IEEE EPICS Team Develops Portable Robotics and AI Teaching Platform RoboMeshA in Mexico

In Guadalajara, Mexico, many high schools have motivated teachers and students interested in STEM, yet lack advanced tools such as robotics labs, limiting opportunities for hands-on learning. A team from the Jesuit University of Guadalajara (ITESO), through the EPICS program of IEEE educational activities, formed an interdisciplinary group of 15 engineering students, faculty advisors, and IEEE Guadalajara Section volunteers to develop RoboMeshA, a portable, self-contained teaching platform that brings robotics and artificial intelligence experiences into the classroom. RoboMeshA is an integrated mobile learning network. Schools do not need to build dedicated computer labs or install complex software; students can connect directly to the platform using a browser, operate the robot manually, or use a control mode to observe it move, detect, and avoid obstacles. Faculty advisor Jorge A. Lizarraga said the project integrates mechanical design, embedded systems, control engineering, computer vision, and AI into a single robotic system, forming a mobile learning laboratory. The team says students can thereby intuitively see how these disciplines work together. The team has currently built two devices and is developing a modular coupling framework to expand the system's capabilities in research and classroom demonstrations; its structured design can allow four RoboMeshA robots to operate collaboratively. The team also encountered many challenges during the design process: the chassis had to accommodate all components while providing sufficient stability, rigidity, and weight distribution; electronic components had to be protected while remaining easy to maintain and modify; and the platform had to accommodate students with different experience levels. The team partnered with two high schools, CETI Colomos and Prepa ITESO, to validate the platform in classroom environments. Project lead Luis Fernando Luque-Vega hopes RoboMeshA can become a model for engineering education and be adopted by schools, universities, and IEEE student branches in Mexico and internationally. This article's information comes from the original IEEE Spectrum report and was organized by AI.