What Can Robots Teach Us About The COVID-19 Pandemic? Interactive Demonstrations of Epidemiological Models Using a Swarm of Brushbots

TL;DR

This paper presents educational workshops using robot swarms to teach students about epidemiological models related to COVID-19, demonstrating how interactive demonstrations can enhance understanding and interest in science and robotics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach of using a swarm of brushbots in educational settings to illustrate epidemiological concepts and their influence on decision-making during the pandemic.

Findings

Students' understanding of epidemiological models improved.

Interest in robotics increased after the workshops.

Positive impact on perceptions of scientific decision-making.

Abstract

This paper describes the methodology and outcomes of a series of educational events conducted in 2021 which leveraged robot swarms to educate high-school and university students about epidemiological models and how they can inform societal and governmental policies. With a specific focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, the events consisted of 4 online and 3 in-person workshops where students had the chance to interact with a swarm of 20 custom-built brushbots -- small-scale vibration-driven robots optimized for portability and robustness. Through the analysis of data collected during a post-event survey, this paper shows how the events positively impacted the students' views on the scientific method to guide real-world decision making, as well as their interest in robotics.