, to disseminate the necessary knowledge about environmental awareness, through actions of reuse of electronic waste components, and the proper disposal of non-reusable items. By means of a booklet, called the Correct Disposal Booklet for e-waste, the risks brought to nature are exposed when e-waste is incorrectly disposed, as well as exposing ways to reuse e-waste, where to discard non-reusable items, among other relevant information. A mobile robot chassis has been modeled for 3D printing, using two ways of control between sensors and actuators, one with a rapid prototyping board and another assembled with reused components in a printed circuit board. The reuse of e-waste, applied to robotics, is a matter of great community interest, as it may encourage young people to reuse their obsolete devices and deliver them to appropriate places for recycling. As result, the concepts of computing and environmental education are disseminated by means of presentations, teaching classes and booklet distribution in high schools.