PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING: MODELLING AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTONOMOUS WHEELED MOBILE ROBOT FOR FIREFIGHTING

Abstract

The mechatronics engineering education has advanced rapidly since the introduction of mechatronics as a new discipline in engineering education. The project-based learning becomes also one of the most effective approaches in teaching mechatronics subjects such as robotics and mechatronics system design. The main objective of this paper is to present the role of project-based learning in the mechatronics engineering education. An autonomous wheeled mobile robot that scans a rectangular area looking for a heat source (simulated by a burning candle) extinguishes it and returns back to its home position is designed. The project was developed successfully and the students got the second position in a robotic competition organized by the university. The design details as well as the performance analysis of the mobile robot will be presented here. Also, the milestones of the project will be discussed and analyzed.