The UNM Mechanical Engineering Lego Robot Competition

Abstract

Modern mechanical systems are increasingly being controlled by digital electronics, yet many mechanical engineering programs have not incorporated this topic into the curriculum. Also, ABET has recently emphasized the importance of design in engineering education. The LEGO Robot Competition is a course offered by the Mechanical Engineering Department which addresses the integration of digital electronics and mechanical design, along with the areas of software development, real-time control, testing and evaluation, and working as part of a team. Teams of students are required to design and construct a fully autonomous computer-controlled mobile robot using LEGO pieces, and compete against other robots at the end of the semester.