Desenvolvimento de um kit didático de robótica educacional infantil de baixo custo baseado em plataforma Arduino

Abstract

Educational robotics has become an important tool for developing technical and socio-emotional skills, promoting active learning methodologies and bringing students closer to the fields of Sci- ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, the high cost of commercial educational kits and the lack of accessible teaching materials remain significant barriers to their widespread adoption, especially in educational institutions with limited financial resources. In this context, this study aimed to develop and implement the IFRobot educational kit, a low-cost educational robotics solution composed of a robotic car, a programming library developed in Portuguese for Arduino, and teaching materials designed for students and teachers. The prototype was developed using an Arduino Nano, a TB6612FNG motor driver, infrared sensors, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, an HC-05 Bluetooth module, a buzzer, and an LED lighting system. The results demonstrated the satisfactory operation of the implemented functionalities, including Bluetooth-controlled movement, autonomous line following, obstacle detection, and activation of auxiliary features. In addition to the technical validation of the prototype, a programming library and educational materials were developed, expanding the kit’s potential for educational robotics activities. An economic analysis demonstrated the financial feasibility of the proposal, with an estimated cost of approximately BRL 223.00, which can be reduced to values between BRL 160.00 and BRL 180.00 through material reuse and bulk purchasing of components. It is concluded that the IFRobot educational kit represents a technically feasible, economically viable, and socially relevant alternative for democratizing access to educational robotics, contri- buting to bridging the gap between theory and practice while encouraging students’ interest in technological fields.