Editorial: Educational robotics and competitions

摘要

STEM education endeavors to instill fundamental principles of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, fostering a passion that propels students toward careers in these fields.Robotics, as a formidable educational tool, goes beyond theoretical learning by immersing students in practical projects that demand problem-solving skills.Its inherently multidisciplinary nature encourages the integration of knowledge from traditionally distinct disciplines, enriching the educational experience.In the ever-evolving landscape of STEM education, the integration of robotics has proven to be a dynamic catalyst for inspiring students and advancing research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.The latest strides in this interdisciplinary field are encapsulated in four articles published in the Research Topic on Educational Robotics and Competitions.These articles shed light on diverse aspects of robotics challenges, from virtual and real-world competitions to classroom applications.Martins et al. presents a compelling case study of how the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic led to innovative solutions in the realm of educational robotics in general, and the RoboCupJunior specifically.The RoboCupJunior competition is aimed at students between 14 and 19 years old, providing challenges of appropriate difficulty.However, the restrictions on physical gatherings during the pandemic made it impossible for this physical competition to happen.Members of the RoboCupJunior Soccer Organizing Committee, together with volunteers, rose to the challenge by developing SoccerSim, a simulated environment for RoboCupJunior Soccer based on the Webots open-source robotics simulator.This virtual platform not only allowed the competition to take place despite the pandemic but also significantly lowered the barrier to entry, as evidenced by the participation of many teams that had not participated before.The success of SoccerSim at RoboCupJunior Worldwide 2021 suggests that simulated environments can provide an affordable and accessible alternative to physical robotics platforms.Another article focuses on a competition for more advanced students in the fields of engineering and computer science.Braun et al., and introduces a new competition in the Portuguese Robotics Open, created in line with the Industry 4.0 concept.The competition named RobotAtFactory 4.0 simulates a fully automated industrial logistics warehouse,