Scientific Robot Construction for Pupils and Teachers

Crazy Robots is a science communication project of the ACIN Institute of the University of Technology Vienna. It aims to teach school students robotics from the product development perspective and addresses all students (not only the ones interested in Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics STEM). The concept is based on the 5-step plan and the project assignment with Mattie robot. Both were developed by TU Wien for children, following two main goals: The project introduces students, teachers (and interested parents) to robotics by offering different perspectives, e.g. not only the technical, but also social and economical perspectives. Furthermore, students are encouraged to find ways to apply their interests and talents in robotics fields. Along the way, the project evaluates the effectiveness of the concept and, if given, the applicability of the ideas to real products or services in robotic fields. Five high schools from Vienna took part in the project with either second or third classes (handiwork or physics). Each class learned about the product development process of robots in three workshops during one semester. Each of these workshops symbolized an incisive phase of product development. In the first workshop concept each student developed a first robot idea and built a clay model. For the second workshop experts, the class visited the Vision for Robotics Lab and met robotics experts who talked about their work computer vision during a demo. After this, the students received a project assignment from the CEO of the Crazy Robots Inc. to build a first prototype of a robot for kids. Each student could decide to be in one of the following teams: engineering, human-robot interaction, research&development, design or sales&marketing. In the third workshop evaluation, the different teams reunited and integrated the robot parts to a whole. Then, the prototype was evaluated from two perspectives: technical and user. Finally, the product idea was presented to the CEO and the prototype was demonstrated.