Robotic Rescue Simulation for Computing Teaching in the UK: A Case Study

Physical computing, and robotics in particular, is an excellent tool which can be used to help students understand many aspects of Engineering and Computer Science. However, obtaining and using suitable kits or hardware can involve significant financial outlay for a school. Additionally maintaining, storing and using the physical hardware presents many practical problems for teachers. These factors combine to create a significant entry barrier, especially for teachers who have previously not used robots and may be lacking confidence or motivation to use physical computing as a teaching aid. Robotic simulation provides a good alternative as it provides the experience and many of the benefits of working with robots to be gained at low cost, using computers already available in school. A software platform which meets this need is CoSpace Rescue. This has been created by Singapore Polytechnic as an educational tool and provides a simulation platform for RoboCupJunior. This platform allows students to experience event driven programming by developing search strategies to find and deposit coloured objects, whilst avoiding obstacles and traps. CoSpace was introduced to the UK in 2013 coincident with the introduction of a new compulsory national computing curriculum for England. The approach used to introduce CoSpace into schools and the relevance that CoSpace has to the new curriculum for England are presented in this paper. Four teams have now represented the UK at international RoboCupJunior competitions and the UK national competition, now in its third year, is already attracting over 100 competing teams with over 300 schools making use of the CoSpace Platform nationwide.