Engineering Education and the Design of Intelligent Mobile Robots for Real Use

Abstract

Abstract Designing mobile robots requires the integration of physical components, sensors, actuators, energy sources, embedded computing and decision algorithms into one system. Additional expertise is also beneficial when the desired robotic platform must fulfill a specific purpose in a real application. This paper describes three initiatives involving robot design projects following different educational approaches. Because mobile robotics is still an emerging technology with important challenges and opportunities for discoveries and applications, designing these systems as part of initiatives in engineering education allows developing proof-of-concept prototypes while providing a stimulating and motivating learning environrnent for engineering students.