Abstract:

In recent years, the use of robotics in different areas of knowledge has increased, including Educational one. It is noteworthy that telepresence robots began to be used in schools, hospitals, events, and in other locations, being motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well.

The possibility of using robots, both in social inclusion, and aiding literacy children constitute the motivation for the present work. The proposal is aimed at creating mechanisms that can help in children's literacy in a creative, fun and motivating way, in order to promote interaction amongst children (given the socio- constructivism advocates interaction as a fundamental element in the construction process of knowledge), as well as valuing mutual help in a literacy environment.

Thus, bearing in mind that children in kindergarten in the literacy process perform activities in a circle, an interactive mat was developed which recommends the tripod of playing, learning and socializing. In this sense, each child receives an adjustable led bracelet RGB with Radio Frequency (RF) technology to be worn on one’s wrist and sit in a circle. In this is a robot also controlled by RF; this robot is a cart micro controlled, and with artificial intelligence that interacts with the student's wristband and enables direct communication to the teacher (both the mat, the robot and the bracelet were developed and thought about its easy acquisition of components and construction). From that, children must direct the bracelet to the carpet so that they start to glow in several colors and in sequence, stopping randomly to start the activity. The robot in the carpet walks towards the child and stops at the place where the teacher has placed an image, or a number, or a letter, or the object prepared for the class (where the proposed solution is configurable according to the pedagogical needs foreseen in the teaching plan). Then, the child must respond to the challenge, and, if he does not know the answer, he must raise his arm so that a new random choice is made and the next child selected can help in the response, establishing a socializing context, and survey of hypotheses for discussion among students who are participating in the activity in the circle.

It is also noteworthy that the idea of this project is to collaborate with school environments and teachers, for assembling this interactive mat and developing ludic activities without the knowledge of engineering, electronics and programming is required. So, the present proposal involved the establishment of a kit consisting of the assembly of the carpet, the assembling the glowing bracelets, assembling the robot, programming the robot and the bracelet and for technical recommendations. The rug measures 1.80mx1.20m, can be resized to 2.40mx1.80m, the cost for developing this project is around $ 300.00, a value generally affordable to most schools.

This project presents a viable solution for a low-cost carpet with artificial intelligence. The mechanical design is simple and adaptable, in this assembly the teacher could invite elementary and high school students to help make, improving the interaction between them, and using creativity to create fun ways of mat. With this, it is expected to contribute in an inclusive way and explore the potential of educational robotics, opening a range of possibilities for educators.

Keywords:

Pedagogical Robotics, Literacy, Technological Education.