CEENBoT ™ Educational Robotics Platform

1. CEENBoT ™Educational Robotics Platform Dr. Bing Chen Computer and Electronics Engineering October 27th, 2008

2. Goals of CEENBoT for ECE-type programs • Attract high school students in choosing to enter ECE as their field of university study • Encourage ECE students to buy into their programs with an educational robot that is utilized in multiple courses • Stimulate faculty in “freshening” ECE courses • CEENBoT can serve as a portfolio of for ECE students and for out of class “fun” activities

3. Comparison of TekBot and CEENBoT TekBot™ - Oregon State ECE CEENBoT ™ - UNL CEEN

4. TekBot™ - Oregon State ECE CEENBoT ™ - UNL CEEN • 5” by 7” footprint • DC motors with plastic gear train and foam wheels • Compact design • Prototype board for use by college students at both Oregon State University and University of Nebraska (to 2007) • 6” by 8” footprint • High-quality stepper motors for precision control • Full suspension for traversing uneven terrain • Larger capacity, quick-change power supply • Interchangeable rubber drive tires • Large prototype board for projects and more reliable connectors • Serial-to-peripheral interface (SPI) to allow communication between multiple multiprocessors • Amenable to K-16 educational space to meet needs at multiple levels

5. CEEN experiences to date • CEEN faculty have bought into the educational robotics concept in a NSF CCLI phase 1 grant with the TekBot • CEEN students: • are provided a robot in their very first freshman course (learning to solder, gaining familiarity with circuit elements and reading circuit diagrams) • can do individual study courses to extend their robot’s capabilities beyond their prescribed labs (e.g. robot arm, video camera) • have contributed to lab development along with their instructors • have designed the “CEENBoT” with a quantum leap in added features “testosterone satisfaction”

6. CEENBoT Features • Robust and scalable mobile robotic platform for ECE programs to take it in any direction desired • Base unit CEENBoT can be viewed as a stable power supply on wheels which can utilize RC hobbyist parts • Open source architecture makes for a flexible platform • Optional GPI board provides for multiple languages for control and multiple audiences (K-12, 4-H, after school)

7. CEENBoT Tumbles 30ft. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQQ80pwJzc

8. CEENBoT features: now and upcoming • All CEENBoTs now have UPC barcodes and serial numbers for tracking • Tested: video camera with wireless transmission to a laptop, robotic arm, four-wheel drive version, ZigBee controller • Under development: GPS module, Wi-Fi controller (802.11b), interface ports for multiple sensors • In addition to base kits with through hole circuit boards a surface mount version is under development

9. 4x4 CEENBoT

10. CEENBoT: Plans for the near future • Manufacturing costs are dropping • $275 for summer 2008 NSF workshops for teachers • $175 for fall CEEN freshman students • will approach $100 (parts and labor) for the next order of 1K CEENBoTs for spring 2009 • GPI board will be ready by summer 2009 • CEENBoT, Inc. will be formed by summer 2009 to manufacture and distribute CEENBoTs

11. Next NSF proposal: CCLI phase 2 Due: January 12th, 2009 • Collaborative proposal with selected ECE departments as partners • Observe and measure the effectiveness of the CEENBoT at other ECE locations • Assessment tools (already developed under CCLI phase 1) will be applied to students and faculty at partnering schools • CEENBoT jamboree for partnering schools held annually for most innovative application, best lesson modules for a course, challenge problem

12. Are you interested?CEEN would love to have you with us! • If you have an interest please let Bing Chen know as there are only a little more than 2 months to prepare the proposal • Forward a copy of your NSF-ready CV. If you are a Co-PI we will need a list of your current and pending grants through NSF • A letter of support stating your commitment to work with us