MATLAB Tool Allowing Wireless Control of Arduino Robot for Early Introduction of Robotics into Curriculum

Connor Daniel Olsen; Amy Verkler; Jacob A. George; Daniel S. Drew

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: Integrating Hands-On Technology and Project-Based Learning in Engineering Education
Tagged Division: Electrical and Computer Engineering Division (ECE)
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/47765

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Paper Authors

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Connor Daniel Olsen University of Utah orcid.org/0000-0003-0498-2980

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Connor Olsen is Ph.D. Student and NSF Fellow at the Univeristy of Utah working in the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab. His work centers around the creation of a wrist-worn smart device that uses electromyography and other sensors to detect hand gestures to control a smart home environment, which can be used by paralyzed individuals to increase autonomy in their own living space and encourage rehabilitation

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Amy Verkler University of Utah

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Amy Verkler is an assistant professor (lecturer) in the electrical and computer engineering department at the University of Utah. She completed a PhD focused on engineering education at Stanford University in 2021.

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Jacob A. George University of Utah

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Daniel S. Drew University of Utah

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Abstract

In electrical engineering programs, MATLAB scripting is often one of the first coding experiences a student is exposed to. Most introductory robotics courses that combine hardware and software require students to understand C (typically learned during junior year) or require part of the course to teach coding syntax. We have developed an interface to allow students to remotely control a wireless microcontroller (e.g., Arduino MKR 1010) using MATLAB scripts. This interface comprises two halves: 1) a MATLAB class that abstracts UDP commands transmitted over Wi-Fi and 2) a custom C library for receiving, parsing, and responding to commands over UDP, as well as streaming data back to the client. The interface leverages students’ existing knowledge of MATLAB. It bypasses the need for C programming to allow students to get early exposure to hardware-software integration, signal processing, edge computing, end-to-end platform development, and systems engineering. Our interface facilitates data observation, recording, manipulation, and analysis. Students have access to live data streams, real-time plots of sensor values, and the ability to use the command window to run and test individual commands outside of scripts. With this tool, students can design and implement intelligent systems in MATLAB’s high-level environment, allowing them to engage in more meaningful projects and better grasp big-picture concepts without first needing advanced programming instruction. We deployed this system in an introductory class and students successfully completed a final project where students navigated a maze using line-following and collected and classified objects using sensor data and neural networks. We surveyed two semesters of students at the end of the semester about using this tool, and students reported that using this interface enhanced their learning experience despite varied responses about the difficulty of implementation. With the growing importance of data science in electrical engineering, tools like our interface play a crucial role in exposing students to cutting-edge robotics and cyberphysical systems earlier in the degree program. Our interface has been made available on GitHub for any who wishes to implement it.

(This abstract represents a plan for a full paper that will be submitted before February 1, 2024 (pending acceptance of this abstract. This work falls under the topic of “Innovative curriculum Design and Laboratory Development”.)

Citation
Format

Olsen, C. D., & Verkler, A., & George, J. A., & Drew, D. S. (2024, June), MATLAB Tool Allowing Wireless Control of Arduino Robot for Early Introduction of Robotics into Curriculum Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://strategy.asee.org/47765

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - In electrical engineering programs, MATLAB scripting is often one of the first coding experiences a student is exposed to. Most introductory robotics courses that combine hardware and software require students to understand C (typically learned during junior year) or require part of the course to teach coding syntax. We have developed an interface to allow students to remotely control a wireless microcontroller (e.g., Arduino MKR 1010) using MATLAB scripts. This interface comprises two halves: 1) a MATLAB class that abstracts UDP commands transmitted over Wi-Fi and 2) a custom C library for receiving, parsing, and responding to commands over UDP, as well as streaming data back to the client. The interface leverages students’ existing knowledge of MATLAB. It bypasses the need for C programming to allow students to get early exposure to hardware-software integration, signal processing, edge computing, end-to-end platform development, and systems engineering. Our interface facilitates data observation, recording, manipulation, and analysis. Students have access to live data streams, real-time plots of sensor values, and the ability to use the command window to run and test individual commands outside of scripts. With this tool, students can design and implement intelligent systems in MATLAB’s high-level environment, allowing them to engage in more meaningful projects and better grasp big-picture concepts without first needing advanced programming instruction. We deployed this system in an introductory class and students successfully completed a final project where students navigated a maze using line-following and collected and classified objects using sensor data and neural networks. We surveyed two semesters  of students at the end of the semester about using this tool, and students reported that using this interface enhanced their learning experience despite varied responses about the difficulty of implementation. With the growing importance of data science in electrical engineering, tools like our interface play a crucial role in exposing students to cutting-edge robotics and cyberphysical systems earlier in the degree program. Our interface has been made available on GitHub for any who wishes to implement it.

(This abstract represents a plan for a full paper that will be submitted before February 1, 2024 (pending acceptance of this abstract. This work falls under the topic of “Innovative curriculum Design and Laboratory Development”.)
AU  - Connor Daniel Olsen
AU  - Amy Verkler
AU  - Jacob A. George
AU  - Daniel S. Drew
CY  - Portland, Oregon
DA  - 2024/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - MATLAB Tool Allowing Wireless Control of Arduino Robot for Early Introduction of Robotics into Curriculum
UR  - https://strategy.asee.org/47765
ER  -