Why teach robotics using ROS

Abstract

This paper focuses on the key role played by the adop on of a framework in teaching robo cs with a computer science approach in the master in Computer Engineering. The framework adopted is the Robot Opera ng System (ROS), which is becoming a standard de facto inside the robo cs community. The educa onal ac vi es proposed in this paper are based on a construc onist approach. The Mindstorms NXT robot kit is adopted to trigger the learning challenge. The ROS framework is exploited to drive the students programming methodology during the laboratory ac vi es and to allow students to exercise with the major computer programming paradigms and the best programming prac ces. The major robo cs topics students are involved with are: acquiring data from sensors, connec ng sensors to the robot, and navigate the robot to reach the final goal. The posi ve effects given by this approach are highlighted in this paper by comparing the work recently produced by students with the work produced in the previous years in which ROS was not yet adopted and many different so ware tools and languages were used. The results of a ques onnaire are reported showing that we achieved the didac cal objecves we expected as instructors.

Teaching humanoid robotics by means of human teleoperation through RGB-D sensors

“…The five laboratory experiences have increasing difficulty. The first two aim to introduce students to robotics and simple, but not trivial, problems have to be solved [20]. Then, students become comfortable with the subject and humanoid robots can be introduced.…”

“…In this experience, the problem mainly concerns robot motion from a data acquisition and a procedural solution can be easily adopted. Nevertheless, students are pushed to solve it using an object oriented approach by the ROS publisher/subscriber communication protocol they learned in the previous experiences [20].…”

A Comprehensive Aproach to Teaching Mobile Robotics

“…More social and generally-technical aspects are presented in [10], where common learning of pre-school children, pupils and grandparents is presented. Article [12] suggest, that the ROS is the best tool for learning robotics. As far as we know, no better tool is available for free, because the ROS gives not only a piece of useful code, but also a large community support.…”

Training master students to program both virtual and real autonomous robots in a teaching laboratory

“…Laboratory experiences are assigned according to an increasing difficulty. First, we ask for the resolution of common robotic problems [2] using a LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot [3] (e.g., path planning with obstacles avoidance and perception). Then, we introduce humanoids and the related stability problem [4].…”

“…At first, three experiences are assigned dealing with LEGO robots; then, three experiences dealing with humanoid robots are presented. As consequence, students first solve simple problems [2]; then, they become comfortable with robotics and can deal with complex robotic problems [4].…”