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FECS
2009

Development of a System for Teaching C/C++ Using Robots and Open Source Software in a CS1 Course

13 years 7 months ago
Development of a System for Teaching C/C++ Using Robots and Open Source Software in a CS1 Course
- This paper describes the development of a system for teaching C/C++ using LegoTM RCX Robots in a CS1 college course on introductory programming. The system has been implemented using an integrated development environment (IDE) developed by the open source community (Code::Blocks). We have modified the IDE so that it can call a C/C++ cross-compiler for the RCX whose standard firmware has been replaced by the BrickOS open source operating system. An open source emulator (BrickEMU) has also been integrated within the Code::Blocks environment. The IDE and robotic software executes on a virtual machine running under the freely available software, SunTM VirtualBox. This allows for a uniform programming platform for Windows, MacOS, and Unix/Linux. The use of robots in CS1 affords science and engineering students the opportunity to learn sensory-motor based control, to work with an IDE early in their careers, and to gain experience with development and debugging tools that can be utilized th...
Amy Delman, Lawrence Goetz, Yedidyah Langsam, Theo
Added 17 Feb 2011
Updated 17 Feb 2011
Type Journal
Year 2009
Where FECS
Authors Amy Delman, Lawrence Goetz, Yedidyah Langsam, Theodore Raphan
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