German Carro Fernandez*, Ramon Carrasco Borrego, Pedro Plaza Merino, Maria Angeles Cañas Lopez, Elio Sancristobal

Ruiz, Manuel Castro Gil, Francisco Mur Perez Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED) Madrid, Spain

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

• Introduction • Robotics and mechatronics, the key between theory and practice

• Student motivation and involvement in the learning

process

• The feedback loop, an essential tool

• From theory to practice

• Conclusions

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

-Actually robots are become a useful tools in several environments

-Automation needs robots, they are a new important tool in the industries and markets

- Importance of knowledge concerning robotics and mechatronics in engineering,

OR

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Objective: Reflects the importance that increase the use of robotic

laboratories, and training may have in: Interest of students Motivation on classroom Acquisition and updating of knowledge… …in automation and industrial subjects, to make students

want to know more about engineering

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

• Introduction • Robotics and mechatronics, the key between theory and practice

• Student motivation and involvement in the learning

process

• The feedback loop, an essential tool

• From theory to practice

• Conclusions

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

A. The mechatronics and robotics as global disciplines Mechatronics brings together disciplines such as

mechanics, electronics, industrial control and computation

Costs of moving students to the place of the course

Site handling risks Alternatives to expedite this process, reduce risks and costs and be more convenient for students.

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

B. The remote labs, an adaptable and flexible solution

From the client side IT technologies allow the user to login from mobile devices or from computers at home

Server side provides multiple accesses to the system that can be interactive or merely descriptive under the management of a tutor

Widespread use

Built with flexibility

Easy way of testing the theory in a practical use

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

• Introduction • Robotics and mechatronics, the key between theory and practice

• Student motivation and involvement in the learning

process

• The feedback loop, an essential tool

• From theory to practice

• Conclusions

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Robotics remote laboratories to increase the qualification of student/workers

Robotics remote laboratories to increase the success

of academic formation

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Characteristics that promote student motivation:

Curiosity

Access to technology

Science fiction Basic principles to maintain the interest and motivation

Possibility of interaction

Viewing or monitoring the effects of the interaction

Feedback against the theory studied

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

• Introduction • Robotics and mechatronics, the key between theory and practice

• Student motivation and involvement in the learning

process

• The feedback loop, an essential tool

• From theory to practice

• Conclusions

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Research and Development

The training complemented with the use of robotics remote

laboratories can be an ideal environment for feedback and opinions of the students/workers themselves on certain

robotic equipment that they will be using later on in their jobs.

Improving academic systems The feedback loop thus becomes a useful tool for industrial and academia environment, and robotics and mechatronics remote laboratories become useful to assess different areas of work.

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

• Introduction • Robotics and mechatronics, the key between theory and practice

• Student motivation and involvement in the learning

process

• The feedback loop, an essential tool

• From theory to practice

• Conclusions

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Industrial environment: In 2012 the team conducted a training course aimed at promoting the

integration of robots in a factory manufacturing solar panels

Academic environment UNED has implemented several options for remote laboratories to complete the

lectures of its students. Not only robotics and mechatronics laboratories, but also of FPGAs and microcontrollers laboratories.

Divulgation and disclosure environment

Since 2011 in Techno Museum project with the slogan "Technology at the service of the humanity ". In this project we are currently working on the implementation of remote laboratories using robotics accessible from the museums

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

• Introduction • Robotics and mechatronics, the key between theory and practice

• Student motivation and involvement in the learning

process

• The feedback loop, an essential tool

• From theory to practice

• Conclusions

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics can be a useful means to increase the motivation of students and workers in their training process.

The increased motivation promotes greater interactivity of students during their learning, generates greater integration with the educational

process and promotes a constant feedback that is valuable both in academia and in the business or industrial environment.

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Knowledge is alive and constantly evolving. Any tool, that encourages that, should be enhanced and used, and in the case of

remote robotics laboratories that is the goal, starting with the business and industrial environment, and finishing with academic

and the social one

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

Authors acknowledge the support provided by: Engineering Science School of UNED Computer Science School of UNED UNED University Karbo School, Zaragoza University and EduQTech. IEEE Student Branch of UNED IEEE Education Society IEEE Foundation Go-Lab Project

Authors are especially grateful to the Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department (DIEEC) of UNED for its support and advice in the preparation of this paper

German Carro Fernandez germancf@ieee.org

Mechatronics and robotics as motivational tools in remote laboratories

German Carro Fernandez*, Ramon Carrasco Borrego, Pedro Plaza Merino, Maria Angeles Cañas

Lopez, Elio Sancristobal Ruiz, Manuel Castro Gil, Francisco Mur Perez

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED)

Madrid, Spain