Students as designers with robotics and control systems

The chapter defines and explores the core concepts of robotics and control systems from the broader perspective of ‘ mechatronics’, highlighting the integration of systems, design, and computational ways of thinking that may not be as comprehensive if strictly limited to the more familiar but slightly narrower ‘robotics and control systems’. Due to their role in society and relevance to the future workplace, they make for a rich and meaningful learning context for education. This includes a focus on the integration of systems that combine electronics and physical structures with digital devices and systems. Examples of mechatronics are provided from simple robotics suitable for early age groups to more advanced projects that may involve mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic systems with concomitant increases in programming language complexity. There is an emphasis on playful experimentation, structured modelling, student agency, and the freedom to be creative as important for students as they develop a deep understanding of mechatronics and their applications. It addresses the benefits, issues, and pedagogical considerations for developing students as designers of robotics, offering practical examples that shed light on the challenges and opportunities in integrating mechatronics into the curriculum.