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About a year ago, iRobot acquired Root Robotics to help them with a major push for developing STEM education. It wasn’t just Root’s educational robot itself, but also their platform, which included software and lessons for helping kids learn how to code. Recently, as part of the National Robotics Week in the United States that almost everyone seems to have forgotten about, iRobot is announcing iRobot Education—a combination of an online robot simulator along with lessons and activities that your kids (or you yourself) can use completely for free.
大约一年前，iRobot收购了Root机器人，帮助他们大力发展STEM教育。当然收购的不仅仅是Root的教育机器人本身，还有他们的平台，其中包括帮助孩子学习如何编码的软件和课程。最近，作为几乎所有人都忘记的美国国家机器人周的一部分，iRobot宣布iRobot教育-一个在线机器人模拟器与课程和活动的结合，您的孩子（或您自己）可以完全免费使用。
We’re already familiar with (and fans of) the Root coding robot, which is a great intro to coding and robotics but costs US $200. Root is likely a bit more practical for educational institutions (primary and secondary schools) that can afford to buy a handful of them to support several classrooms worth of kids, making it much more cost effective. But for individual students, or for kids who are, say, stuck at home during a pandemic and need to stay busy and/or educated, buying a robot like Root is a big investment. Fortunately, they can just do what every other roboticist does when they don’t have access to hardware: Start in simulation instead.
我们已经熟悉Root的编码机器人，这是一个很棒的编程入门机器人，虽然需要花费200美元的成本。对于那些有能力购买一小部分的教育机构（中小学）来说，Root可能更实用一些，以支持几个教室的孩子，这使得它更具成本效益。但是对于个别学生，或者说，对于那些在疫情大流行期间被困在家里需要保持忙碌和/或接受教育的孩子来说，购买像Root这样的机器人是一项巨大的投资。幸运的是，他们可以像其他机器人专家一样在没有硬件的情况下做：从模拟开始。
iRobot is launching a free (albeit proprietary) coding and simulation platform that’s compatible with most operating systems, including Android, Chrome OS (Chromebooks!), Windows, iOS, and macOS. Called iRobot Coding, it has a lot in common with coding frameworks like Blockly and Scratch, in that there are several levels of complexity to help make it super easy to start even if you’ve never coded before. The simplest level has blocks that you drag and drop into a framework that structures your code for you. Level 2 adds variables and logic functions into the mix. And Level 3 replaces the blocks with text, although text that’s still fairly user-friendly. You can switch between all three levels whenever you like, even if it’s the same piece of code, effectively translating something simple (with fewer options) into something complex (with more options), which is a great way to progress.
iRobot正在推出一个免费的（但是有所有权）编码和模拟平台，它与大多数操作系统兼容，包括Android、Chrome OS（Chromebooks！）、Windows、iOS和macOS。称为iRobot编码，它与Blockly和Scratch这样的编码框架有很多共同点，因为有几个层次的复杂性有助于使它非常容易启动，即使您以前从未编写过代码。最简单的级别中您可以将其拖放到为您构建代码的框架中。级别2将变量和逻辑函数添加到组合中。级别3用文本替换，而且文本仍然相当友好。您可以随时在这三个级别之间切换，即使是同一段代码，也可以有效地将简单的（选项较少）转换为复杂的（选项较多），这是一种很好的进步方式。
What’s really unique about iRobot Coding is that the coding environment includes an integrated Root simulator, meaning that the code you write can control a little simulated robot. It’s a simplified 2D representation of an actual Root robot, with many of the same (simulated) capabilities, including bumpers, pattern sensors, touch sensors, lights, and even a pen that can draw on the simulated whiteboard that the simulated robot is running on.
iRobot编码的真正独特之处在于，编码环境包括一个集成的Root模拟器，这意味着您编写的代码可以控制一个小的模拟机器人。它是实际Root机器人的简化二维表示，具有许多相同的（模拟）功能，包括保险杠、模式传感器、触摸传感器、灯光，甚至可以在模拟机器人运行的模拟白板上画笔。
It’s incredibly fast and intuitive to get the little simulated Root zipping around doing stuff, and if you do end up having access to a physical Root robot, anything you develop in the simulated environment will transfer right over. While the simulator doesn’t include obstacles, iRobot is planning on adding some environments (like mazes) to challenge your programming abilities. What it does include is the ability for the simulated robot to recognize, and react to, the lines that it draws, which is an opportunity to do some clever programming.
这是令人难以置信的快速和直观的小模拟根拉链周围做的事情，如果你最终有权访问一个物理Root机器人，你在模拟环境中开发的任何东西都将转移过来。虽然模拟器不包括障碍物，iRobot计划添加一些环境（如迷宫）来挑战您的编程能力。它所包含的功能是让模拟机器人能够识别并对它所画的线做出反应，这是一个做一些聪明编程的机会。
“One of the wonderful things about robots is that you speak to them through code, and you speaking to them through code is a form of problem-solving,” says Zee Dubrovsky, senior director and general manager of Educational Robots at iRobot. “The robot will only do what you code it to do and so if it’s not doing what you expect, it’s not because you didn’t imagine something correctly, it’s that you have to translate your problem-solving into the code. And it’s those learning opportunities that are critical.”
iRobot教育机器人高级主管兼总经理泽杜布罗夫斯基（Zee Dubrovsky）说：“机器人的一个奇妙之处在于，你通过代码与它们交流，而通过代码与它们交流是一种解决问题的方式。“机器人只会做你编码它要做的事情，所以如果它没有做你期望的事情，那不是因为你没有正确地想象一些事情，而是你必须把你的问题解决转化为代码。而其中的关键是那些学习机会。”
Perhaps just as important as iRobot’s coding and simulation tool is the support behind it, in the form of activities and lesson plans that provide guidance and structure. There are code samples as well as a pile of downloadable PDF lessons, some of which are modeled after educational standards (like Common Core). There will soon be hundreds of hours of content available, although since the site just launched this morning, things may be a bit sparse if you go look right at the moment.
也许和iRobot的编码和模拟工具一样重要的是它背后的支持，以提供指导和结构的活动和课程计划的形式。有代码示例以及一堆可下载的PDF课程，其中一些课程是根据教育标准（如Common Core）建模的。据说很快就会有数百小时的内容可供使用，尽管自从网站今天早上刚推出以来，如果你现在就去看，信息可能会有点少。
iRobot says that they’ve been working on this for a year, and it’s just a coincidence that they’re releasing it at a time when lots of parents are desperate to find ways of keeping their kids educated and entertained at the same time. With that in mind, they’ve made their premium lessons (the ones designed for teachers) free until June with the code “LEARN.” After June, access will be $5 per month.
iRobot表示，他们已经为此工作了一年，而这只是一个巧合，在很多家长都急于想办法让他们的孩子同时接受教育和娱乐的时候，他们发布了这本书。考虑到这一点，他们在6月份之前免费提供他们的高级课程（为教师设计的课程），代码是“LEARN”，6月份之后，每个月5美元。
Going forward, iRobot has some ambitious plans to build on this initial STEM educational framework. “iRobot coding will one day extend simulated Roombas, where instead of Root’s marker up and down, you’re coding Roomba’s vacuum on and off,” says Dubrovsky. “Eventually, we’ll have a connection to the physical robots as well—it’s certainly within our capability, and that’s something we’re excited about.”
展望未来，iRobot有一些雄心勃勃的计划要建立在这个最初的STEM教育框架之上。杜布罗夫斯基说：“iRobot编程有朝一日会扩展模拟Roombas，在Roomba中，你不必上下标记，而是打开或关闭Roomba。”。“最终，我们将与物理机器人建立联系，这当然是我们力所能及的，这也是我们感到兴奋的。”
素材来源：
https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/home-robots/irobot-launches-robot-simulator-free-online-curriculum-for-robotics-education
https://edu.irobot.com/
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