Eight students from Dortmund and the surrounding area took part in a two-day workshop at the Faculty of Information Technology to learn how robots work and how Extended Reality (XR) will influence the world and technology of tomorrow.
How do I control a robot arm? How does artificial intelligence help robots to drive? How can I see through the eyes of a robot with XR technologies? And which perceptual effects are important for designing a good virtual world? These and other questions were the focus of the two-day workshop offered by the Faculty of Information Technology at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts in the first week of the Easter holidays for students in year 10 and above - now in its third year.
The response was great - 15 registrations were received. In the end, eight young technology enthusiasts from Dortmund and the region were able to take part. In various formats, they learned how versatile modern robotics is, how humans and machines can work together safely and what study opportunities are available at the Faculty of Information Technology.
Robotic arms and VR headsets
On the first day, the focus was on collaborative robotics. The participants learned how to program a robot arm using user-friendly tools. With the support of staff and students from the faculty, they controlled the "Cobotta" robotic arm, experimented with moving robots and experienced object recognition using a camera and artificial intelligence. The day's program also included a visit to the laboratory and a student advisory service.
The second day was dedicated to extended reality (XR). Using VR headsets, so-called data goggles, the young people were able to immerse themselves in immersive, virtual scenarios, such as those used in research and development in biomedical engineering and robotics. They also made their own stereoscopic videos to see through the eyes of a robot - as a playful approach to the use of human spatial perception in technology for telepresence, for example for controlling robots in contaminated areas during disaster relief operations.
Own solutions
The pupils worked with concentration and motivation, regardless of their previous knowledge. Some participants with initial programming experience even went beyond the tasks and developed their own creative solutions. While the theoretical parts of the workshop required concentration, the practical units were particularly well received by the young people. This also gave the participants a taste of the practical side of studying at a university of applied sciences.
"Our impression is very positive," summarizes Aron Hemmis, one of the faculty's supervisors. "The participants showed interest, engaged intensively with the topics and achieved good results."
It goes on
Prof. Dr. Jörg Thiem and Prof. Dr. Karsten Lehn, professors at the Faculty of Information Technology, are planning to offer similar workshops several times a year in future and to expand their cooperation with schools for this purpose. Requests have already been received from the region. The aim is to get even more young people interested in studying technology. The next workshop is scheduled for the fall vacations.
Participation in the workshop was free of charge. During the lunch break, the students were able to eat for free in the Fachhochschule Dortmund canteen.