[robocup-worldwide] [Fwd: [robotics-worldwide] Announcing the 2013 AFRON Design Challenge]

[Manuela Veloso]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [robotics-worldwide] Announcing the 2013 AFRON Design Challenge
From:    "G. Ayorkor Korsah" <ayorkor at alumni.cmu.edu>
Date:    Mon, July 8, 2013 10:41 pm
To:      robotics-worldwide at usc.edu
Cc:      "Ayorkor Korsah" <akorsah at ashesi.edu.gh>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear all,

We are very excited to announce the next phase of the AFRON Ultra
Affordable Educational Robot Project. With support from the IEEE
Robotics and Automation Society, the 2013 Design Challenge will focus on
robot enhancements, software, and teaching plans. Details are below, and
on the web at http://www.robotics-africa.org/2013-design-challenge. We
look forward to your participation!

Best regards,
Ayorkor Korsah & Ken Goldberg
co-Founders, African Robotics Network


---------------------------------------------------------

Announcing:

*The Ultra Affordable Educational Robot Project**
**2013 Design Challenge: Robot Enhancements, Software, and Teaching Plans**
*
/Sponsored by://
//The African Robotics Network (AFRON) and IEEE Robotics and Automation
Society//
/

/*Goal*//*
*/
Robots excite people of all ages. Their physical behavior often inspires
primary and secondary student interest in computers, science, math, and
engineering more broadly. However, existing platforms are often too
expensive for students. This project aims to collaboratively create an
Ultra-Affordable Robot (an order of magnitude less expensive than
existing products) to inspire young people around the world.

The 2012 Design Challenge
<http://www.robotics-africa.org/2012-design-challenge>
(http://www.robotics-africa.org/2012-design-challenge) emphasized an
ultra-low-cost robot hardware platform in three categories: tethered,
roaming, and all-in-one. The winning designs were all highly creative,
and the Grand Prize in the tethered category went to Lollybot, a
brilliant design by Tom Tilley of Thailand, costing just under 10 USD
and incorporating two functional Lollipops. Starting with a generic
dual-shock game controller, Lollybot can be built using commonly
available tools anywhere in the world.

In the 2013 Design Challenge, our goal is to create incentives for
designers to select any of the winning designs from 2012
<http://www.robotics-africa.org/2012-design-challenge> and work on
enhancements in one or more of 3 categories: 1) hardware 2) software, or
3) curriculum. This year, we are placing a special emphasis on Lollybot,
encouraging next steps in the 3 categories: 1) enhance the Lollybot
hardware design, simplifying assembly, increasing robustness, adding
useful features, 2) extend and improve the open-source software for
Lollybot, and 3) create exciting lesson plans using the Lollybot. In
addition, there is a special “community challenge” for participants who
organize a robotics workshop for students using one of the winning
designs, with or without enhancements.


/*Competition Categories*//*
*//*
*/1) Hardware enhancements
Propose design enhancements to make the chosen robot more effective,
robust, re-usable, and even easier to assemble or manufacture. For
example, possible design enhancements for the Lollybot include:
· Improved robustness (particularly of wheels and bumpers) to allow for
more reliable behavior
· Ability to design and switch in and out different sensor circuits,
such as the current line sensor circuit.
· Ability to control the robot with an old feature phone, a Raspberry
Pi, or other low-cost computing platform

2) Software enhancements
Further open-source software development to add functionality to the
chosen robot, and more importantly, make it easy for high school
students with no prior programming experience to learn how to program
new behaviors for the robot. For Lollybot, this could include, for
example, a drag-and-drop programming interface, or a software interface
to introduce basic features of JavaScript for programming the robot.

3) Curriculum
Outline 20+ hours of educational activity using the chosen robot. The
educational value could come from the process of assembling the robot
and from programming it. However, at least 15 hours of the curriculum
should be re-usable, meaning that it can be used with an
already-assembled robot. This ensures that learning continues after the
robot is assembled for the first time. The lesson plans can assume a
basic age-appropriate science and math background, but should not assume
any background in robotics or prior experience programming or using
tools such as a soldering iron -- it should help students learn what
they need to know.

4) Community challenge
Build one of the winning designs in collaboration with students
(primary, secondary or early college), documenting the process and the
learning experience for the students.


/*Prizes*//*
*/
Each category attracts a grand prize of $500, and a runner-up prize of
$250. A single entry can win in more than one category. Additionally,
there will be “honorable mentions” for other creative submissions.


/*Eligibility*//*
*/
The competition is open to individuals, teams of individuals, or
institutions from anywhere in the world. We welcome submissions from
hobbyists and students, in addition to professionals. For the community
challenge, entries are particularly encouraged from participants working
with students in Africa.


/*Submission Deadline*//*
*/
18th September 2013. Winners will be announced by the end of October 2013


/*What to submit, and how*//*
*/
Create one HTML webpage with the following information:


1. A high-level description of your hardware enhancements, software
enhancements, curriculum and/or student workshop.

2. For hardware enhancements, include:

a. A list of parts, their sources (include URLs if applicable),
availability, and prices.
· Note that your parts list should be complete, including things like
required adhesive, screws etc.
· Note that salvaged parts are allowed, if these salvaged parts are
commonly available in your particular context. Think of this list of
parts as the starting point if someone in a similar context to you
wanted to reproduce your robot.
· Your parts list should include any consumables (e.g. batteries) and
their associated cost and replacement frequency. This is a caution to
think of sustainability.

b. A list of tools/equipment needed to create the robot, and estimated
prices

c. Relevant drawings with dimensions.

d. Step-by-step instructions for creating your robot

e. A description of any experiments conducted

f. Pictures and videos of your robot in action


3. For software, include:

a. A link to documentation (a “user guide”) for your software

b. If relevant, screenshots of your software

c. A link to the open-source software.



4. For curriculum, include:

a. The target age range / level (e.g. primary school – approximately
below age 12, junior high or middle school – approximately between ages
12 and 14, and senior high school – approximately between ages 14 and 18)

b. The learning goals

c. Materials needed

d. Activities



5. For the community challenge (student workshops), include:

a. The robot that was used

b. Information about participants (number, age range, location)

c. Sources of parts for robot-building

d. Description of activities

e. Description of outcomes

f. Pictures and/or video


Please share with us your intent to participate via this form
<http://bit.ly/participate-afron-2013-challenge>
(http://bit.ly/participate-afron-2013-challenge). When you are done, you
can then make your final submission via the submission form
<http://bit.ly/submit-afron-2013-challenge>
(http://bit.ly/submit-afron-2013-challenge), which asks for your name,
contact information, and the URL of your webpage. Note that by
participating in this competition, you agree to have your designs or
curriculum published on the Internet (and attributed to you, of course).


/*Criteria*//*
*/
Hardware enhancements will be assessed using the following criteria:
· Robustness & effectiveness
· Cost (try to stay below 20 USD, excluding computing)
· Versatility
· Ease of assembly

Software will be assessed using the following criteria:
· Effectiveness
· Ease of use
· Quality of documentation

Curricula will be assessed using the following criteria:
· Clarity
· Potential to help students learn
· Potential to engage students’ interest

The community challenge will be assessed using the following criteria:
· Completeness of documentation of the experience
· Creativity
· Student impact


/*About AFRON*//*
*/
The African Robotics Network (AFRON) is a community of institutions,
organizations and individuals engaged in robotics in Africa. AFRON seeks
to promote communication and collaborations that will enhance
robotics-related education, research, and industry on the continent.
Since it launched May 2012, AFRON has 380 regular and affiliated members
from 51 countries around the world.

Web: http://www.robotics-africa.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AfricanRoboticsNetwork

-- 
G. Ayorkor Korsah, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Robotics

Ashesi University College
1 University Avenue, Berekuso E/R | PMB CT 3, Cantonments | Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 30 261 0330 Ext. 1029

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-- 
Manuela M. Veloso
Herbert A. Simon Professor
Computer Science Department
Carnegie Mellon University
www.cs.cmu.edu/~mmv