Universal Robots allows both teachers and students to benefit from the many educational tools provided with the robots. They have free access to the various free online training modules of the Universal Robots Academy. With explanatory videos in French and practical exercises, the UR Academy gives them the opportunity to learn virtually - in the classroom or at home - before applying what they have learned in the classroom.
Cobotics also facilitate projects such as "Johnny the horse"; a project involving robotizing a cardboard horse head and bringing it to life. To do this, they have - with the help of Raspberry Pi (small single-board computer) - established communication between the cobot and the head, offering control of the various motors found in the horse's ears, eyes and mouth. This makes it possible to analyze what the horse 'hears' and 'sees'. Depending on the collected data, the cobot will perform various pre-programmed trajectories that correspond to emotions such as joy, fear or excitement.
The cobots have been very well received by the students and teachers who quickly learn the technology. The students add valuable UR cobot technology to their CVs, making them more employable. And by doing so, UIMM Bretagne training center has improved its attractiveness and relationship with local companies. For the "Johnny the horse" project, programming was completed in just one day. This was made possible by Universal Robots technology, which stands out for its ease of programming and great flexibility. The project is still under development: subsequent versions will incorporate new trajectories to make the animations as realistic as possible.
On the strength of this experience, UIMM Bretagne training center plans to invest in other UR cobots, both for its center in Bruz and for its other centers in the Bretagne region.
