Abstract
This paper introduces BEATRIX, a novel robotic head designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the field of robotics at universities. The BEATRIX robot comprises a head actuated by a neck-like mechanism with three stepper motors, two cameras and two microphones for acquisition of visual and audio information from the environment. The robot can be connected to any external computer for the design and implementation of algorithms for applications in human–robot interaction. The proposed robotic platform has been used successfully with undergraduate and master students implementing tasks such as face detection and tracking, sound detection and tracking, robot control and graphical user interfaces. This paper includes lists of all the robot components, assembly instructions, and links to all CAD and software files, facilitating replication and further exploration. The robot design and integration of visual and audio sensors enables the development of engaging educational tutorials and robot experiments, enhancing the teaching and learning experience in robotics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e00591 |
| Journal | HardwareX |
| Volume | 20 |
| Early online date | 8 Oct 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2024 |
Acknowledgements
The authors also would like to thank Mr Adam Wild for his help with the set of instructions to assemble the robot platform.Funding
The authors would like to thank the University of Bath and the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering for funding, resources, technical support and access to their facilities.
Keywords
- Education
- Humanoids
- Human–robot interaction
- Open hardware
- Robot head
- Sensors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Instrumentation
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering