Lego-Based Online Laboratories: Case-Study of Industrial Robotics

This paper explores the use of Lego robotics kits in educational settings, with a focus on industrial robotics. While Lego robotics kits have traditionally required physical interaction, the paper acknowledges the opportunity of remote laboratories in education. The concept of a Lego-based Online Laboratory is introduced, aiming to provide a pre-assembled Lego robot kit that can be accessed and controlled remotely. The paper discusses the architecture and hardware required for such a remote laboratory. Finally, the practical example of a set of industrial robots, implemented with Lego Spike and potentially remote-controlled, is considered. It is shown how the proposed implementation is able to provide a series of controls equivalent to those proposed in the Lego apps, but also to extend the functionality of the kit to new features.