The past two months saw further investigation and first result of the graphical programming system for intuitively creating robot applications in mobile manipulation.  The necessary infrastructure for running the graphically created robot application has been further developed, together with the building blocks (like 3D perception, base and arm motion) used to graphically created robot applications. A first public beta release is planned in the coming weeks.

After evaluation more than 120 graphical programming tools, the EduFill team at BRSU selected the Web-based, open-source system "Blockly" as its main programming tool.  Using a web-based solution has the advantage of  inherently supporting e-learning, which in our case is considered a major advantage.

The team at UNIVR is focusing on adding complementary perception modes to the ones used at BRSU to its two youBots, using for example the OptiTrack system as external sensors providing ground truth, or an onboard stereo camera system. A longer term goal is to start addressing the problem of 3D mapping for mobile manipulation, to the extent possible within the EduFill scope.

Main focus of the last two months was at BRSU to evaluate the hands-on, task-driven teaching approach with respect to using frameworks like ROS.  We especially wanted to find out where the major problems are in using a framework like ROS to teach robotics and build a small robot application in-class.

At UNIVR, the past 8 weeks have been devoted to the refinements of the first curriculum developed for the EDUFILL projects, addressing the basic concepts of robotics and their implementation with the LEGO Mindstorm. Furthermore, the software set-up that will support the use and curriculum development of the youBot robot has been completed.

Current work runs in two tracks: BRSU is further investigating an IDE or software workbench for easy prototyping of robotic applications and for detailed study of the inner working of robot applications and their components.  Uni Verona is developing a basic educational curriculum to train people to use mobile manipulation devices. The curriculum is based on the LEGO Mindstorm system, for which a 3-dof manipulator has been developed and it has been mounted on a mobile platform.

The EduFill project aims at pushing the latest research results from robotics and mobile manipulation into the class room and further to industry. It started February 1^st and is currently investigation showcases that will be used to demonstrate many advanced concepts from robotics to the future students. Following the paradigm “learning by doing” the EduFill project is building a series of practical experiments that will let the student gradually move from basic skill to competences in advanced robotics, by working on experiments of increasing complexity, from LEGO devices to youBot robots.