Educational robot kit (ro-block)

• Main Author: Kwan, Wei Zhong
• Other Authors: Gwee Bah Hwee
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68198
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As an undergrad majoring in the field of engineering, I have come to learn that the best way to understand how something work is through the process of hands on and self-exploration. As a kid, I learnt how a torchlight works by dismantling it and study how each of the parts works together. These memories followed me throughout my years and serve as my motivation and inspirations for this project. A spike in the demand for programming for the youth increases the need for educational kits. These educational kits supposedly serve the purpose of aiding beginners to better blend into the technical aspect by eliminating circuitry and simplifying the programming structure. However, by doing so, these educational kits are limited to whatever hardware is provided. This will limit the possibilities of having additional features and self-exploration. Furthermore, by simplifying the programming structure, this means user will not be able to understand once the environment is changed. To eliminate the limitation of hardware, the hardware used have to be open sourced with strong support from third party companies. Hence, at the core of Ro-block is Arduino. Arduino has been a household name to tinker and alike for their support of open sourced and compatibility with multiple hardware. Arduino too provides a programming environment similar to many other programming structure. Ro-block provides a self-assembly platform which requires users to build everything from the ground up. As a result, Ro-block serves as a platform for beginners to propel their learning journey and for advanced users, it serves as a platform for future project and further exploration. Basic circuitry is taught through the process of connecting basic parts of Ro-block with jumper wires. While the programming environment ensure that users can easily translate to other type of programming due to the similarity of the structure. To conclude, we have here an educational kit that is flexible, simple and accessible. In addition, the core of Ro-block will only cost no more than 150 Singapore dollars and the entire unit will set you back to 230 Singapore dollars.