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Overview |
Why robots? |
Key Initiatives | What's new |
Contact
Overview:
The mobile robotics program at Penn State
Abington has been in operation since 1996, and fosters the following goals:
- Robotics Education: Provide
resources to integrate robotics design into the engineering, computer science, and IT
curriculum at colleges, universities, and K-12 in order to enhance science
and engineering education. Promote active and collaborative learning, problem-based
learning, teamwork, research, project management, entrepreneurship. At Penn
State Abington, we have integrated robotics into computer engineering,
computer science, freshman engineering design, and information sciences and
technology (IST) coursework.
- Robotics Research: Provide opportunities for undergraduate research in
the areas of mobile robotics. Areas of research include
mobile robot navigation, artificial intelligence, human-computer interface,
innovative educational applications of robotics. Also, provide resources to
encourage science fair projects using innovative robotics at the K-12 level.
- K-12 outreach Support K-12 schools in the Philadelphia,
PA region to promote student interest in science, math, IT, engineering and
technology careers. Includes student and teacher
training and workshops, STEM integration, mentorship, career awareness, community service activities.
- Robot Design Contests: Develop and host highly-accessible, public, regional
robot
design competitions and exhibits to promote robotics in the
community. These robot contests and exhibitions provide a focal point
for robotics education, research, and outreach activities.
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Why Robots?
- Design of robots is highly interdisciplinary and
involves mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science,
artificial intelligence, systems engineering, networking, IT, project management, teamwork, communication skills, and creative problem
solving.
- The hands on, visual nature of robot design is
highly motivating for students.
- Robot design can be easily adapted to meet many
educational goals for students of all levels (K-12 and college).
- Availability of low-cost robotics equipment,
software, and support allows robotics to be accessible to a wide audience.
Key
Educational Initiatives at Abington:
- Penn State Abington has integrated robot design into
several freshman and sophomore engineering courses including: 1) a freshman
engineering design course (EDG 100), 2) an introductory computer science
course (CMPSC 201C), 3) a Digital Design course, 4) an emerging technologies
course for Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students, and 5) an honors robotics course for freshmen and
sophomore students at Abington. High School students taking a Penn State
college engineering design course also participate in Abington robotics
activities.
- Penn State Abington has offered an open, free, robot competition
and exhibit in both December and March/April of every year since 1995. These robot
competitions attract a wide range of students from 2nd graders to college
seniors to professional engineers.
- Mobile Robot Design Competitions/Challenges
offered at Abington
- Robo-Hoops Basketball Robot Contest
- Regional Firefighting Robot Contest (based
on Trinity College Firefighting Contest)
- Mini Grand Challenge Outdoor Robot Contest
For more information, contact:
Bob Avanzato
Associate Professor of Engineering
Division of Science and Engineering
Penn State Abington
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
tele: 215-881-7358
email: RLA5@psu.edu
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