IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 77

Bringing Robotics
to Formal Education
The Thymio Open-Source Hardware Robot

image licensed by ingram publishing

By Francesco Mondada, Michael Bonani,
Fanny Riedo, Manon Briod, Léa Pereyre,
Philippe Rétornaz, and Stéphane Magnenat

M

obile robots are valuable tools for education
because of both the enthusiasm they raise
and the multidisciplinary nature of robotics
technology. Mobile robots give access to
a wide range of fields, such as complex mechanics, sensors, wireless transmission, mathematics, and computer science. However, despite their potential as educational
tools, robots are still not as widespread in schools as they
could be. In this article, we identify five key reasons: lack

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2016.2636372
Date of publication: 21 February 2017

1070-9932/17©2017IEEE

of diversity, high cost, noninclusive design, lack of educational material, and lack of stability over time. Then, we
describe our answers to these problems, as we implemented them in the Thymio project: a mature mass-produced
open-hardware robot, at a low price, with a multiage and
gender-neutral feature set, and with a design promoting
creativity, facilitating learning, and providing a wide range
of interaction possibilities from built-in behaviors to text programming, passing through different visual programming
environments. We highlight some neglected key issues that
differentiate open-source hardware from open-source software,
for instance the legal uncertainty of designing open hardware
March 2017

*

IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE

*

77



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017

IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - Cover1
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - Cover2
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 1
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 2
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 3
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 4
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 5
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 6
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 7
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 8
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 9
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 10
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 11
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 12
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 13
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 14
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 15
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 16
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 17
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 18
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 19
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 20
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 21
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 22
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 23
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 24
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 25
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 26
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 27
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 28
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 29
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 30
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 31
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 32
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 33
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 34
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 35
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 36
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 37
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 38
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 39
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 40
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 41
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 42
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 43
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 44
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 45
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 46
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 47
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 48
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 49
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 50
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 51
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 52
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 53
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 54
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 55
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 56
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 57
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 58
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 59
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 60
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 61
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 62
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 63
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 64
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 65
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 66
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 67
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 68
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 69
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 70
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 71
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 72
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 73
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 74
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 75
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 76
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 77
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 78
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 79
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 80
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 81
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 82
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 83
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 84
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 85
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 86
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 87
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 88
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 89
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 90
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 91
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 92
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 93
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 94
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 95
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 96
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 97
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 98
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 99
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 100
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 101
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 102
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 103
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 104
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 105
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 106
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 107
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 108
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 109
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 110
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 111
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 112
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 113
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 114
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 115
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - 116
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - Cover3
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - March 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_june2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_march2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_december2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/roboticsautomation_september2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com