A practical mobile robotics engineering course using LEGO mindstorms

Abstract

Mobile robotics and autonomous systems are subjects of increasing interest in the curricula of engineering studies, being application domains of growing importance in leading research and industry trends. In order to fulfill this demand, we have designed a robotics course for students from different engineering degrees and backgrounds. The course includes basic ideas from main topics in mobile robotics, with an important practical component. During the course, each student team is provided with a LEGO Mindstorms kit to freely build a robot and develop several modules demonstrating the specific competences being taught. Complete integration of all modules is the last step towards participation in a final obstacle-race competition, which has been shown to be a very successful and motivating activity for the students. This paper summarizes the course content, goals and methodology and details the results obtained in the student contest performed in the recent years. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.