The MIRTE Robotteam at Delft University of Technology has won the Dutch Education Prize. This prize, which comes with a cash award of 1.2 million euros, recognises the team’s contribution to education in robotics. The university intends to use the money to further develop the robots and make robotics education more accessible to learners of all ages. The platform can thus help tackle the shortage of talent in the field of robotics.
MIRTE stands for Modular Robot Platform for Technical Education. It is a platform that enables students to build up their knowledge step by step. MIRTE is aimed at pupils at all levels of education, from primary schools right through to universities. This is in contrast to many other educational robots, which are usually aimed at a specific target group. MIRTE aims to bridge these different levels and enable pupils to develop their knowledge and skills seamlessly.
Widely used
The robotics platform is already in widespread use. For example, more than 1,000 students at TU Delft use MIRTE every year, which helps them develop a deeper understanding of robotics and engineering.
The platform is also being used outside TU Delft. For example, more than 2,000 school pupils were introduced to robotics through MIRTE workshops at TU Delft’s Science Centre. These workshops enable pupils to get hands-on experience of programming robots and learn how technology works in a fun and engaging way.
MIRTE Lite and Basic
To ensure MIRTE is relevant to different levels of knowledge and age groups, various versions of the platform are available. For example, MIRTE Lite focuses on learning basic electronics and robot behaviour. By connecting two sensors to the motors, users can build a robot that reacts to its environment, such as avoiding obstacles or following light. This version is specifically aimed at younger pupils who are being introduced to robotics for the first time.
MIRTE Basic offers the same features as MIRTE Lite, with the addition of a microcontroller. This allows users to create more complex behaviour and utilise more sensors. MIRTE Basic also includes software, based on both blocks and Python. This enables pupils to develop their programming skills.
MIRTE Pioneer and Master
For advanced users, there is the MIRTE Pioneer. This more advanced version offers the opportunity to explore all robotic possibilities by adding a computer. This enables users to utilise more sensors, such as a camera and lidar. They can also add a gripper. As well as block-based programming and Python, users can also utilise the Robot Operating System (ROS).
Finally, MIRTE Master is now available – the most advanced version of the platform. MIRTE Master focuses on the development and learning of robotic applications. It includes, amongst other things, a 2D lidar, a 3D depth camera, omnidirectional wheels and a 4DOF manipulator. The team is currently working on a new, fully open-source version, which should further increase the platform’s accessibility and usability.
Further developing the platform
The MIRTE Robotteam intends to use the prize money of 1.2 million euros to further develop the platform. Among other things, the team aims to assess the platform’s effectiveness. It also wants to build a community, partly to facilitate the sharing of experiences and knowledge between users.
