The New Solution For Robotics Education

Robots have become an integral part of society, ranging from welding robots used in the manufacturing industry, to robots such as the Da Vinci Surgical System - a robot used for medical purposes. However, robots take a considerable amount of time to master and not every school has the resources or space to accommodate a robot for each student. One way to work around this issue is to employ software which allows for simulation of robots. Some examples of such software are RobotRun, ROBOGUIDE, and Visual Components. This paper: however, will focus on the third software which is Visual Components. This paper aims to familiarize students with the use of robots through a series of virtual labs, which will utilize the robot simulation software Virtual Components. The labs will teach students the use of the tool center point, which will be required to simulate a pick-and-place program. Students will also learn the difference between using a linear move and a joint move, use of outputs - such as a suction cup lifting a box - as well as the use of signals to create a more complex scenario, allowing for a more real-world application.