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Robotics and
Artificial Inteligence is one area where there is no excuse for
learning to be dry or boring. The very popularity of the robot
as an every day icon alone helps in this but the variety of quality
educational robots and materials makes the job easier for both
teacher and pupil.
It may be
assumed by many that it is only the science and technology staff
who will be teaching robotics and control theory, but it is often
the non-technical primary teacher who is faced with the task of
introducing the younger pupils to the delights of the subject.
One of the
commonest uses for robotics and control is the general purpose
arm which comes in many flavours, the most common of which is
the revolute co-ordinate type. This arm is the closest of all
the types to the human arm in its geometry and is represented
here by three types
The
Edubot Arm Range -
EduBot
is a six-axis open kinematic robotic arm which connects to the
serial port of a PC and is supplied with Windows Control Software.
It is designed to teach robotic technology in the simplest and
most entertaining way.
EduBot can also be interfaced with other devices such as sensors,
switches, relays, LEDs etc. to control other devices.
The software and the electronics are suitable for radio-modem
communication, allowing EduBot to be used in wireless mobile robotics
applications.EduBot is supplied with Gripper Mechanism as standard,
and with an optional Suction Cup and Air Pump.
EduBot
250 - A new version with a higher payload and supplied assembled
in either black (B) or white (W) finish. The arm is made of acetyl
and anti-static PVC. All axes are driven by R/C Servomotors and
it is controlled by the R/C Servomotor Controller (optional) and
Control Software. Full command protocol is also supplied for the
controller to allow you to write your own control program or integrate
it with your system. The arm is surface mountable by six screws
on the waist flange
Elekit
Robot Arm - This 5d (Degrees of Freedom) rate arm
comes in kit form and is controlled from a 5-switched control
pad.
This arm provides 4 phases of experience
> 1) The instruction manual not only gives clear and
detailed construction directions but also provides the theoretical
background in levers, gears, the arms mechanisms and the electrical
drive system.
> 2) The construction Phase - The practicals of robotic
mechanisms, wire routing, conventions in fixings, motor/gearboxes,
clutch torque limitation, bipolar driving - are all covered.
> 3)
The manual operation phase - here the movement,speed and envelope
of access can be explored - how much can it lift and where - can
it rotate its wrist under load etc.etc.
> 4)
The optional PC interface and software - This allows programming
of the robots actions both using time on each function and the
input to the PC of 2 on/off sensors to detect the robots position.
this is simple feed back.
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