How Coding Helps In Robotics

Kids have been obsessed with the movies depicting robots. Every kid dream to have a robot who can do their homework, can bring them good food, completes their assignments, turn the lights on/off, and whatnot. We all fantasize about having this brilliant machine but what makes the difference is whether you are someone who only dreams of owning this post spending a thrifty amount or someone who wants to create this futuristic machine. If you fall into the latter category, then coding carves out the way to your destination. Coding education is the basis of robotics. Students need to receive education on coding to successfully create a robot. Robots process sensor data perform cognition and plan actions using a set of instructions called programs that are executable on a processor. In this blog, we aim to introduce to the most popular language in robotics and give a brief about how learning coding and robotics are helping the students.

Popular Programming languages in Robotics! Coding is essentially the written instructions that a robot or computer program can read and execute. Students must plan the task they want to execute through a robot, design the code and then run it to see the outcome. The C programming language and Python are highly regarded in the robotics industry. If you are a programming newbie, you could start with Python, Arduino, and other visual languages. Python is easy to learn and is a staple for applications like microcontrollers. It is also very popular due to its use in machine learning and because it can be used to develop ROS package. You can write your program for ROS e.g. In C/C++ or Python. If you know a little about programming, then we suggest Java. The C language is used for embedded development and real-time high-level programming. This includes motion-decision-making algorithms, vision processing, and control. How are learning coding and robotics helping the students? With the advancement in technology and its increasing importance in our lives, learning has also shifted from the traditional way to STEM education. It is an interdisciplinary approach where academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons. Coding is an essential component of STEM education and has gained worldwide attention. Robotics allows students to see their imagination in a real way as they go through coding. Coding is therefore the connection between you and the robots. Learning to code enables kids to better understand the working of the world around them. Following are the skills coding and robotics teach kids that form the essential components of STEM education:

1. Critical Thinking skills- Learning to code and executing it through robots builds critical thinking in kids, develop better logical and computational thinking.
2. Perseverance- Coding builds perseverance through problem-solving and struggle to execute the program correctly. Constant trial and error until the task is completed and the motions of the robot are observed as intended teaches the kids to be patient and to constantly try.
3. Enhances creativity- When students are exposed to different technological devices, they develop an interest in exploring them. So, if they are introduced to the basics of coding and robotics at the right age, it can stimulate their creativity and satisfy their curiosity.
4. Creates the well-defined path for the future- Coding and robotics are essentially the inevitable parts of future technology, hence introducing coding to kids becomes crucial for them to know their surroundings better, preparing them for the challenges in the current digital world and to decide their area of interest in future.
5. Interdisciplinary learning- Coding and robotics help building a better understanding of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.
6. The plethora of opportunities- The future of employment is largely dependent on artificial intelligence and programming.

According to recent studies, robots might replace 1 billion humans at their workplace in a bit more than a decade from today, hence staying away from this technology is not an option. Kids need to learn and grow according to the current demand and technological advancements. Our surroundings are full of technology from our smartphones to our electrical appliances everything is sensor controlled. This highlights the urgent need for us to shift our focus from conventional to application-based education to fit and succeed in tomorrow’s world. Coding is an interdisciplinary field where students will gain knowledge and tools that go beyond the pure line of code. Robotics and coding within STEM initiatives have become universal throughout educational entities. The government of India has also established Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in various schools across the country to emphasize the hands-on experience in coding, artificial intelligence, robotics. Empower your kids for a better future through coding!