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Vacation workshop: pupils discover robotics, extended reality and AI

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The second day of the workshop was dedicated to extended reality (XR). Using VR headsets, the young people were able to immerse themselves in immersive virtual scenarios.

Eleven students from Dortmund and the surrounding area took part in a two-day workshop at the Faculty of Information Technology to learn how robots work and how Extended Reality (XR) will influence the world and technology of tomorrow.

How do I control a robot arm? How does artificial intelligence help robots to drive? How can I see through the eyes of a robot with XR technologies? And which perceptual effects are important for designing a good virtual world? These and other questions were the focus of a two-day workshop offered by the Faculty of Information Technology at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts for students in year 9 and above during the first week of the fall break.

The response was overwhelming - 25 registrations were received. In the end, eleven young technology enthusiasts from Dortmund, Lünen and the surrounding area were able to take part. In various formats, they learned how versatile modern robotics is, how humans and machines can work together safely and what study opportunities are available at the Faculty of Information Technology.

Experiments with robots

Working with robots

On the first day, the focus was on collaborative robotics. The participants learned how to program a robot arm using user-friendly tools.

With the support of staff and students from the faculty, they controlled the "Cobotta" robotic arm, experimented with mobile robots and explored object recognition using artificial intelligence. The day's program also included a visit to the laboratory and a student advisory service.

Excursion into virtual worlds

The second day was dedicated to extended reality (XR). Using VR headsets, the young people were able to immerse themselves in immersive virtual scenarios such as those used in research and development in biomedical engineering and robotics. They also made their own stereoscopic videos to see through the eyes of a robot - as a playful approach to the use of human spatial perception in technology for telepresence.

The students worked with concentration and motivation, regardless of their previous knowledge. Some participants with initial programming experience even went beyond the tasks and developed their own creative solutions. While the theoretical parts of the workshop required concentration, the practical units were particularly well received by the young people. This also gave the participants a taste of the practical side of studying at a university of applied sciences.

In the BitLab at Fachhochschule Dortmund

"Our impression is very positive," summarizes Aron Hemmis, one of the faculty's supervisors. "The participants achieved good results, showed interest and engaged intensively with the topics."

Prof. Dr. Jörg Thiem and Prof. Dr. Karsten Lehn, professors at the Faculty of Information Technology, are planning to offer similar workshops several times a year in future and to expand their cooperation with schools. The aim is to inspire even more young people to study technology. The next workshop is scheduled for the Easter vacations.

Participation in the workshop was free of charge. During the lunch break, the students were able to eat for free in the Fachhochschule Dortmund canteen.