EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF ROBOT CONTEST FOR STUDENTS IN DESIGN EDUCATION
Year: 2017
Editor: Berg, Arild; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon; Gulden, Tore; Kovacevic, Ahmed; Pavel, Nenad
Author: Mitani, Atsushi
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Sapporo City University, Japan
Section: New Design Education Paradigms
Page(s): 514-519
ISBN: 978-1-904670-84-1
Abstract
Robot contest gives a technical challenge opportunity to students studying robotics and mechatronics technology. In such contests, robot structure and function must be designed to complete specific tasks as quick and accurate as possible. Robot-Triathlon contest has been provided for university students in Hokkaido, Japan. The contest competes the time getting arrived at the goal, and presents four prizes, robot design, technical, idea, and poster, depending on the vote of audience and committee members. My laboratory has joined in the Robot-Triathlon contest as the only team from university of design education and participants are required to consider both robot function and aesthetic appeals. This means that robot contest participants are required to have skill and knowledge about functional design and programming for robot controller as well as appearance design for aesthetic appeal. Though our curriculum in my University provides lectures and practical training classes mainly targeted for design expressions and proposals, few robot programming and function design classes have been provided.To participate in such a robot contest as Robot-Triathlon is a valuable opportunity for students in product design education because they can learn how to make their robots work in real world. Several robot designs for the Robot-Triathlon contest were introduced. The design process was almost the same as general products. Function design and programming were supported by the author. Evaluating these robots from viewpoint of both aesthetic and functional, I discussed the educational effectiveness of robot contest for students in design education.
Keywords: Robot Contest, Robot Design, 3D-Cad, Rapid Prototyping