Mix-Reality: Robotics and 3D Virtual Worlds

The R&D group ISUS (Intelligent Sensing and Ubiquitous Systems – http://isus.ufp.pt) from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT) of Fernando Pessoa University (UFP), repeated this year its collaboration with the Ciência Viva during the Summer (https://www.cienciaviva.pt/verao/2021/), contributing once again to disseminate and attract young people to science and research carried out in Portugal.

This activity was promoted and organized by Professor Rui Silva Moreira in collaboration with Professor Christophe Soares and the monitors (attending the MSc in Mobile Computing at FCT/UFP): Inês Capela, Pedro Alves, André Batista, André Costa, Bruno Pereira, Rodrigo Soares and Daniel Martins.

The internship week took place between July 19th and 23rd, under the theme MIX-REALITY: INTERLINKING REAL ROBOTS AND 3D VIRTUAL WORLDS. This internship allowed us to welcome in our lab 8 high-school students who decided to explore the world of Robotics and 3D virtual spaces. The trainees had the opportunity to build and program real robots (aka., Farruscos), and interconnect them with 3D virtual robots. More specifically, this internship allowed students to: i) assemble the robot using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, sensors, actuators and control modules; ii) program the robot to develop several autonomous activities (e.g. follow lines, walls, people, etc.) iii) create a replica of the ISUS Lab and its 3D robot (opensimulator); and iv) connect the 3D virtual robot’s movements to the real world, mimicking their actions in both worlds.
It was an intense week, full of activities and good mood… and with free lunches! It went so well that in the end no one wanted to go on vacation! We said goodbye with the promise of returning one day.