Promoting Open-source Hardware and Software Platforms in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Education

Abstract

His current research interests include characterization and electrochemical modeling of Li-ion batteries, traditional and electrochemical model-based Li-ion battery management system design, and real-world applications of control and estimation theory especially in alternative and renewable energy systems, mechatronics, robotics, and electrified and autonomous transportation. Dr. Lotfi is a member of the IEEE Control Systems Society and ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division. Mr. Kenechukwu Churchill Mbanisi, Worcester Polytechnic InstituteKenechukwu C. Mbanisi received the B.Eng. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria, in 2013, and the M.S. degree in robotics engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), MA, USA in 2018. He is currently working towards the Ph.D. degree in robotics engineering from WPI, USA. His research interests include human motion modeling, planning and analysis, human-robot and human-machine interaction.

Teaching lessons learnt by civil-engineering teachers from the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Burgos, Spain

“…However, the teachers highlighted negative aspects, such as the fact that site visits could not be conducted, and that trying to promote students' autonomous work was more complicated, as they could not be assigned time in class for individual or group work. Thus, many teachers opted to increase the documentation available on the teaching platform, so that students could work more on their own [53], and to organize remote group meetings, which has proved quite acceptable when the sessions are properly moderated [31]. Despite all this, the main negative aspect for the teachers was the lack of direct interaction with the students, either because of asynchronous teaching or because the students turned off the camera during the real-time classes.…”

“…Faced with this situation, the teachers promoted not only individual autonomous work, of proven effectiveness on technical courses [37], during their classes, but they also provided more documentation on the teaching platform and digitalized the solution of the exercises. Their idea was to provide students with teaching material to work on outside the classroom [53]. For the same reason, it was not possible to visit companies and construction sites, which was compensated by virtual visits, classroom presentations of real examples, and student deliveries of audio-recorded presentations so that all classmates could see and evaluate them, thereby raising interest levels and involvement in the work of their peers [30].…”

Factors Influencing Students’ Acceptability of Mechatronics Engineering Course: Evidence from Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Tanzania

“…According to Lotfi et al, (2020), mechatronics cannot be avoided in the 21 st Century as it gives learners an opportunity to develop and exercise their critical thinking and creativity. Through the use of problem-solving skills in mechatronics, learners quickly gain their confidence as they prepare for the implementation of the new industrial world.…”

Workshops for Building the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Education Community

“…• Standardize components: There was general consensus on the need for standard components and progress was made in identifying them. These are documented in several of the workshop publications [10,12,13]. • Share broad successes of MRE: This outcome was achieved.…”

“…At the conclusion of each workshop, participants completed an online survey intended to assess their expectations of, and experiences in, the workshop, as well as their plans for implementing MRE in their respective institutions. The final workshop produced another outcomea set of draft inventories and commitments by the working groups to refine and publish their findings [10][11][12][13][14].…”