Robotics outreach : laboratory demonstrations for diverse audiences

Abstract

Robotics has seen a surge in popularity as an educational and engagement tool, leading the Robotic Systems Laboratory at the University of Malta to embark on the development of comprehensive outreach activity. This paper outlines the development of a coherent demonstration strategy and of targeted robotic demonstrations aimed at diverse audiences, including primary and secondary school students, tertiary education students, the general public, and visiting researchers. A structured design approach, incorporating quality function deployment, function-means analysis, and decision matrices, guided the conceptualisation and development phases. Five distinct demonstrations were developed: shapes drawing for primary students, pick-and place block handling for secondary students, a stair-descending robot demonstration for tertiary students, a cocktail-making demonstration for the general public, and a bottle-cap presence checking demonstration for visiting researchers. Post demonstration surveys gathered feedback, informing valuable suggestions for improvement, such as increasing robot operating speed for younger audiences and expanding complexity for advanced learners. The work concludes that these demonstrations can significantly enhance the outreach, educational, and engagement values of the laboratory, potentially increasing revenue and reach, and supporting the mission of the laboratory as a centre for public outreach and technological advancement.