1. AN INEXPENSIVE ROBOTIC KIT FOR CHILDREN EDUCATION
F. Przysiada, E. Alberti, R. Dubiela, A. Brawerman
Technology & Applied Science Group
Universidade Positivo

2. Introduction
Robotics has been helping education through various tools, robotic kits, simulators, and computer programs since the 1970s.
The purpose is to bring the user into an environment where he/she does not feel pressured to learn and can do it in a playful manner.
Learning takes place in a pervasive way, without the student noticing it, and the study turns into a pleasurable play.
Educational robotics must constantly challenge the student to think and organize his\her thoughts, denoting a more active way in the construction of knowledge.

3. Introduction
Most of these tools either takes the student to a virtual world or presents robotic modules that are only configurable and programmable, generating little interaction with the students.
Taking the fundamental concepts of educational robotics into account and aiming to build a low-cost solution that could be acquired by any educational institution, this paper proposes the development of an inexpensive robotic kit for the support of early childhood education.
The project is based on Papert ideas of constructionism, in which children can not only program an object but also build or construct the object itself.
Besides presenting the specification of hardware components and the IDE, the paper also presents examples of applications that can be assembled when using the kit, showing how interactive this kit may be.

4. Methodology
The platform is composed by a control module with a simple microcontroller and standard USB ports, sensors and actuators blocks, and a graphical IDE in which the user can drag-and- drop commands.

5. Methodology
The control module is responsible for managing the system as a whole, capturing inputs and generating outputs, displaying and controlling the actions of the kit, working as a means of connecting the physical world to the virtual world.
The various sensors and actuator blocks are physical parts used as an interface between the user and the system, allowing the user to work easily with the platform.
Finally, the IDE, which must be installed in a computer, has the function of a programming platform, in which the user chooses a chain of actions and checks so that the control module can execute them.

6. Methodology - Sensors and Actuators Blocks
The sensor blocks have in their physical structures USB connectors, so they can be coupled to one of the USB connections of the control module.
The kit has three different types of sensors, an ultrasonic sensor, for distance measurements; a resistive LDR sensor, for light measurements; and limit switches, for the purpose of pressing validation, working as a button.
With the information read by the sensors, it is possible for the control module to take actions in function of its acquisitions.
There actuator blocks, currently made up of DC motors and the 16x2 display, can be coupled to the control module from the standard connectors.

7. Methodology - The IDE The IDE is the programming environment.
It was developed in the C # language, being thus light and quite robust in its operation.
Commands can perform actions, verification, wait or repeat.
Action commands control an actuator, making the robot moving forward or turning on a light.
The verification commands verifies the current state of a sensor and makes a decision based on this information.
The wait commands cause the flow to stop for a certain amount of time.
The repeat command is used to make a set of any commands run again.

8. Methodology - The Control Module
The control module has the function of managing all the inputs and outputs of the system, in order to execute all the previously programmed actions.
It is a printed circuit board, containing a PIC microprocessor 16F4550, responsible for all the logical and physical functions of the systems.
In addition, the board contains the connectors and the 16x2 display, used to display information pre-programmed by the user. Its wrapping is made of white PVC, being a resistant low-cost material.

9. Tests and Validations
All tests were focused on evaluating the usability of the system and the correct functioning of the developed modules.
The usability tests occurred in two steps.
The first consisting of connecting the sensor and actuator blocks to the control module and validating their readings and actions. All blocks have been fully functional regardless of their position at the control module.
The second step consisted of software testing, enabling and interconnecting the commands and validating their limitation and operation controls.

10. The last test performed investigated the energy consumption.
Tests and Validations
In only one of two hundred attempts of communication, the entered commands of the IDE were not loaded in the control module
Another significant result for the prototype validation was the correct check on the communication between the software and the control module.
The results show that the complete prototype, with all parts being used 100% of time, has an efficiency of approximately two hours.
The last test performed investigated the energy consumption.

11. Examples of Applications
The "Robot Car” is intended to make the user create an autonomous system, able to move around in a closed environment, without causing collisions.
Besides distance sensors, DC motors and the control module are used in this construction.
The user can program the Robot Car to move around the way he/she needs.
Examples of Applications

12. Examples of Applications
The "Ferris Wheel" application aims to correct control and rotate the wheel according to a direction established when pressing the limit switches, in addition, to determine when it should start or stop rotation.
Besides using the limit switches, the control module, DC motor and plastic pieces were employed to assemble this application.
Examples of Applications

13. Examples of Applications
The "Elevator" application presents the concept of a common elevator moving floor by floor when pressing the limit switches.
For this application we used the limit switches, the control module, DC motor, and plastic pieces to assemble the elevator itself.
Examples of Applications

14. Conclusions
This paper presented the development of a robotic platform for the support of early childhood education.
The platform was designed to work in several forms of assembly, allowing greater interactivity of the students.
The main objective of the project was to build a low-cost solution that could be acquired by any educational institution and that could assist in early childhood education.
The project is based on Papert ideas of constructionism, in which children can not only program an object but also build or construct the object itself.
Since only simple hardware components and materials where employed the cost of this kit is very interesting, not going over 100 dollars, thus the great majority of schools would be able to afford it.

15. Conclusions
As future work, new sensors must be incorporated, thus bringing a greater possibility of adjustments and possibilities for the platform.
Creating a new base, with more material suitable for children's use, is also a good option.
Making a better design of the IDE, including tips on using each programming block and programming examples, and cover a larger set of platforms such as mobile phones and tablets, is also in our roadmap.
Finally, switching to a microcontroller platform, more robust, cheaper and with lower power consumption, is also a potential change.