Innovative Engineering Education Using Programmable Lego Robotic VD Graaf Generators

The Technology Assisted Science, Engineering and Mathematics (TASEM) learning, with major focus on innovations in the use of technology to explain new and complicated concepts rather than on education research, goes far beyond the conventional demos of van de Graaf (VDG) generators to introduce programmable Lego-based VDG (PLVDG) for the first time. The PLVDG modules explain underlying concepts of micro-and nano-systems in a fun and fascinating way as evident from the level of interest seen in over 200 learners at K-12, undergraduate and graduate levels during 2006-07. The interest in PLVDG seems to be strongly related to the fact that the learners can design, build, program and explore PLVDG using different pulley & belt materials and a palm-size robot. The generated voltages are in the range of 5 -35 kV depending upon humidity and pulley speed. Sensors of positive and negative charges have also been developed using NMOS and PMOS switches embedded in Legolike bricks. A number of experiments are reported in this paper focusing on learning of a number of areas including materials, engineering (EE&ME), computers, and microsystems. The PLVDG-based learning modules will be marketed by Nanobrick.com.