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Last Snap!con, we demonstrated an in-development version of a tool for students to use simulated robots in NetsBlox. This year, we have a new version, already being used in classrooms. You can control virtual robots with block-based code, in a 3D world, entirely in your browser. To go along with NetsBlox’s other collaboration tools, the environments are networked, allowing students working as a group to share a virtual space as well as their programs with each other.

These virtual robots reduce the barriers for classroom robotics use while also making new scenarios available that would otherwise be too expensive or too dangerous to do with physical robots. Students can work with new sensors and new devices, without requiring any expense from teachers beyond the computer and internet connection they already use for Snap!.

The talk will focus on demos and example projects, while also showing the existing use of this platform in the classroom. Participants can play around with their own robots, and are free to continue using the platform after the talk!