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CEC Semester Twenty 2021

Prototyping Mobile Robot Concepts

Dr. Don Wilcher -
Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alabama - Birmingham
August 23,
2021
Mobile Robots: An Overview
CEC participants will be introduced to mobile robots. Participants will gain a historical perspective of mobile robots and an overview of the Osoyoo mobile robot kit. A discussion on the main sections of a mobile robot will be presented. A hands-on lab will consist of reviewing the Osoyoo mobile robot kit and performing basic arithmetic tasks with a compatible Arduino development board.
Course Resources
Special Educational Materials
Top 10 DIY Robot Designs - Blog
Cherokey 4WD Robotic Platform - Video
Roboticsthe Next Generation - Article
Why and How to Use a Component-Based Distributed Power Architecture for Robotics - Article
4-Soldering Light Chaser Robot Kit - Video
Let's Make a Robot: MOVE: with the Microbit - Blog
August 24,
2021
Mobile Robot Body Platform
Various construction platform methods of building a mobile robot body will be discussed on Day 2. Participants will be instructed on building their Osoyoo mobile robot. Appropriate electrical wiring and circuit schematic diagrams for attaching the motor drive to the compatible Arduino development board will be provided. In additiontest code for operating the robot's motor drives will be presented.
Course Resources
Special Educational Materials
Top 10 DIY Robot Designs - Blog
Cherokey 4WD Robotic Platform - Video
Roboticsthe Next Generation - Article
Why and How to Use a Component-Based Distributed Power Architecture for Robotics - Article
4-Soldering Light Chaser Robot Kit - Video
Let's Make a Robot: MOVE: with the Microbit - Blog
August 25,
2021
Mobile Robots and Infrared (IR) Control
Participants will learn to operate their mobile robot with IR remote controlthe basics of IR detectionand the associated electronics technology. Participants will assemble the IR receiver to test their Osoyoo mobile robot. Test code for operating the mobile robot with IR remote control will be provided.
Course Resources
Special Educational Materials
Top 10 DIY Robot Designs - Blog
Cherokey 4WD Robotic Platform - Video
Roboticsthe Next Generation - Article
Why and How to Use a Component-Based Distributed Power Architecture for Robotics - Article
4-Soldering Light Chaser Robot Kit - Video
Let's Make a Robot: MOVE: with the Microbit - Blog
August 26,
2021
Mobile Robots and Ultrasonics
Participants of Day 4 will learn about robots and ultrasonic sensors from the basics through experimentation with a TinkerCAD circuits model. Participants will assemble and test their mobile robot with the assembled ultrasonic sensor.
Course Resources
Special Educational Materials
Top 10 DIY Robot Designs - Blog
Cherokey 4WD Robotic Platform - Video
Roboticsthe Next Generation - Article
Why and How to Use a Component-Based Distributed Power Architecture for Robotics - Article
4-Soldering Light Chaser Robot Kit - Video
Let's Make a Robot: MOVE: with the Microbit - Blog
August 27,
2021
Simulator Driving and Mobile Robots
Participants will learn to operate their Osoyoo mobile robot with a mobile simulator driving app. They will assemble a Bluetooth module to the compatible Arduino development board and will learn Bluetooth basics while testing their simulator driving mobile app on their mobile robot. Participants will receive the Arduino Bluetooth code for the final lab session.
Course Resources
Special Educational Materials
Top 10 DIY Robot Designs - Blog
Cherokey 4WD Robotic Platform - Video
Roboticsthe Next Generation - Article
Why and How to Use a Component-Based Distributed Power Architecture for Robotics - Article
4-Soldering Light Chaser Robot Kit - Video
Let's Make a Robot: MOVE: with the Microbit - Blog
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Instructor
Dr. Don Wilcher
Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alabama - Birmingham

Dr. Don Wilcher, an Electrical Engineer, is an Associate Certified Electronics Technician (CETa), a Technical Education Researcher, Instructor, Maker, Emerging Technology Lecturer, Electronics Project writer, and Book Author. His Learn Electronics with Arduino book, published by Apress, has been cited 80 times in academic journals and referenced on patents.

He is the Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alabama - Birmingham. His research interest is Embedded Controls, Robotics Education, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence applications and their impact on Personalized Learning, Competency-Based Models curriculum, and instructional development in Mechatronics, Automation, IoT, Electronics, Robotics, and Industrial Maintenance Technologies. He is also the Founder and owner of MaDon Research LLC, an instructional technology consulting, technical training, and electronics project writing company serving Electronics Marketing Media, Technical and Engineering Education companies.