SqueakBot
- 1. 1 SqueakBot: a pedagogical platform for educational robotics Julien Bourdon - Planète Sciences Séverin Lemaignan - Planète Sciences Serge Stinckwich - University of Caen, GREYC
- 2. 2 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 3. 3 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 4. 4 Planète Sciences • Since 1962, proposes scientific and technical activities to young people. • Several sectors including a sector dedicated to robotics and IT. • Each year, 50000 children discover scientific and technical culture by practice while having fun thanks to 1000 organizers and trainers.
- 5. 5 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 6. 6 What is a robot?
- 7. 7 Specificities for children (1) • Fast learning curve. – No complicated language to learn. • Must use their native language. – Interface in French. • Must have FUN while making robots.
- 8. 8 Specificities for children (2) • Usually do not have a technical background. • Problem: building robots involve a lot of tedious electronics and programming added to sometimes not straightforward mechanics. • Short period of time (2 weeks summer camp with 4 hours of science a day).
- 9. 9 Pedagogical robotics • Build ready-to-use electronic modules which can be programmed easily. • BUT must not restrain the creativity of children. Let the children experiment. We do not make them assemble kits. • Several modules which could be interfaced with LOGO have been developed.
- 10. 10 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 11. 11 SqueakBot • Drawbacks of LOGO: – Our version works only on Windows. – Necessity to learn a syntax. – OO approaches more natural to modelise robots. • Open source Squeak/EToys approach developed in partnership with the University of Caen for several years.
- 12. 12 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 13. 13 SMEC • Super Module électronique de commande. • Controls 1 or 2 DC motors + 5 binary inputs. • Can be i n t e r c o n n e c t e d thanks to an I2C bus.
- 14. 14 ASPIC • Analogical & Servomotors by PIC. • 4 analogical inputs. • 4 servomotors. • Connection via USB port. • Can be connected to I2C bus. • Card program can be modified. • Remote control for debug.
- 15. 15 ASPIC
- 16. 16 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 17. 17 EToys
- 18. 18 EToys • Programming by dragging & dropping tiles into scripts. • Very intuitive. Accessible to children with no prior knowledge of programmation. • Possibility to switch to Smalltalk syntax.
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- 20. 20 Implementation • Plugin written in C using FFI. • Classes handling the I2C protocol. • Classes representing the real devices.
- 21. 21 Outline • Planète Sciences • Pedagogy • SqueakBot – Electronic interfaces – Software • Application examples
- 22. 22 Mars rover
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- 24. 24 Walker
- 25. 25 Caterpillar
- 26. 26 Video
- 29. 29 Conclusion • Allows children with no technical knowledge to develop robots. • Fast results keep the motivation high. • Tested in a summer camp. • Part of a larger project called “Boîte à Bots” containing everything needed to build robots with children.
- 30. 30 Perspectives • Make it work with Linux and Mac (problems with USB port handling). • Test with a wider audience (e.g. at school)
- 31. 31 Why so much energy spent in such a project?
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- 33. 33 Links • http://www.planete-sciences.org: the association website. (French) • http://www.squeaksource.com/SqueakB ot.html: project source code. • http://www.planete- sciences.org/robot/boiteabots/: the bot box website. (French)
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