A new elective course in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences teaching students how to use computer hardware and software fundamentals by building robots culminated with the novel robotics olympics challenge.
The hallway in Fenton Hall near the Sprout Café was the location for the climax of CSIT 291 – Introduction to Robotics, a course that was developed by Computer and Information Sciences Lecturer Jim Pratt for the spring semester. The inaugural event tested how robots that were designed and built by students could successfully navigate an obstacle course using artificial intelligence to steer clear of barriers.
“Years ago I started looking at where education could be filling a need, and one of the things that I saw coming down the road was a lot of robots. Who is going to make those robots? Who will program and maintain them? Only 19 colleges in the country right now are offering any kind of degree in robotics, Fredonia could get out in front of the wave and set a standard.” Mr. Pratt explained.
Eighteen students in the course learned how to use a Raspberry Pi, a very small computer the size of a credit card, and Python, a high-level programming language, to build their robots. Pratt taught computer hardware circuitry basics as well as what actually constitutes a robot and what kinds of robots are in use today. Students learned about circuits, sensors and basic artificial intelligence and also examined societal and ethical issues of robotics.
Pratt proved to be quite adept in putting together the course – which he believes cannot be found at other schools in Western New York – without a significant investment by the college. In fact, the total administrative costs borne by Fredonia – for robot chassis and motors – amounted to less than $300. Raspberry Pi computers were purchased by the students and Python software is free.
What kinds of challenges did students have to meet?
“They had to learn to work with different operating systems; most were not familiar with a Linux-based system, and also to program with Python,” Pratt explained. Experience with wiring components was also limited, so that was another course benefit. Perhaps the biggest hurdle for students to clear was developing an algorithm that would allow the robot to drive through randomly placed boxes that prevent them from traveling in a straight line.
The olympics challenge was won by the team of Cody Beckwith and Michael Przybycien, whose robot was clocked at an impressive 1:42, Pratt noted.
No two robots, built by teams of two or three students, looked alike. The number of wheels ranged from two to four. One was made out of a cardboard box, another used parts from an old erectors set, and yet another was made using a 3-D printer.
“They had a lot of fun, and learned a lot of information and skills that matter,” Pratt said. In fact, students who were not seniors asked when a Robotics 2 course would be offered.
About half of students enrolled in the spring term course were majoring in Computer Information Systems, but other seemingly unrelated majors, such as Theatre Arts and History, were also represented. There were also a handful of Business students.
