Enhancing student learning in artificial intelligence using robotics

Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques may be applied to a variety of real-world problems. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, CS 455: Artificial Intelligence was offered during the Spring 2008 semester in which students from all disciplines were invited to attend. Robot kits are incorporated into the course as a pedagogical tool to motivate and encourage learning by applying theoretically abstract algorithms to concrete real-world problems. This paper discusses the approach to incorporating robotics in the AI classroom. A set of commercial off-the-shelf robot kits are discussed and analyzed with respect to the students' work during the semester. Finally, recommendations for improvements on teaching AI to a multi-disciplinary audience with the help of robot kits will be discussed.