image - roboconstructor.ru
A well-known parable says that when a young mother with a child in her arms turned to the sage and asked at what age she should start raising her offspring, the elder replied that she was too late for as many years as the child already had. With the choice of a future vocation, the situation is quite similar. It is difficult to demand awareness of one's inclinations and interests from an infant, but already in high school all kinds of specializations begin, and by this time it would be nice to already know in which direction the grown child should move. But one thing we already know almost for sure - within the next decades, from 30 to 80% of professions will be fully automated.
Robotics, cybernetics, understanding of algorithms - the set of skills with which, most likely, such vague prospects will not threaten a person. Of course, most likely, in parallel with the replacement of the workforce with robots, the concept of an unconditional basic income will also develop, but you hardly want such a future for your child.
There are many ways to quickly show a young and interested audience the basics of programming and robotics. All of them are inexpensive, quite easy to learn, and in a few hours they give an understanding of the basics of algorithms and concepts of cybernetic devices. But in classrooms, it is easy to encounter the disadvantages of these platforms - limited durability (and to be honest - "idiot resistance" too) of breadboards, software interfaces that are not very friendly for children 11-12 years old, a relatively small element of the "game".
All these shortcomings have been fought for more than twenty years in the most famous manufacturer of educational sets, LEGO Education. We are talking, of course, about the MINDSTORMS Education EV3 platform. Starting from the Mindstorms RCX produced in the early 90s and ending with the most modern MINDSTORMS Education EV3 complex, the principle of forming a platform remains the same. It is based on an βintelligent brickβ, a microcomputer with a screen and input-output ports, to which all other components are connected. As in any robotic system, peripheral devices are divided into sensors and effectors. With the help of sensors, the robot perceives the world around it, and thanks to the effectors, it reacts to it in accordance with the programmed program. The platform components are connected together with simple cables without soldering, and the mechanical structures are limited only by the strength of the plastic parts and the imagination of the designers.
we considered the possibilities of such solutions in general, but now we want to dwell on LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 in more detail.
EV3
LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 is made compatible with Lego Technic parts. This means that the platform can be used to create a wide variety of even incredible designs, from simple cars and robotic arms to complex conveyors or even Rubik's Cube solvers. In fact, any Lego Technic set can become a source of parts for projects, and there will be no problem with replacing damaged spare parts. Yes, they do not look as brutal as the old Soviet aluminum designer, but in practice they turn out to be even stronger than metal products. At least in my collection, which started in 1993, not a single broken part has yet been discovered.
The MINDSTORMS Education EV3 Core Education Set includes 541 Lego Technic pieces. Can be purchased as a specialized resource set like (or the older 9648 from the NXT) or just a big constructor like (2800 parts) or (almost 4000 parts), and, having played enough with the main model, put it on the "bricks" for cybernetic experiments. In terms of one piece, Lego outperforms other sets here very much - only 3-5 rubles per piece.
Well, if someone has an old collection that includes tens of thousands of details, then you donβt have to worry about resources at all.
Screenshot from the Brickset service (an interactive database for owners of Lego constructors that allows you to collect various statistics) by the author
However, this only applies to "passive" elements such as beams, wheels or connecting pins. Sensors and effectors, of course, are much more expensive, but there are more than enough of them in the basic kit. Mindstorms EV3 comes with three motors (two larger and more powerful and one compact servo), a pair of touch sensors (a kind of "smart" buttons), ultrasonic, gyroscope and color sensors (it can also work in light sensor mode). Plus, compatibility with sensors from the previous generation of Lego Education robots, Mindstorms NXT, has been preserved (these include, for example, a noise level sensor).
But back to the "smart brick", the heart of the system. This is really quite a weighty and voluminous βbrickβ, equipped with a monochrome LCD screen 178x128 (it displays not only the menu, but also all kinds of custom pictures in the process) with a changeable backlight color. Using wires with a standard RJ-12 connector, sensors and effectors are connected to it (up to four devices of each type), there is a slot for microSDHC and a USB port.
The latter can be used both to download the actual programs and to update the firmware. However, the microcontroller is not deprived of wireless interfaces, if you wish, you can download programs via Wi-Fi (an external module is needed) or Bluetooth (built-in). Also, if we assemble a remote-controlled robot, it can be βsteeredβ using wireless communication from a smartphone or tablet.
Inside the "smart brick" lives a 300 MHz ARM processor, 16 megabytes of permanent memory (and that's why the card comes in handy) and 64 megabytes of RAM. No matter how modest these figures may seem, there is more than enough power to execute even the most branched algorithms that you or even a child can write in the learning process. And if you compare it with the 48-MHz processor of the previous generation NXT, which recently turned ten years old, then the progress is completely noticeable. However, it cannot be said that NXT slowed down noticeably in the process of solving typical tasks.
Plus, there's a fourth port for the motors, which in itself is a significant expansion of functionality that justifies the upgrade.
The USB port now supports host mode, which allows you to not only connect a Wi-Fi adapter, but also connect multiple EV3 Bricks into one complex robot. True, the level of tasks at the same time becomes completely βnot childishβ.
Finally, MINDSTORMS Education EV3 has got support for battery power. Instead of six AA batteries, you can install the included lithium-ion battery for two and a half ampere-hours. Of course, no one forbids the use of eneloop finger-type batteries, but the need to remove them for charging makes usability below average. And for the price, a couple of eneloop sets with a charger are quite comparable to a branded battery.
Oh yes, there is a big and loud speaker that can now not only squeak retro melodies from the 8-bit era, but also play more pleasant sounds.
Now let's look at the effectors from the base set. Two of them are powerful motors, similar to those already used in the NXT, oblong devices that develop serious torque thanks to an internal reduction gear.
In case of blocking the motor, a mechanical clutch is provided, which begins to slip if the friction is greater than the calculated one, so it is quite difficult to burn the motor.
There is a rotation angle sensor with a resolution of one degree (the motor tells the controller at what angle its axis is currently rotated) and the ability to accurately synchronize the rotation of all connected motors.
The third, so-called M-servo (medium-sized motor) produces three times less torque, but its rotational speed is almost twice as high.
When it comes to sensors, it's not really necessary to be limited to those offered by LEGO Education (although they are over the roof for any educational project), a number of third-party companies produce compatible and sometimes quite exotic sensors. Full firmware source code and hardware specifications .
Software
We talked a lot about the hardware base, but in fact, not only it determines the effectiveness of robotics classes. It is the presence of truly intuitive software on multiple platforms (Mac, PC, mobile devices) and makes LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 the learning platform of choice, and especially at the turn of elementary and high school, for children in their thirties.
App welcome screen on iPad
The visualization of algorithms in the native LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 software is simply at the highest level - it is enough just in a few minutes to learn the main types of interaction of logical blocks (transition conditions, loop, etc.) and then gradually increase the complexity of programs. Of course, there are also ready-made training projects for dozens of different robot models, and if you wish, you can find thousands of interesting programs in online communities.
Sample Program in iPad App
Advanced users can install LabVIEW or RobotC - the "brains" of LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 are fully compatible with these packages. Here, unfortunately, it will not work to export old projects for NXT without additional conversion.
From an educational point of view, much more interesting is . It allows you to keep electronic notebooks of students, thanks to which the teacher can evaluate the progress of a particular student and monitor his progress from his version of the application. Plus, you can use not only the training materials available on board the software (of which there are many), but also create your own using the built-in content editor.
EV3 Content Editor tutorial videos
And in the desktop version there is a data logging utility with the ability to program chart areas depending on threshold values. That is, now a teacher can easily demonstrate the work of modern technologies within a smart home, for example.
The EV3 microcomputer will collect data from sensors in real time and, depending on the temperature background, run one or another model program. At high temperatures, the fan turns on, at low temperatures, the heater. And students will be able to capture and analyze the data, finalizing the model.
Data logging
The openness of the βsmart brickβ firmware has already played its role: there are alternative options with support for most popular programming languages ββββ(dozens of them). By and large, the use of EV3 can be "fastened" to any educational project related to programming, since there is little that is more satisfying than the opportunity to see the work of your own algorithms "in hardware".
Many expect that the stumbling block in this story may be the price. Indeed, for the Basic set you will have to pay 29 rubles, plus another 900 to pay for charging. However, this amount includes parts and electronics for the comfortable work of two students, as well as a full-fledged basic software with 2 ready-made lessons (which since January 500 is completely free for both individuals and organizations). Of course, additional equipment and job sets can increase the cost, but within reason. So an 48-student kit that includes the LME EV2016 base and resource kits, chargers, software and , will cost 174. It is quite acceptable to equip, for example, a circle at school.
Yes, it is noticeably more expensive than simple Arduino-like platforms. But the opportunities, as well as the level of involvement, are much higher. An EV3-based curriculum can be easily planned for the entire high school and beyond. In addition, with adequate use, LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 will outlive several simple kits due to mechanical qualities, easy replaceability and availability of parts (in my practice, only one RJ-12 cable required replacement in a 10-year-old NXT).
As a result, we see an almost open source project supported by a giant company with all the bonuses required in such a situation - a long life cycle, the availability of spare parts and extensions, official and amateur guides, and a developed community. Mindstorms has become practically the standard for Western robotics education classes for children, and it would be really cool to see it widely used in Russia as well.
Path selection
And now to the main thing. Unlike WeDo 2.0 sets, EV3 is focused on high school, respectively, on older children, for whom the question of choosing a future profession is already more serious.
Using EV3, each of the students will be able to more actively reveal the abilities that were laid in him by nature, upbringing and the learning process.
A born mathematician will closely monitor the telemetry of the sensors, how exactly the distance traveled by the robot is recorded, how the angle by which it deviates is recorded, and so on.
The future IT specialist, of course, will plunge into the programming of the robot, analyzing the algorithms by which it moves. And he will certainly create his own, not provided for by the standard instruction.
A child who is keen on physics will be able to conduct visual experiments with the help of a robot, since the sets have no problems with sensors, just like a child with imagination.
In general, whatever your child's interests and favorite subjects at school, learning with MINDSTORMS EV3 kits will allow them to be more clearly identified and focused on their development in the future.
In life
At the moment, the company's solutions are already being used by students to create interesting projects, both within the framework of various competitions, and for general development. A number of them were covered in the media this year.
Astrakhan schoolchildren Ruslan Kazimov and Mikhail Gladyshev have developed a robot simulator for the rehabilitation of hand joints on the basis of a regional technopark.
photo - rg.ru
Eighth graders spent a little less than two months developing the simulator. They presented their project at the regional stage of the IX All-Russian competition of scientific and innovative projects in the Southern Federal District, where they took second place. In the future, they plan to create an industrial prototype - so far, the developers offer only a prototype made from the educational robotics kit LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3.
The device duplicates the movements performed by the doctor - the joints begin to work, thereby restoring the mobility of not only them, but also muscle groups. While devices are connected via Bluetooth, in the future they will interact using the Internet or Wi-Fi.
There are analogues of such a device on the market, however, the Astrakhan device can work simultaneously with the shoulder, wrist and elbow joints. In addition, it is portable and battery operated. There is also the possibility of remote control, that is, the patient can train without leaving home.
At the World Robotics Olympiad 2015 (WRO 2015), the Russian team DRL from St. Petersburg was awarded a special prize for creativity from LEGO Education (LEGO EDUCATION CREATIVITY AWARD).
The Russian DRL team presented the CaveBot project. The guys from St. Petersburg, under the guidance of trainer Sergey Filippov, created a unique research robot to discover unexplored areas in caves. The development affects various scientific fields, as a unique robot makes it possible to perform tasks of various complexity.
The team built a climbing robot equipped with a variety of sensors to detect objects in order to explore them. The resulting data can be turned into 3D models on a computer.
And 13-year-old Shubham Banerjee created Braille from LEGO pieces as part of a school science project. Later, with the participation of his family, a start-up was created to launch the invention, which received financial support from the technical corporation Intel.
(Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP)
The idea to create a printer came to Shubham after researching Braille on the Internet. After realizing that touch printers cost $2,000 and up, the student decided to make a cheaper version.
Soon after the invention, blind children and their parents began to contact Shubham with a single request - to make an inexpensive braille printer, promising to "buy it straight off the shelf."
As you can see, the use of MINDSTORMS Education EV3 in the learning process allows students to turn on their imagination to the maximum, creating more and more new mechanisms that not only help to realize ideas or visually conduct any experiments, but also begin to decide on their future profession.
If you have questions about the use of these solutions in the educational process (or about the products themselves), write them in the comments.
Source: habr.com