CEENBoT ™Educational Robotics Platform

Dr. Bing ChenComputer and Electronics Engineering

October 27th, 2008

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

Comparison of TekBot and CEENBoT

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

TekBot™ - Oregon State ECE CEENBoT ™ - UNL CEEN

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”

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)

CEENBoT Tumbles 30ft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQQ80pwJzc

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

4x4 CEENBoT

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

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

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