TekBots

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TekBots® is a Platform for Learning® that addresses the future needs of the information technology workforce. A partnership between Oregon State University and Tektronix developed the original concept of a Tekbot. At Oregon State, these Tekbots are a key part of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Electrical and Computer Engineers start off at the beginning in the freshman year, ECE students build on this platform as they progress through the curriculum so that subject areas become connected and students have a context for their learning similar to the way engineers practice their profession. Each student begins in the freshman year in an orientation class where ECE fundamentals are presented in lecture and then brought to life as students apply these fundamentals to construct their individual robot or TekBot. As students progress through their four-year program, they are exposed to more complex theoretical principles in ECE and add new capabilities to their TekBot that then connects the theory from one course to another and provides an opportunity to apply the theory into practice.

TekBots is an example of academic-industrial partnership at its best--theory and application coming together to create an imaginative, inspiring and innovative curriculum. A key part of developing this curriculum is also building on stakeholder-defined goals and outcomes. Surveying the industry, faculty, students, and alumni, we have defined the important outcomes. Three of these are also defined by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as necessary outcomes of all engineering programs: breadth, depth and professionalism. Additionally, our constituents have identified troubleshooting, community building, and innovation as skills that current and future engineers must demonstrate. The curriculum is designed to specifically enhance these outcomes.

To promote community-building, sophomores, juniors and seniors serve as mentors in the freshman laboratory. The upper class students develop mentoring and leadership skills while the freshmen feel much more comfortable interacting with these students, who are much closer to their experience level, over more senior graduate students.

A TekBot is a robot that provides a learning tool available to people of all ages to enjoy.

[edit] Oregon State Classes that include Tekbots

Orientation to Electrical Engineering I This is the first course many students take when they arrive at Oregon State University in the pre-electrical engineering program. This course covers the basics of engineering, electrical engineering, ethics, and the engineering method. The recitation portion of the course includes campus orientation components, community building exercises, and engineering design practice through the use of the tiny26 board and small design projects.

Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering II This course is designed to excite students about the field of electrical and computer engineering and exposes them to basic electrical and computer engineering concepts and problem solving. Topics include system design concepts, basic definitions of current and voltage, circuit elements and schematics, applying Kirchoff's voltage and current laws, analyzing basic circuits with SPICE, and analyzing basic transistor and diode circuits. This is the first course that begins the TekBots Platform for Learning series for ECE students. When completely constructed, the TekBot has the ability to avoid obstacles by sensing them with its two whiskers. Upon making contact with an obstacle, the TekBot will reverse, and then turn away from the object and proceed away from it using its simple analog brain.

The exercises in the lab lead students through not only electrical and computer engineering concepts, but they also teach them other skills as well. The TekBot kits include a protoboard that students can use to work on challenge problems. For example, on challenge problem is to design and build a photovore that will follow light. Using components in their kits, students prototype the photovore on their TekBot. By working with others on these problems, students learn to innovate, solve problems, and work effectively in a team.

Digital Logic In this course, students learn both combinational and simple sequential designs. In the lab, they remove the analog controller board from the TekBot platform and construct a digital controller board that contains a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). Each lab experiment involves designing logic networks with (free) PC software tools and then downloading the CPLD configuration file through a serial port to the TekBot CPLD board. Once downloaded, the students can see their design in action. Students make an important connection between basic analog electronics and digital electronics when they design a state machine within the CPLD to make the robot exhibit the same behavior as with the analog controller. Thus, the digitally controlled TekBot backs up, turns, and moves forward when it comes in contact with a wall.

The final project is to design a digital controller similar to the analog controller used in the first ECE class. This illustrates for the students—very early on—the difference between analog and digital systems. Students are encouraged to work together, with many labs requiring two different interacting systems, so communication and teamwork is vital. At the end of this course, students also have the opportunity to participate in the Engineering Expo's TekBot Triathlon. This high energy event allows students to interact with industry members as well as other students to show off their creations and improve their presentation skills. Go to the lab web site.

Introduction to Computer Organization & Assembly This is an exciting course that introduces students to the basics of computer architecture and basic computing paradigms. Using an Atmel ATMega128 microcontroller, students interface with their TekBots to see how their programs and concepts are put into action in a real device. This means students need to share information to ensure systems work together correctly. Students interact in small groups to perform various design tasks ranging from large number arithmetic on an 8-bit machine to remote controlled "robo-tag." Students also explore design tradeoffs not only in computer architecture but between previous course designs. For example, students construct a bump robot that functions in the same manner as the freshman orientation and digital logic courses. They must then compare and contrast the designs from the three different courses, taking into account factors such as human resources, costs, flexibility, usability, and time to market.

Signals and Systems II This course covers the use of LaPlace and Fouriers analysis in signals and systems. In this course an advanced camera board is added to the TekBot, allowing students to make vision and distance measurements. The data is processed in the MATLAB suite of tools and can be used to control the TekBot. Using the TekBot MATLAB interface, students can perform high computation tasks and relay the results to the TekBot itself. This allows the TekBot to understand its environment in a new and vibrant way. For example, the TekBot is able to count money, locate specific objects within an environment, and triangulate the position of sounds of interest.

Microprocessor System Design Students in the microcontroller/embedded systems course at OSU use the same sub-platform from the computer organization course and construct their own system to interface around it to perform a task. The most recent offering of the course had students build their own digitally tuned clock radio. The students build an FM receiver that can be digitally tuned and has digital volume control. In addition, students implement accurate timing that does not lose or gain time over a period of several days. Memory presets, snooze buttons, and fade in and out functions are some of the optional functions students add.