A Programming System for WowWee™ Robots

PART 1: Go-Robo - what it is and how it works

Go-Robo is designed for education

“The aim of Go-Robo is to teach children and young people elementary programming skills

in a fun and engaging way.”

Go-Robo Studio - Multi-Robot Software

Age from 8+ years.

Main target: Secondary schools (11–16), also for hobbyist & home education. Go-Robo Studio works with:

•Robosapien™•Robosapien™ V2•RS Media™•Femisapien™•Wrex-the-Dawg™•Tribot™•Roboraptor™•Roboquad™•Roboreptile™•Robopet™

Robot-Specific Software

Age from 4+ years

Main target: Primary schools (4–11), also suitable for special needs and home education.

Robot-Specific software is under development for:

•Robosapien™•Robosapien™ V2•Femisapien™•Wrex-the-Dawg™

(Launch date 1st March 2009)

How it works

At the back-end of Go-Robo is a ‘Black Box’ containing all the information that the software needs to know.

The end-user does not need to know or access this information.

This makes Go-Robo suitable for children and other non-technical users.

How it works

At the front-end of Go-Robo is an elementary programming interface, based on Microsoft’s Visual Studio.

The interface shown here is Go-Robo Studio.

How it works

Younger users have a simpler interface with more learning support features.

This is Go-Robo Choreographer for Femisapien.

How it works

This is the Studio Code Editor window

Programs are written in and run from this window.

Here is our RSV2 demo program from the BETT Show.Color code:

Green = Comments

Purple = Variables

Blue = Commands

Gray = Sub-routines

Black = Numeric value

// RSV2 routine for keeping busy at the BETT Show while not using up too many batteries. // Maximum number of available procedures $Max = 4 // Turn VisionSystems off, so robot is not distracted by the show lights. VisionSystems // Do this a large number of times as we're at the show for 10 hours Repeat 100 // Next random action $Next = Integer(($Max - 1) * Rnd(1) + 1) // Wait between 2 and 10 seconds $Pause = (8 * Rnd(1) + 2) * 1000 Pause $Pause If $Next = 1 ArmsUpAndDown EndIf If $Next = 2 LookAround EndIf If $Next = 3 WaggleArms EndIf If $Next = 4 WalkBackAndForward EndRepeat // Turn VisionSystems on, so when program ends robot looks interested in surroundings! VisionSystems

How it works

This is the Studio Player window

Programs are ‘sent’ here from the Code Editor window.

Player can run programs for several different robots at the same time, with sound tracks and sound effects.

How it works

There are 3 ways of controlling the robots…

1. Run your program from your computer to control robots directly via your Roboremote.

2. Download your program into your robot’s memory via your Roboremote.

3. Download your program into your Roboremote’s memories.

How it works

If you download your programs into your Roboremote, Go-Robo will keep a record of your work.

This can be printed out to remind you of how your Roboremote is programmed.

This feature is ideal for teachers who need to keep a record of their pupil’s progress.

A Programming System for WowWee™ Robots

PART 2: Case Studies & Classroom Evaluations

BETT AWARDS 2008

Key Evaluation Criteria

“Are WowWee robots suitable for Education?”

“Do they meet curriculum requirements?”

“Are they appropriate and appealing for students?”

“Do they represent value-for-money?”

BETT AWARDS 2008

The BETT Awards are judged by the leading industry experts and practising professionals in Educational Technology.

Two case studies were required.

Case Study 1.

E-Learning Centre, Nottingham

•A class of Year 6 mixed ability pupils (ages 10 – 11) using ten RSV2’s and paper-based programming activities.

BETT AWARDS 2008

Case Study 2.

Ash Lea Special School, Nottingham

•A key stage 4 & 5 (ages 15 – 19) group of students with moderate learning disabilities using six RSV2’s.

•A key stage 1 & 2 (ages 6 – 11) group of pupils with severe learning and physical disabilities using six RSV2’s.

BETT AWARDS 2008

“Are WowWee robots suitable for Education?”

YES!

“Do they meet curriculum requirements?”

YES!

“Are they appropriate and appealing for students?”

YES!

“Do they represent excellent value-for-money?”

YES!

Go-Robo

Classroom Evaluation 1. Spring / Summer 2007

Robert Miles Junior School, Nottingham.

Evaluation of Go-Robo Studio Version 1.0.0.

This version used the RedRat3 infra-red controller.

Go-Robo School Trials

Classroom Evaluation 2.Spring / Summer 2008

E-Learning Centre, Nottingham.

Testing Go-Robo Controller Version 1.0.0 and Go-Robo Studio Version 2.0.0.

These versions used the RoboBlaster infra-red controller, made by Q4 Technologies.

Go-Robo School Trials

Classroom Evaluation 3.Spring / Summer 2009

E-Learning Centre, Nottingham.

Testing Go-Robo Studio Version 3.0.0.

Testing Go-Robo junior products.

All versions now use WowWee’s Roboremote.

What do teachers think?

“As students develop their programming skills in Go-Robo they are learning to sequence and structure instructions.”

It is a delight to watch students test their programs on a ‘real’ robot rather than a virtual avatar, as this helps maintain student enthusiasm and encourages a determination to succeed.”

Janet Simner, e-learning consultant, Nottingham ELC.

A Programming System for WowWee™ Robots

END