3 The Robotino®learning system extended by the Bionic Handling Assistant Inspiring technology: Robotino®XT as a learning system for children and adolescents Up to ten kilometres per hour in any direction Whether forwards, backwards or sideways – fitted with an omnidrive propulsion unit, Robotino®can move in any direction and can even turn on the spot. Three sturdy industrial DC motors with optical shaft encoders and gears allow speeds up to 10 km/h. The three drive modules of Robotino®are integrated into a stable, laser-welded stainless steel chassis, which is protected against collision by a rubber flap with an integrated power sensor. In the interior are nine infrared distance sensors. An analogue inductive sensor and two optical sensors are also provided. With these, Robotino®can for example recognise and follow predefined paths that are colour-coded or marked by an aluminium strip. Wireless real-time communication The core of the PC 104 unit is the Linux real-time operating system provided on a CompactFlash card. Via a serial interface, the operating system communicates with the new EA09 control board to evaluate the sensor data and address the drive units of Robotino®. It can directly communicate with a Linux program in PC 104, and with Robotino®View or another external PC application via W-LAN. A proven learning system Thanks to its modular nature, Robotino®has proven is worth as a learning system of Festo Didactic. All its technical components are not only immediately comprehensible; their integrated system behaviour can also be learned. The student integrates and applies a great deal of technology, for example electric drive engineering and kinematics, sensor and control technology, image processing and programming techniques. Technical fundamentals can thus be conveyed in an intriguing, vivid manner. As a mobile robot, Robotino®has a highly motivating effect on young people. The suitability of Robotino®for logistical tasks is demonstrated by its use in the Festo Logistics Competition. Festo Didactic created this discipline for the 2010 RoboCup university challenge. In a simulated factory, three Robotinos®transport workpieces from a warehouse through the production process to the goods delivery bay; the autonomous robots are required to interact in this process. This competition gives students and researchers the opportunity to learn and to further develop complex and interesting challenges in the field of robotics. Existing system extended with a biomechatronic gripper arm Robotino®XT is the extension of this proven system with the addition of a robotic arm based on the bionic model of the elephant’s trunk. The mobile robot uses this arm to grasp and move objects.
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