Public Summary Month 3/2013

The major focus of EduFill in the past two months was on (1) updating the EduFill software toolbox based on feedback from an initial user trial and (2) extending the components in the EduFill software toolbox in preparation for a second, more thorough user trial starting March 26. On the technical side, the organization of build block in categories by complexity has been replaced by categories by application domain, as suggested by the first user trial. The focus on component development shifted from basic navigation and manipulation to perception. With the completion of a cube detections and laser scanner component, a user can already performed exploration and fetch-and-carry showcases. In addition to the extension of EduFill software toolbox, we have started the development of EduFill teaching curricula. The teaching curricula will be developed with the following consideration: 1. Hands on approach. The learning process will be coupled tightly with experimentation and implementation on actual system. 2. Modular teaching material. To accommodate different type of learner of the robotic course, the teaching curricula is designed to be modular and on session basis. 3. Narrative flow through out the whole course. Collectively, the sessions will be presented as a one continuous story beginning from a mobile manipulator in an unknown environment and end with a fully functional autonomous agent. Within the next weeks, we plan to incorporate both the software toolbox and teaching curricula in a 14 weeks project based course.

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