Abstract:

Traditionally, in the subject of Computer Vision and Robotics, the software "Robot Operating System" (ROS) has been used as a tool for carrying out the practical exercises of the subject. Currently, ROS is the main tool for robot programming in the professional and academic field. However, the use of ROS for the practical exercises of the subject has generated a series of problems, which we will detail below, mainly related to semi-face-to-face and non-face-to-face teaching. These problems became evident when the subject was taught in the 19/20 academic year, during which the population was confined due to COVID-19 and the teaching was switched to the non-face-to-face mode.

In this paper we propose the use of Unibotics, an open source platform that provides a simple API for robotics programming and simplified configuration files for rapid deployment of the code and simulation environment. This tool even offers the option to deploy the execution in the cloud, making the installation requirements even less complicated. The exercise proposed on this platform consists of programming a robot that follows a line. This simple practice allows students to learn how to use the tool and to be able to make a comparison with the rest of the practices to be carried out using the traditional working method, based on pure ROS.

To evaluate the results and student satisfaction, we provide quantitative results of a test carried out at the end of the course with 46 students, and qualitative results in the form of text comments from the students explaining their feelings and problems with the use of the proposed tool.

The study carried out has confirmed that the use of this new tool has improved the teaching of this subject. Both quantitative and qualitative feedback from students has been very positive regarding the use of the new tool.

Keywords:

Robotics, ROS, online learning, simulation.