The PiTopping and Educational Robotics with

Embedded Computers

Arnan Sipitakiat1, Paulo Blikstein2

1Department of Computer Engineering,Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

2School of Education and (by courtesy) Computer ScienceStanford University, California, USA

• Demo Video of the Robotic Pet

Common Robot Programming Models:

The Autonomous Model

© LEGO

Common Robot Programming Models:

The Tethered Model

© Evolution Robotics

Common Robot Programming Models:

The Embedded Computer Model

The PiTopping

The PiTopping Block Diagram

Programming

from pitopping import *

if sensor(1) < 100: talkto(‘a’) onfor(1)

Opportunities – USB peripherals

Availability Most stores Robotics shopCost $18-25 $32-$50

Usability High-level Python

UART, I2C, SPI, etc

Opportunities - Screen via Remote Desktop + Smartphones, Tablets

Case Study: Robotics Competition Activity

Case Study: Energy conservation in a convenient store

Raspberry Pi +PiTopping

Relay Switches

Timer Control

3G Air Card

PowerSupply

Web CamInterface

Light Intensity

Selected Store LightOn/Off state

All on

All off

Conclusions

• Make use of new opportunities offered by single-board computers• Allows for projects that would previously be too difficult, expensive to

learners• Can benefit from the rich programming environments available on full

computers.