Developing a robot arm control training system by using blockly programming techniques for mechatronics engineers-in-training

In this paper we applied the Blockly programming techniques to develop a robot arm control training system for engineers-in-training. With the fast growth of Industry 4.0, the use of robot arm control devices becomes more common. These kind devices usually rely on high-level language programming techniques to achieve the task. However, it is very challengeable and time-consuming to young engineers. With the availability of Blockly programming techniques and its function of automatic translating control logic to high-level language, we adopted the ADDIE instructional design model including Analysis, Design, Development, Implement, and Evaluation, to construct a digital learning of competence-based course of intelligent automatic control system for techniques and talents training. The results show that: (1)Blockly programming techniques are able to increase the efficiency of intellectual automatic control system integration and programming; (2)ADDIE instructional design model guides to construct the curriculum and materials to meet industrial functions smoothly; (3)PBL-based lectures is able to train young control engineers to integrate intellectual automatic systems easily and successfully.