Teaching Concepts in Fuzzy Logic Using Low Cost Robots, PDAs, and Custom Software

Fuzzy logic is a topic traditionally taught in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics courses. Students receive the necessary mathematical and theoretical foundation in lecture format. The final learning experience may require that students create and code their own fuzzy logic application that solves a real world problem. This can be an issue when the target is a Bioengineering course that introduces classical control theory, fuzzy logic, neural networks, genetic algorithms and genetic programming through the use of a low cost robot, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) handheld computer, and custom PDA software. In this course, the concepts and theories discussed in lecture are reinforced and extended in a corresponding laboratory through the use of wireless robots and PDAs.