Figure 1.
Overview of Daran educational robotic platform: (a) Mecanum-wheeled robot, (b) two-wheeled robot, (c) 4-DoF robot arm, and (d) illustration of hardware components
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Examination of modelling in K-12 STEM teacher education: Connecting theory with practice
November
2021, 1(4): 299-308.
doi: 10.3934/steme.2021019
Daran robot, a reconfigurable, powerful, and affordable robotic platform for STEM education
| 1. | Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, London, UB8 3PN, United Kingdom |
| 2. | Daran Ltd., Tianjin, 300192, China; 1597255167@qq.com (R.L.); cszhangtju@163.com (C.Z.) |
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Robot and programming education, as a key part of STEM education, is attracting more and more attention in the education industry. In this paper, a novel open-sourced educational robotic platform, Daran robot, is proposed with key features in terms of reconfigurable, powerful, and affordable. As an entry-level robotic platform, the Daran robot consists of three individual robots, which are a Mecanum-wheeled robot, a three-wheeled robot, and a 4-DoF robot arm. Both graphical and Python programming environments are developed for students with different entry levels. Thanks to the reconfigurability, four classic constructions of the Daran robot are presented with corresponding case studies, based on which the students can practically learn basic knowledge of sensing and control technologies.
Citation:
Mingfeng Wang, Ruijun Liu, Chunsong Zhang, Zhao Tang. Daran robot, a reconfigurable, powerful, and affordable robotic platform for STEM education. STEM Education,
2021, 1
(4)
: 299-308.
doi: 10.3934/steme.2021019
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References:
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Xie, Y., Fang, M. and Shauman, K., STEM education. Annual review of sociology, 2015, 41: 331-357. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145659
doi: 10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145659. |
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Zhou C, Li Y., The focus and trend of STEM education research in China-visual analysis based on Citespace. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2021, 9(7): 168-80. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2021.97011
doi: 10.4236/jss.2021.97011. |
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Elkin M, Sullivan A, Bers MU. Programming with the KIBO robotics kit in preschool classrooms. Computers in the Schools, 2016, 33(3):169-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380569.2016.1216251
doi: 10.1080/07380569.2016.1216251. |
| [4] |
Mio: https://www.clementoni.com/en/61893-mio-the-robot/. Accessed 17 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [5] |
Cue: https://www.makewonder.com/. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [6] |
Fischertechnik: https://www.cedutech.com/. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [7] |
Peng, H. and Huang, Z.C., Design of a welding robot based on Fischertechnik combination model platform. Advanced Materials Research, 2013,619: 384-387. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.619.384
doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.619.384. |
| [8] |
Lego: https://www.lego.com/zh-cn/product/robot-inventor-51515. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [9] |
ROBOROBO: https://www.roborobo.cn/startpage#. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [10] | A Kurniawan, Arduino Nano A Hands-on Guide for Beginner, PE press, 2019. Google Scholar |
| [11] |
Shigemi, S., Goswami, A. and Vadakkepat, P., ASIMO and humanoid robot research at Honda. In: Goswami A., Vadakkepat P. (eds) Humanoid Robotics: A Reference. Springer, Dordrecht, 2018, 55-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6046-2_9 Google Scholar |
| [12] |
Matatalab: https://matatalab.com/zh-hans/product. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [13] |
Chen, J. Research on design and development of tangible programming curriculum in primary school based on computational thinking -take Matatalab tangible programming robots as an example (in Chinese), Master Thesis, Shanghai International Studies University, 2021. Google Scholar |
| [14] |
WeeeMake: https://www.weeemake.com.cn/weeebot-mini. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [15] |
DFRobot: http://www.dfrobot.cn/?tag=dfrobot. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [16] | A Kurniawan, Arduino Nano A Hands-on Guide for Beginner, PE press, 2019. Google Scholar |
| [17] |
Raspberry Pi Zero W: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/. Accessed 17 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [18] |
Sudhakara, P., Ganapathy, V., Priyadharshini, B. and Sundaran, K., Obstacle avoidance and navigation planning of a wheeled mobile robot using amended artificial potential field method. Procedia computer science, 2018,133: 998-1004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2018.07.076
doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2018.07.076. |
show all references
References:
| [1] |
Xie, Y., Fang, M. and Shauman, K., STEM education. Annual review of sociology, 2015, 41: 331-357. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145659
doi: 10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145659. |
| [2] |
Zhou C, Li Y., The focus and trend of STEM education research in China-visual analysis based on Citespace. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2021, 9(7): 168-80. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2021.97011
doi: 10.4236/jss.2021.97011. |
| [3] |
Elkin M, Sullivan A, Bers MU. Programming with the KIBO robotics kit in preschool classrooms. Computers in the Schools, 2016, 33(3):169-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380569.2016.1216251
doi: 10.1080/07380569.2016.1216251. |
| [4] |
Mio: https://www.clementoni.com/en/61893-mio-the-robot/. Accessed 17 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [5] |
Cue: https://www.makewonder.com/. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [6] |
Fischertechnik: https://www.cedutech.com/. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [7] |
Peng, H. and Huang, Z.C., Design of a welding robot based on Fischertechnik combination model platform. Advanced Materials Research, 2013,619: 384-387. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.619.384
doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.619.384. |
| [8] |
Lego: https://www.lego.com/zh-cn/product/robot-inventor-51515. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [9] |
ROBOROBO: https://www.roborobo.cn/startpage#. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [10] | A Kurniawan, Arduino Nano A Hands-on Guide for Beginner, PE press, 2019. Google Scholar |
| [11] |
Shigemi, S., Goswami, A. and Vadakkepat, P., ASIMO and humanoid robot research at Honda. In: Goswami A., Vadakkepat P. (eds) Humanoid Robotics: A Reference. Springer, Dordrecht, 2018, 55-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6046-2_9 Google Scholar |
| [12] |
Matatalab: https://matatalab.com/zh-hans/product. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [13] |
Chen, J. Research on design and development of tangible programming curriculum in primary school based on computational thinking -take Matatalab tangible programming robots as an example (in Chinese), Master Thesis, Shanghai International Studies University, 2021. Google Scholar |
| [14] |
WeeeMake: https://www.weeemake.com.cn/weeebot-mini. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [15] |
DFRobot: http://www.dfrobot.cn/?tag=dfrobot. Accessed 22 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [16] | A Kurniawan, Arduino Nano A Hands-on Guide for Beginner, PE press, 2019. Google Scholar |
| [17] |
Raspberry Pi Zero W: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/. Accessed 17 September 2021 Google Scholar |
| [18] |
Sudhakara, P., Ganapathy, V., Priyadharshini, B. and Sundaran, K., Obstacle avoidance and navigation planning of a wheeled mobile robot using amended artificial potential field method. Procedia computer science, 2018,133: 998-1004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2018.07.076
doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2018.07.076. |
Figure 2.
Detailed illustration of electrical components in Daran educational robotic platform: (a) servomotor, (b) master control board, and (c) sensors
Figure 3.
Illustration of the software interface of Daran robotic platform: (a) robotic platform window, (b) graphical programming environment, and (c) Python programming environment
Figure 4.
Case study Ⅰ: obstacle avoidance of three-wheeled robot based on ultrasonic sensing
Figure 5.
Case study Ⅱ: path following/tracking of a four-wheeled robot based on infrared sensing
Figure 6.
Case study Ⅲ: pick-and-place with a 4-DoF robot arm
Figure 7.
Case study Ⅳ: territory scramble of two reconstructed robots (a four-wheeled robot and a 4-DoF robot arm)
Table 1.
List of robotic platforms for STEM education
| Robotic Platform | Aiming Age | Country | Program Pattern | Assembly needed | Material | Open-sourced | Price (£) |
| KIBO [3] | 4-24 | USA | graphical/code | Y | plastic | N | 160-433 |
| Mio [4] | 8-12 | USA | graphical/code | N | plastic | N | 156 |
| Cue [5] | 5-12 | USA | graphical | Y | plastic | N | 110-147 |
| Fischertechnik [6,7] | 13+ | Germany | graphical | Y | plastic | N | - |
| Lego [8] | 3-16 | Denmark | graphical | Y | plastic/metal | N | 385 |
| ROBOROBO [9,10] | 8-13 | Korea | code | N | metal | N | - |
| Honda [11] | 18+ | Japan | graphical | N | plastic | N | - |
| Matatalab [12,13] | 4-9 | China | graphical | Y | metal | N | 110-258 |
| WeeeMake [14] | 5-12 | China | graphical | N | plastic | N | 114-148 |
| DFRobot [15,16] | 7-16 | China | graphical | Y | plastic | N | 29-74 |
| Robotic Platform | Aiming Age | Country | Program Pattern | Assembly needed | Material | Open-sourced | Price (£) |
| KIBO [3] | 4-24 | USA | graphical/code | Y | plastic | N | 160-433 |
| Mio [4] | 8-12 | USA | graphical/code | N | plastic | N | 156 |
| Cue [5] | 5-12 | USA | graphical | Y | plastic | N | 110-147 |
| Fischertechnik [6,7] | 13+ | Germany | graphical | Y | plastic | N | - |
| Lego [8] | 3-16 | Denmark | graphical | Y | plastic/metal | N | 385 |
| ROBOROBO [9,10] | 8-13 | Korea | code | N | metal | N | - |
| Honda [11] | 18+ | Japan | graphical | N | plastic | N | - |
| Matatalab [12,13] | 4-9 | China | graphical | Y | metal | N | 110-258 |
| WeeeMake [14] | 5-12 | China | graphical | N | plastic | N | 114-148 |
| DFRobot [15,16] | 7-16 | China | graphical | Y | plastic | N | 29-74 |
Table 2.
Specification of the Daran robotic platform
| Robot Name | Dimension (L*W*H, mm) | Weight (g) | Motors No. & torque (Nm) | Power supply (V) | Price (£) |
| Mecanum-wheeled robot | 212*164*88 | 942 | 4 / 1.5 | 7.4 | 57 |
| Three-wheeled robot | 110*123*90 | 545 | 2 / 1.5 | 7.4 | 25 |
| 4-DoF robot arm | 158*100*115 | 777 | 4 / 1.5 | 7.4 | 47 |
| Control package | / | - | 0 | 7.4 | 92 |
| Total | / | 2264 | 10 | 7.4 | 220 |
| Robot Name | Dimension (L*W*H, mm) | Weight (g) | Motors No. & torque (Nm) | Power supply (V) | Price (£) |
| Mecanum-wheeled robot | 212*164*88 | 942 | 4 / 1.5 | 7.4 | 57 |
| Three-wheeled robot | 110*123*90 | 545 | 2 / 1.5 | 7.4 | 25 |
| 4-DoF robot arm | 158*100*115 | 777 | 4 / 1.5 | 7.4 | 47 |
| Control package | / | - | 0 | 7.4 | 92 |
| Total | / | 2264 | 10 | 7.4 | 220 |
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