PiBot: An Open Low-Cost Robotic Platform with Camera for STEM Education

This paper presents a robotic platform, PiBot, which was developed to improve the teaching of robotics with vision to secondary students. Its computational core is the Raspberry Pi 3 controller board, and the greatest novelty of this prototype is the support developed for the powerful camera mounted...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electronics (Basel) 2018-12, Vol.7 (12), p.430
Main Authors: Vega, Julio, Cañas, José
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Automation
Cameras
Controllers
Design
Embedded systems
Industrial design
Mathematics education
Microprocessors
Programming languages
Robotics
Robots
Science education
Sensors
Software
STEM education
Students
Teaching
Technical education
Technology education
Three dimensional models
Three dimensional printing
University students
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Summary:This paper presents a robotic platform, PiBot, which was developed to improve the teaching of robotics with vision to secondary students. Its computational core is the Raspberry Pi 3 controller board, and the greatest novelty of this prototype is the support developed for the powerful camera mounted on board, the PiCamera. An open software infrastructure written in Python language was implemented so that the student may use this camera as the main sensor of the robotic platform. Furthermore, higher-level commands were provided to enhance the learning outcome for beginners. In addition, a PiBot 3D printable model and the counterpart for the Gazebo simulator were also developed and fully supported. They are publicly available so that students and schools without the physical robot or that cannot afford to obtain one, can nevertheless practice, learn and teach Robotics using these open platforms: DIY-PiBot and/or simulated-PiBot.
ISSN:2079-9292
2079-9292
DOI:10.3390/electronics7120430