Distance learning is facing a critical moment finding a balance between high quality education for remote students and engaging them in hands-on learning. This is particularly
relevant for project-based classrooms and makerspaces, which typically require extensive
trouble-shooting and example demonstrations from instructors. We present RobotAR, a teleconsulting robotics system for creating Augmented Reality (AR) makerspaces. We present
the hardware and software for an AR-compatible robot, which behaves as a student’s voice
assistant and can be embodied by the instructor for teleconsultation. As a desktop-based
teleconsulting agent, the instructor has control of the robot’s joints and position to better
focus on areas of interest inside the workspace. Similarly, the instructor has access to the
student’s virtual environment and the capability to create AR content to aid the student
with problem-solving. We also performed a user study which compares current techniques
for distance hands-on learning and an implementation of our system.