IIT's robots chip in engineering education

What started as an experiment for staff members of Systems Lab of Computer Science department at Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), has become a successful teaching aid for engineering students across the state.

The Micro mouse, which makes use of robotics, is being used to teach the basics of embedded systems.

Engineering students learn about embedded systems, a technology where a special purpose computer system is designed to perform dedicated functions in electronic gadgets. The technology is used in cars, automatic washing machines, iPods, traffic lights and even nuclear power plants.

“This concept is usually taught through theory and simple computer programming. At IIT-B, we also conduct distance education programme via satellite for other colleges. However, students find it tough to grasp the concept without a proper lab support,” said Kavi Arya, associate professor, IIT-B.

The micromouse is equipped with infrared sensors to gauge distance, temperature sensors and can be controlled through computer programmes. “With these teaching aids, the students get to assemble the robotic parts, programme and control objects,” said Sachitanand Malewar, research fellow, IIT-B.

Students are given projects like creating a surveillance system by using a mobile phone’s camera and micromouse and moving objects past obstacles. “Students take more interest in learning if there is a lot of action in the classroom. Once students understand the basics of embedded systems, then sky could be the limit for them,” said Arya.

The lab staff and professor Krithi Ramamritham of IIT-B have developed more than 50 teaching aids. “For the past two years, we have been developing low-cost micromouses that have been given to over 112 engineering colleges across the country. These cost only Rs2,000,” said Arya.


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