Application of an Intelligent Table-Top Vacuum Robot Cleaner in Mechatronics System Design Education

Robotics is a rapidly emerging field of engineering and many institutions of higher learning in engineering now offer majors in mechatronics. This article explores the use of an intelligent vacuum robot cleaner for mechatronics education, with a focus on the problem-based learning approach. The current structures in mechatronics education can in some cases prevent students fromunderstanding the mechatronics and also the methodology in designing it. This inevitably demotivates students from traversing pathways towards postgraduate research. As shown in the results from the confidence log and questionnaires, the problem-based learning approach improve the students’ results and interest in the mechatronics. It was also found that the activities were quite appreciated by the students.