Controlling a robotic fish with a smart phone

• An iDevice application and communication hardware to control a robotic fish are developed.
• The mechatronics platform is designed to engage K-12 students in STEM learning.
• The iDevice application includes a control interface and a detailed tutorial.
• The mechatronics platform is field-tested with students during robotics activities.
• The iDevice controller is found to be easier to use than a traditional joystick.

Recently, mobile devices such as Apple’s iDevices have acquired the ability to host a variety of functions beyond merely initiating and receiving telephone calls. These devices have great potential for educational applications, especially when integrated with disparate technologies, such as environmental sensors, microscopes, and robotics. In this work, we present the development of an iDevice application and communication hardware for interacting with a miniature robotic fish. The application includes a user interface for controlling the robot’s motion, a detailed tutorial featuring an animated fish, and a link to information about scientific research using the robot. This platform has been field-tested with children in a broad age range and refined based on their feedback. The application has been found to be significantly easier to use than a traditional joystick controller by a survey of middle school children.