Design and Implementation of a Robotic Arm for a MoCap System within Extended Educational Mechatronics Framework

Abstract

Educational mechatronics aims to be the evolution of educational robotics so it can be identified as a part of the educational paradigm of the university, its academic spaces, infrastructure, and practical activities. The fundamental goal of this framework is to develop the knowledge and skills that the new industrial world, inspired by the latest technologies, necessitates. This work proposes the modular design of a robotic arm aligned with the extended educational mechatronics conceptual framework by designing and implementing educational tools to develop the knowledge and skills required for Industry 4.0. The 3D-printed, low-cost robotic arm is designed to be used in a motion capture system for robotics applications to build kinematics concepts for a learning process. In particular, the instructional design to build the mechatronic concept of a robot workspace is carried out considering the three learning levels: concrete, representational, and abstract. The above demonstrates how the proposed pedagogical methodology can impact Industry 4.0 in the small- and medium-sized enterprises’ context.