Integrating Education and Real ResearchAbstractPopular media has spawned a recent interest in teaching robotics in the classroom. Many different approaches have been attempted, with many that focus on robot competitions. However, following the competition , students often do not know where to turn to keep their curiosity in robotics alive. This paper discusses a collaborative approach that shows students a clear path from early robot competitions through to careers in the field. The approach relies on student participation in real research and a ladder of mentorship through their academic journey.IntroductionThere has recently been a surge in robotics interest in the popular media. Students from kindergarten through graduate school have caught the fever and are studying robotics in many different ways. One of the most popular has been through robot competitions that have ranged in style from Lego robot leagues, like Bot-ball and First Lego League, to complex mechanical leagues, like the First Robotics Competition, to simulation only leagues such as the RoboCup Simulation league. For many students these competitions are an eye opening and life changing experience; for the first time, many may see a practical and exciting application of math and science, and may wish to pursue robotics. But how, whats the next step? The Remote Exploration Program (REP) is an attempt at bridging the gaps that exist between these early experiences and the next steps that can lead to a career in science, engineering and even robotics.REP is a collaborative effort between Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), the St. Louis Science Center, and St. Louis area schools. The goal is to create an inclusive outreach program of science, engineering and original research that in turn fosters a clearer path for students to pursue careers in the fields of science, engineering, and robotics. The program consists of ongoing outreach activities that culminate in the remote exploration of an unknown site using robots.The Remote Exploration ProgramThe Remote Exploration Program (REP) is structured with ongoing science and engineering outreach programs throughout the academic year. However, the keystone event is the remote exploration of an unknown site. For this exploration, students will come to the St. Louis Science Center and teleoperate a robot that is physically a great distance away (in another state),to explore an unknown environment. The vision for REP is that this remote environment will show mountains and other geologic features that students from the Midwest are unfamiliar with to engender a real sense of being somewhere else. The mission will then be for the students to simply explore this foreign remote environment they have been placed in. The other concept is for students to complete a real world mission similar to tasks that the INEEL group is interested in. Two of INEELs current interests are remote characterization of high radiation environments and urban search and rescue operations.For the pilot program in the spring of 2004, the remote environment will be housed at the St. Louis Science Center and the exploration will be similar to areal world robotic task. We believe that it will add value to both the human factors research and to the students experience if the teleoperation activity simulates areal world robotic mission such as exploring a simulated hazardous material contamination or exploring a mock collapsed building. Starting in the spring of 2005, there mote environment will be outdoors near the INEEL facility in Idaho Falls, ID. For this outdoor environment we are still considering several exploration tasks. We would like to simulate an environmental cleanup and monitoring task, but have not worked out how to simulate this with contaminants that can effectively besensed.Program GoalsIts important to keep in mind that the remote exploration is only a vehicle to accomplish our goals. REP strue focus is its two main goals: to involve young students in real research, and to delineate a clear path from early childhood interest in robotics through to careers in the field. Science and engineering outreach are merely added benefits necessary to fulfill the main goals.Real ResearchRecently, introducing students to real research has become a hot topic in academia; but it really hasnt reached the level that REP is targeting. The National Science Foundations programs such as Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and the St. Louis area Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS)programs often introduce undergraduates and high school students to research, but REP will offer students as young as Kindergarten an opportunity to participate in real research, albeit in a limited way.The most significant portion of the real research will be human-robot interaction studies which will focus on improving the performanc