An Educational Robotics Approach to Drawing and Studying Central Trochoids at the University Level

Educational robotics has become increasingly popular in STEM education, offering motivating and hands-on learning experiences. The use of robots in science education is widespread, mainly in primary and secondary schools, whereas there is little research in higher mathematics education in this area. This paper explores the potential of educational robotics for teaching plane curves at the university level. Specifically, it investigates the development and implementation of a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot designed to draw various central trochoids, including epicycloids and hypocycloids. The robot’s construction and programming are described in detail, emphasising the relationship between the physical movements of the robot and the mathematical equations of the curves it produces. The study also examines the integration of dynamic geometry software, which allows for visualising the curves and verifying the robot’s accuracy. The development process of the drawing LEGO robot followed the V-model methodology. Functional and manual testing of the drawing robot was conducted in a classroom environment with ten students. Based on the feedback from students, the paper concludes that educational robotics can serve as a valuable tool for enhancing both theoretical and practical understanding of mathematical and engineering concepts, offering a more engaging and interactive approach to learning.