Learning while Competing -- 3D Modeling & Design

TL;DR

This paper discusses how a project-based learning competition effectively teaches students 3D designing and sensor interfacing for robotics, demonstrating that complex skills can be acquired through competitive, resource-accessible environments.

Contribution

It introduces a methodology for teaching advanced 3D designing and sensor integration in robotics via a competitive, resource-supported PBL approach, validated through the e-Yantra Robotics Competition.

Findings

Students successfully learned 3D designing and sensor interfacing.

Learning outcomes were consistent with previous studies.

Competitions can effectively teach complex robotics skills.

Abstract

The e-Yantra project at IIT Bombay conducts an online competition, e-Yantra Robotics Competition (eYRC) which uses a Project Based Learning (PBL) methodology to train students to implement a robotics project in a step-by-step manner over a five-month period. Participation is absolutely free. The competition provides all resources - robot, accessories, and a problem statement - to a participating team. If selected for the finals, e-Yantra pays for them to come to the finals at IIT Bombay. This makes the competition accessible to resource-poor student teams. In this paper, we describe the methodology used in the 6th edition of eYRC, eYRC-2017 where we experimented with a Theme (projects abstracted into rulebooks) involving an advanced topic - 3D Designing and interfacing with sensors and actuators. We demonstrate that the learning outcomes are consistent with our previous studies [1]. We infer that even 3D designing to create a working model can be effectively learned in a competition mode through PBL.