An autonomous mobile robot development platform for teaching a graduate level mechatronics course

Mechatronics is integration of mechanical systems, electronics and intelligent computer control. With advances in computing power, size, and cost, university mechatronics courses can offer more flexible, powerful and up-to-date development environments than traditionally available with pre-packaged robotics kits such as the widely used handy board platform. Goals and constraints of teaching graduate-level mechatronics courses to an educationally diverse class of students are discussed. Goals include identifying the purpose of a mechatronics course, educational background of the students, effects of recent technologies on course subject matter, and ideal development environment to create autonomous robots. Constraints arise because of conflicts between two major aspects of mechatronics, mechanical systems and computer systems, and the need to balance these areas in complexity and ease of use for students of diverse backgrounds. Brigham Young University's prototype solution of a PC/104 platform with digital I/O and analog inputs running Linux and communicating via 802.11b Wi-Fi is discussed.