Enabling STEM education through a remote, gesture controlled surgical robot

This paper presents an innovative approach to teaching secondary and sixth-form students science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) skills. The work, a gesture-controlled robot arm capable of performing low-latency, remote surgery, serves as a captivating gateway to interdisciplinary learning, blending cutting -edge technology with a real-world application in modern healthcare. The main objective of this research is to revolutionise STEMM education by integrating advanced technologies into a fun and responsive project. By developing a 4-axis gesture-controlled 3D printed robot arm and combining it with state-of-the-art components such as Leap Motion and Amazon Web Services (AWS), we aim to provide students with hands-on experience in robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and current healthcare technology. The system's novelty was demonstrated by the high smoothness and responsiveness of the gesture control, with an average latency of 162ms during proximity lab control and 180ms for remote control over a 50km distance. The approach followed a rigorous methodology, encompassing research, design, development, and testing phases of t he proposed system. By conducting research into the educational market and examining similar products, a set of specification points was made. System modelling was then undertaken to conceptualise and plan the system architecture, followed by system develo pment to bring the design to fruition. The completed system also underwent comprehensive testing to ensure adherence to the researched specification points.