Advocating Science and Technology through Robotics Technology

Dr. Ruvel Jongko Cuasito, Sr., PECE

Head, Center for Research in Technology

Background & Rationale

Weakening S & T Interest a predicament indicated enrolment depletion inadequate advocacy has economic implications due to: Quality of input to HEI Human resources production lags Academe-industry imbalance (supply & demand imbalance) Job-skills mismatch

Market Driven Economy

S&T Key to Mechatronics and Ubiquitous Technology

 Priority Focus - to increase productivity, improving quality, establish redundancy, and flexibility Birth of microprocessors & micro-controllers Intelligence to mechanical and electrical integration via computer programming Execution of intelligent control algorithms Upgrading of production processing

Academic Initiatives: Trifocalization of Educational System - DepEd, CHED, TESDA HEI Standardization CHED (RA 7722)
academic enterprise of quality, excellence, and relevance

Accreditation CMO 31 s. 1995

voluntary accreditation in aid to quality and excellence

 K-12 embedding of technology-based courses Curriculum Review and Upgrading (Demand Driven Curricula)

Academic Initiatives under scrutiny

irrelevant (academic perception differs from the industry) failure to supply the right skills (demands competency-based education)

 Studies reveal some causes of IndustryAcademe imbalance.

1. Curricular relevance 2. Facility adequacy 3. Faculty competency 4.Diminishing interest in science & technology 5.Career orientation diversion 6.Career advocacy deficiency

Worthy Motivation for: Academic Streamlining and Career Reorientation

Curriculum Review & Upgrading Enhance S & T Advocacy at the primary and secondary education

Confronting issues: ACADEMIC CONCERNS Labor market demands Job-skills mismatch phenomenon Academic responsibility and challenges Budget constraints, capital expenditures, instruction incapability, lack of technical expertise

Objectives:
The study sought to develop and implement low-cost Mobile Robotic pedagogic tools for S & T Advocacy.

The specific objectives are:

Design, develop and implement educational and entertainment mobile robots based on Arduino Microcontroller Platform as test bed for programming and control.

Methodology: 1. Design and development of educational and/or entertainment robots based on Arduino Micro-controller Platform.

2. Implementation and evaluation of mobile robot system performance according to established parameters.

Parameter Requirements:
Power Supply Battery operated Type of Controller Arduino Platform Type of Motor: DC or Servo Programming Language C Mode of Operation 1. Line Following 2. Obstacle Avoidance 3. Object Following distance sensitive Evaluation Reference system truth table

Results & Findings:

1. Experimental Modeling of an Arduino-Based Autonomous Mobile Robot Programmable in CLanguage
The study features a locally assembled educational mobile robot that utilized DC Motors as prime movers which draw electronic signals from the light dependent resistors and light emitting diodes in light and line tracking modes. A servo motor is also mounted to drive the infrared sensor during obstacle avoidance mode.

1. Experimental Modeling of an Arduino-Based Autonomous Mobile Robot Programmable in CLanguage

Capabilities: Obstacle avoidance Line Tracking Light Following

2. Object Following Robot:

The mobile robot utilizes two servo motors as prime movers that draw corresponding electronic signals from four ultra sonic sensors to detect objects. With appropriate C-language programming, the ultra sonic sensors were programmed in such a way that when the object is far in accordance to the desired detection range, rolls the robot forward however, when it detects the object near in accordance to the programmed detection range, the robot rolls backwards.

2. Object following Robot

3. Obstacle Avoidance & Stair Climbing Robot:

The stair climbing robot utilizes four servo motors as prime movers that draw corresponding electronic signals from two (2) ultra sonic sensors to detect objects. With appropriate C-language programming, the ultra sonic sensors were programmed in such a way that when the object is far in accordance to the desired detection range, rolls the robot forward however, when it detects the object near in accordance to the programmed detection range, the robot rolls backwards. This robot can also be navigated as a surveillance robot.

3. Stair Climbing Robot

4. Holonomic Mobile Robot:

This study describes an autonomous and manually operated holonomic mobile robot that is equipped with different kinds of sensors and components. It also emphasizes the function of vex omni-wheel for multi directional mobility of robot, the test of Passive Infrared Ray sensor for human detection, and the enhancement in programming skills in C and Java Language. Three mini Atmega 328 microcontrollers were used for more input and output ports.

4. Holonomic Mobile Robot

5. Self-Balancing Mobile Robot:

In this project accelerometer and gyroscope provide the feedbacks of close-loop system. Two-wheeled stand-up selfbalancing robot has some keys parameters that are directly engaged with systems performance and response. Parametric studies were done and system responses were observed by variation of key parameters. Observed results from parametric studies were applied into physical model to improve the robot performance. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller was designed to generate the required input for motor controllers to control the rotation of wheels based on the output.

5. Self-Balancing Mobile Robot

6. The Hexapod Robot:

The prototype utilizes two mini-Gizduino microcontroller and TLC5940NT as it controls 19 servo motors programmable in C-language where it can either be autonomous or manually controlled. Bluetooth device where added to offer ease in data transmission for the user.

6. The Hexapod Robot

7. The Rover Robot: The robot is consist of six wheels that

are individually controlled by a servo motor for steering enabling the robot to turn in place. The rover uses the rocker bogie design with each rockers connected to a differential mechanism located inside the body. The differential mechanism is consist of three bevel gears meshed together to produce a counter rotating motion of the shafts. This maintains the traction force between the wheels and the ground hence enables the rover to climb on obstacles up to 1.5 times its wheel diameter. Obstacle detection was enabled by using an infrared proximity-collision sensor that detects object up to 25cm in range. The sensor is mounted on a servo in order to find a path whenever an obstacle is detected. The robot uses the Gizduino X microcontroller to control multiple subsystems of the design.

7. The Rover Robot

Conclusions:
The educational and entertainment robots supplements academic instruction delivery in computer interfacing and programming. The pedagogic tool addresses the skill set requirements in the areas of interfacing and programming The outcome of the robotic projects receive affirmation from students and enthusiasts relative to its potential impact towards S & T advocacy.

Recommendations:
The mobile robots should be presented and demonstrated during academic advocacy. Science Teachers and students in the secondary schools in region X should be invited in a collaborative training featuring fundamentals in robotics. Instructional and training manuals should be developed to sustain robotic training and development.