probabilistic robotics

Abstract

Field Robot Event is an annual competition for small field robots intended for student teams. Field Robot project has been seen as a motivating challenge for project-based learning as it results to a working prototype. In Finland the team has been a joint team with students from different institutions and interdisciplinary educational goals have been set: (1) to let students apply theoretical knowledge in practice; (2) to teach team working skills; and (3) to get acquainted with robot design. This requires well planned student guiding and teaching. Dividing the team in separate groups makes schedule keeping hard, decreases working motivation and hinders learning from each other. A better division has been found to spend the autumn term for catching up knowledge gaps in separate groups and then integrating the team in the spring term. Dividing education in consequent work tasks enables schedule follow-up and learning evaluation. Too much freedom leads to less learning and a decreased work motivation. Detailed robot specifications have enabled the students to focus on the essential work. This, in addition to considering the teachers as clients ordering a working end product, but on the other hand as hands-on teachers in individual problems, was proven successful as the team won the FRE 2008 competition.