Preface

Accessible Hands-on AI and Robotics Education

Volume

Papers from the 2004 AAAI Spring Symposium

Contents

While robot platforms have played a role in artificial intelligence and robotics education for over 30 years, the cost and size of these platforms have limited their reach. Recently, low-cost robot platforms have emerged, extending hands-on educational benefits to a diverse audience. Examples of the flurry of activity in this area include competitions and exhibitions at all levels, the availability of on-line curricula and textbooks, journal special issues, and recent AAAI workshops on robotics and education. We believe that these low-cost platforms have matured sufficiently to become a standard tool for teaching artificial intelligence and robotics to advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Furthermore, the accessibility of these low-cost platforms introduces the exciting prospect of incorporating robotic agents into non-traditional venues such as museums, science centers, and do-it-yourself websites. Such educational opportunities will help to inspire the next generation of artificial intelligence and robotics scientists and engineers.