An ultra‐low cost line follower robot as educational tool for teaching programming and circuit's foundations

Abstract

In this paper, an ultra low‐cost line following robot is presented. The robot is developed through the integration of free educational software and low cost electronics and mechanical devices with the aim of been used as a teaching and learning tool to increase the students confidence/performance and interest in engineering areas. The cost for building this robot‐based educational tool and its related activities is less than 25 USD. Students were encouraged for building its own unique designs using cardboard and open‐source software and hardware. The activities promoted the increase in knowledge and developed student's technical skills such as the use of electronic circuits and sensors, three dimension designs, learning to programming animations and microcontrollers, building self‐made structural and mechanical elements using cardboard and the use of the Bluetooth protocol to achieve the interconnection of devices through the use of an Android based Smartphone. The activities have been developed to allow students to apply and test their own ideas and concepts for solving problems through the computational thinking process and finding digital solutions through programming microcontrollers, all of them in the frame of the maker movement and the inclusion of the arts in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The results of confidence/performance and interest evaluation tests allowed to identify the main areas of gain knowledge and the increasing interest in the engineering fields presented in this work.

Fostering STEAM through challenge‐based learning, robotics, and physical devices: A systematic mapping literature review

“…Several of the papers explored in this mapping focused their research goals on the application of such a technology to achieve STEAM‐related competencies [51,61,78], and especially on the possibility of using such technology, to achieve different competencies in preuniversity education [61,78,79]. They provide different examples of the benefits of low‐cost robots [35,52,76,86,87,93,97], open hardware and software proposals, or other kinds of manufacturing technologies [51]. Benefits related to the methodological application: In the context of STEAM Education, active methodologies have been very popular because of their benefits [46].…”

“…Benefits related to the acquisition of specific competencies: As this study explores STEAM Education, it is normal to find studies related to the competencies commonly associated with STEAM Education, such as computational thinking, problem‐solving, critical thinking, programming, computing and design skills, interdisciplinary skills, computers science autonomy, autonomous learning, negotiating skills, and social abilities. Some examples of this type of papers are References [14,16,20,22,30,31,42,57,58,63,64,66,70,84,92,96,97,102]…”

Arduino Advances in Web of Science. A Scientific Mapping of Literary Production

“…Fundamentally, curricular prescriptions at European and national level attach special importance to computer learning [1][2][3], and to the innovations derived from the movement maker [4]. With this, numerous doors are opened to learning with robot devices that, among its innumerable advantages, facilitates learning and fosters collaborative learning [5][6][7].…”

“…The current educational systems of developed countries strive to introduce and promote learning based on computational principles [1][2][3] and the maker movement [4]. Undoubtedly, the potential of computer learning and the possibilities of interacting with devices and creating low-cost robots, facilitate learning and promote collaborative work and problem solving attitudes that are much more effective [5][6][7]. In this way, these learning and contents can be considered a critical subject for education in order to develop a qualified job for and for the future.…”

Implementation of a Line Follower Robot using Microcontroller

“…Now a day"s android apps are there to control button, voice and line and make very user friendly [5]. Now a day"s to encourage students and for educational tool as to increase the confidence and ability to take innovative ideas to implement low cost line follower robots are also available in the market [6]. Robots are also used for different services like drug delivery [7], to increase transportation line follower robot is highly essential [8] even it"s advantages are more in industry revolution 4.0.…”