Using robotics to teach software engineering

Abstract

Since most computer science graduates take jobs developing software in team environments, one goal of our computer science program is to provide a realistic experience in developing good quality software as part of a software development team. Our Software Engineering Projects course is a required, two-semester sequence at the senior undergraduate level that fulfills this need. The course uses two Nomad200 robots that were funded in part with a grant in 1991 from NSF under the Division of Undergraduate Educations ILI Program. The purpose of the grant was to develop a lab to give computer science student's experience in programming a device that had actual motion and had real-time characteristics. Writing software to control the robots has been very challenging for the students. The students have done very well at this challenge. Two groups of students who have used the robots in this class have participated in national robotics contests.