Corobots for use across the CS Curriculum

In particular, we are currently in the process of developing a team of corobots that can be used by students in several different classes in Computer Science here at RIT. The overall project consists of three major components:

• The corobots themselves: a system of hardware and software that represents a self-navigating robot that can interact with people both locally (through a mounted netbook or tablet) and remotely over the Web.

• A distributed software architecture: for use by students, this system will present a way for students to upload real code (written in Python or Java) and have it run on the actual robots or a simple simulation. This will not only allow students to see their code executing on a real system, but also allow them to run programs that are distributed across several robots and monitor their progress in a centralized way.

• A set of educational modules (assignments) for different courses: To investigate our system's value as an educational tool, we will be using them in introductory courses all the way through upper-level electives. We will try to understand how this type of assignment can better help students learn the material without being burdened by simultaneously having to learn about robotics. (Though they are welcome to do that as well!) We also hope that students will be inspired to use this system in independent studies and graduate projects, developing new and exciting applications for corobots!

• Faculty: Zack Butler (PI), Minseok Kwon (co-PI), Rajendra Raj (co-PI)
• Students: Max Bogue (MS, Robotics lead), Balaji Iyer (MS, Distributed System), Ravdeep Johar (MS, Vision for localization), Karl Berger (BS, Robotics SW/HW), Doug Krofchek (MS, Courseware)