Plastic-Bottle-Based Robots in Educational Robotics Courses – Understanding Embodied Artificial Intelligence –

Kojiro Matsushita; Hiroshi Yokoi; Tamio Arai

doi:10.20965/jrm.2007.p0212

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JRM Vol.19 No.2 pp. 212-222

doi: 10.20965/jrm.2007.p0212

(2007)

Paper:

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Plastic-Bottle-Based Robots in Educational Robotics Courses – Understanding Embodied Artificial Intelligence –

Kojiro Matsushita, Hiroshi Yokoi, and Tamio Arai

Dept. of Precision Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Received:

November 2, 2006

Accepted:

February 6, 2007

Published:

April 20, 2007

Keywords:

edutainment, embodied artificial intelligence, locomotion, morphology, EMG

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce an educational robotics approach featuring a unique robotic development kit - hardware, software, and instructions - that concretely encourages student interest in and curiosity about science and technology. The kit was developed based on practical policies: easy construction, low cost, creative activity, and enjoyable education. It uses common materials such as plastic bottles, RC servomotors, and hot glue, and provides three different controllers with instructions - a sensor-motor controller, an electromyography (EMG) interface controller, and a teaching-playback controller. The kit thus offers more custom access to both robot structure and control architecture than similar kits and encourages students to become engaged creatively. The three robotics courses for undergraduates and graduates we have conducted thus far to provide an understanding of robotics and embodied artificial intelligence (AI) have confirmed that some of locomotive robots explicitly exploit their own dynamics - also known as “morph-functionality” - an embodied AI concept. An evaluation of this approach for course hours, task achievement, student interest, and the influence of assistance confirmed conclusively that students experienced creativity in such robotics courses.

Cite this article as:

K. Matsushita, H. Yokoi, and T. Arai, “Plastic-Bottle-Based Robots in Educational Robotics Courses – Understanding Embodied Artificial Intelligence –,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.19 No.2, pp. 212-222, 2007.

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This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.

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from http://www.k-team.com/

[2] [2] Sony website,
from http://www.sony.net/Products/aibo/index.html

[3] [3] KONDI KAGAKU CO., LTD website, from
http://www.kondo-robot.com/html/Info_En.html

[4] [4] The LEGO Group website,
from http://mindstorms.lego.com/

[5] [5] Center for Engineering Education Outreach at Tufts University website,
from http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu/

[6] [6] C. Paul, V. Hafner, and J. C. Bongard, “Teaching New Artificial Intelligence using Constructionist Edutainment Robots,” Workshop on Edutainment Robots, 2000.

[7] [7] J. Wakeman-Linn and A. Perry, “A proposal to incorporate LEGO® Mindstorms into an introduction to engineering course,” Proceedings of ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Vive L’ingenieur, pp. 9231-9238, 2002.

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[9] [9] E. Wang and R. Wang, “Using LEGOs and RoboLab (LabVIEW) with elementary school children,” Proceedings -Frontiers in Education Conference, v 1, T2E/11, 2001.

[10] [10] H. H. Lund and L. Pagliarini, “RoboCup Jr. with LEGO MINDSTORMS,” Proceedings IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp. 813-819, 2000.

[11] [11] U. Petersen, M. Müllerburg, and G. Theidig, “Girls and Robots – A Promising Alliance,” ERCIM News No.53, pp. 32-33, 2003.

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[13] [13] R. Pfeifer and C. Scheier, “Understanding Intelligence,” MIT Press, 1999.

[14] [14] H. Yokoi, A. H. Arieta, R. Katoh, W. Yu, I. Watanabe, and M. Maruishi, “Mutual Adaptation in a Prosthetics Application,” LNAI3139: Embodied Artificial Intelligence, Springer, ISBN 3-540-22484-X, pp. 146-159, 2004.

[15] [15] H. Kazerooni, “Berkeley Lower Extremity Exo-skeleton (BLEEX),” Mechanical Engineering Department of U. C., Berkeley,
at URL http://www.me.berkeley.edu , 2004.

[16] [16] H. Kawamoto and Y. Sankai, “EMG-based hybrid assistive leg for walking aid using feedforward controller,” International Conference on Control, Automation and system, pp. 190-193, 2001.

[17] [17] R. Brooks and L. Stein, “Building Brains for Bodies,” Autonomous Robots, Vol.1, Issue 1, pp. 7-25, 1994.

[18] [18] K. Sims, “Evolving Virtual Creatures,” Computer Graphics Annual Conference Proceedings, pp. 43-50, 1994.

[19] [19] M. Hirose, Y. Haikawa, T. Takenaka, and K. Hirai, “Development of Humanoid Robot ASIMO,” Proc. Int. Conference on Intelligent Robots and System, 2001.

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[23] [23] P. Pfeifer and J. Bongard, “How the Body Shapes the Way We Think: A New View of Intelligence,” MIT Press, 2006.

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[26] [26] S. Vogel, “Cat’s Paws and Catapults,” W. W. Norton & Company, 1998.