Enhancing technological literacy: Robotics in academic education of non-engineers

Abstract

Robotics, in particular mobile robotics, holds a special fascination among all the technological fields: Starting with the first "automatons" of ancient times (Archytas of Tarent, Heron of Alexandria) and da Vinci's studies of androids to the modern heroes of movies and literature, robots (and in particular, humanoid robots) have always captivated the fantasy of human beings. Unsurprisingly, robotics is attracting even the interest of people who are normally more reserved and cautious towards technological fields of study. As a result, robotics is well suited to strengthen the interdisciplinary components of the academic education of all students, in particular also of students from nontechnological areas, in order to strengthen their technological interest and literacy.