Robotics Introductory Kits Through Robotics Competitions

Three robotic platforms designed to serve as an entry point to mobile robotics are presented. One platform (Alcabot Electrical) is oriented for elementary or early high school students with a robot telecontrolled by electromechanical elements, without a microprocessor. A second platform (TuBot) based on Arduino is oriented to serve as an entry point in high school with certain limitations of functionality. The third platform (Alcabot Starting) is also based on Arduino but with components that make it very versatile, with many possibilities for expansion and oriented to secondary education, high school or even as an entry point for university students. All three platforms are designed with components easily available on the internet, low cost and with online support documentation for both hardware and software. All three platforms have been used with students and in teacher training courses with very good acceptance. The Alcabot Electrical and Alcabot Starting platforms have been designed as an entry point for the Eurobot and Eurobot Junior competitions to introduce children and young people to robotics and then modify, complement or use their components in their own designs adapted to the competition problem.