Work in progress - development of mobile robotic platforms as freshman engineering design project

System integration and design of a mobile robotic platform that has the ability to interact with its environment using appropriate sensors has been implemented as a freshman design project at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). The project included design alternative analysis, engineering drawing, manufacturing, identification, acquisition and integration of suitable mechanical, electrical, electronic, computing and sensing systems and components as well as appropriate programming of the embedded computer to achieve desired interaction of the mobile robotic platform with its environment The project also provided the platform to introduce various software programs such as EXCEL, POWERPOINT, MS WORD, LOGO Programming language, etc. The tools not only allowed the students to perform engineering analysis but also emphasized communication skills both oral and written associated with successful project implementation and information dissemination. The students could relate to the newly coined term "mechatronics" that represents the synergy in mechanical design, electronics, soft-computing and control in the context of the project. They could readily appreciate the benefits of teamwork and the pitfalls of compartmentalizing the engineering design process according to traditional disciplinary boundaries in the progressive environment of engineering education and practice in the new millennium. In the educational arena reform efforts have been facilitated largely by the new accreditation criteria of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). The new criteria have brought about significant changes in engineering education throughout the nation and have enabled a closer alignment of education and practice of engineering profession.