Work in progress: Introductory mobile robotics and computer vision laboratories using ROS and MATLAB

Robot Operating System (ROS) is an open source, Linux-based robotics development and deployment system which supports many commercial and research and development robots. The educational advantage of using the MATLAB interface to ROS is to provide students with a more intuitive and interactive programming environment, visualization tools, and integration of other MATLAB toolboxes such as computer vision and control. Laboratory exercises were developed and tested using MATLAB Robotics Systems Toolbox and ROS-enabled Turtlebot robots, as well as a low-cost, autonomous, indoor quadcopter. The educational goals of providing an introduction to mobile robots, sensors, computer vision and quadcopter technology were satisfied and the student reaction was positive. There are two key results. One result is that students with a wide range of programming experience are supported in this MATLAB-based development model. The second result is that multiple hardware platforms can be programmed using the same software tools. These results will be of interest to educators introducing low-cost, yet sophisticated robotics lab experiences into a diverse range of undergraduate engineering courses. These results also have significance to the introduction of robotics concepts in K-12 and STEM activities.