Educational Robotics as a Teaching Field and Technology Integration: Application of CAD, CAM and 3D printing in structural robot construction

Abstract

Educational robotics has become a field of possibilities for teaching technologies, adding students new challenges that lead to professional practice. Therefore, the Açaímov Robotics Team from the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão - Campus Açailândia, Brazil, consisting of high school students integrated with the technical courses in electromechanics and industrial automation, included the technologies of Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and 3D Print in the development stages of robot structures. Through a group dynamic among the students to enhance results, the robot's structural specifications were determined based on the characteristics of the Journey to the Center if the Earth Challenge and the arrangement of controller board, sensors and actuators. This work demonstrates the efficiency of this methodology applied to the robotics group by presenting as a result the structure developed for the robot using Fusion 360 (CAD technology), Repetier Host (CAM technology) and 3D printing with biodegradable material.