ProgramYourRobottoPerformaTask

Description

Inthis activity,students gainhands-on experiencewith programmingarobottoperformtasks.

This activity includesseventaskchallenges. Students will work in teams witha timeboundary toperform asmany taskchallenges aspossible. Besure to consult the “Materials” section beforebeginningthe activity to ensure youhaveall thatyou need tocomplete thechallenges.

Challenge4 requires aramp with balls inserted into holesalong theramp’sperimeter. SeeFigure 1in theProcedure section for an example.

Students willbe requiredto work with inputs and outputs undervarious conditions within thecomputerprogram.

LessonOutcomes

Students willbeable to:

•Useprogrammingsoftware tocreate a setof instructions fortherobottoperform atask

•Uploadthe program to therobot

•Troubleshooterrors in thecomputerprogram code

•Adaptprogramming code tosolve a challengemore efficiently

•Effectively communicateandwork in a team

•Useappropriate terminology to describethe components in their electroniccircuit

Assumptions

Studentswillhave:

•Someexperience withcomputerprogrammingand sensors

•Some experiencewithcomputerinterfaces,savingandopeningfiles

KeyTerminology

Rollingplatformrobot:abasicrobot thatcan move fromonelocationtoanother.

EstimatedTime

3+hours

RecommendedNumberofStudents

2–3 students perrobot team

Facilities

Any classroom withtables

Robot testing area:tablethatis 120× 240 cm, 120×120 cm, etc.(4'× 8',4' ×4',etc.)

Tools

Computers andprogramming software

Toolsare platform-specific based on the robotics platform selected

A basictoolkitthatincludespliers,wrenches,nail files (toroundoffsharpcorners)

Materials

Robotkits(e.g.,VEXEDR,VEXIQ, LEGOMindstorms)A ramp withsmall balls (seeFigure 1)

Objects of varioussizes thattherobot will pick up

Resources

VEXRobotics

LEGO

Computerprogrammingexamples:

ProgramyourLEGONXTRobot

ProgramyourVEXIQRobot

ProgramyourVEXEDRRobot

Websiteforumsforteam-to-teamorpeer-to-peeronlinediscussions:

VEXIQForum

VEXEDRForum

FIRSTForums

Procedure

First, teamswillbuild a rollingplatform robot on wheels thathas componentstopickupobjectsand release them.

Next,havevariousobjects availablefor the robot to pick upand dropoff.Students maymakeadditionalattachmentssuchas a smallarm or claw to helpto help tocomplete thechallenge.

Also, havearamp built with balls insertedinto holes along theramp’sperimeter (Figure1).

Figure1—Ramp with balls inserted into holes

Thefollowing challenges are not intended as classroom competitions butrather asin-classexercises thatwill givea better understanding of how to usecomputerprograms to enablerobots toperform varioustasks. Eachactivity should bedemonstratedin front of theteacherand/or the entireclass.Thecriteria for each activitycanbe decidedbased on availablematerials, space and studentability.

Challenge1

Write acomputer programto move therolling platformrobot forwardforafew seconds and stop.Installthe program into the robot and testyourprogram;revise as necessary.

AvideoexampleofChallenge1

Challenge2

Write acomputerprogram to move therolling platform robot forward for a few seconds, turnaroundandreturn tothestarting position. Install theprogram into therobotand testyourprogram;revise as necessary.

AvideoexampleofChallenge2

Challenge3

Write acomputerprogram to move therollingplatform robot forwardfor a few seconds,turnleftor right, moveforwardfor afew moreseconds,thenreturnto thestartingposition.Installtheprogram into therobotand testyourprogram;revise as necessary.

Challenge4

Write acomputerprogram to move the rollingplatform robot forward andup aramp (Figure 1)andknock theballsoff, thenreturn tothestarting position. Installthe program into the robot and testyourprogram;revise asnecessary. Each ballknocked off countsas a point toward thischallenge.

Challenge5

Write a computer program to move the rollingplatform robot to pick up anobjectandreturntherobot to its startingspot.Installthe program into the robot and testyourprogram;revise asnecessary.

Challenge6

Write a computer programto move therolling platform robottopickupan object, deliverit to aspecific location andreturntherobottothe starting spot.Installtheprogramintotherobotandtestyourprogram;revise as necessary.

AvideoexampleofChallenge6:

Challenge7

Write a computer programto move therolling platform robottopickupan object and deliver ittoa specific location.Installtheprogramintotherobotandtestyourprogram;reviseasnecessary.

Next, havetherobotpickup a second object, stackit on topofthefirst object, thenreturntherobottoits startingspot.

ExtensionActivities

Additionalactivities that canbe addedasanextension of this activitycanbe foundunder“Classroom Challenges” at:

Jr.Robotics:aplaceforteachers,studentsandparents

Assessment

The evaluation of this lessonisbasedon thelearning outcomes outlined above.

Prior toteachersusingthe evaluation griditis recommended that studentsperform someformofpeer-assessment andself-assessment.

OutcomeToBeAssessed / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Outcome1 / Usingprogrammingsoftware
1.1 / Successfullywritesprograms toperformrobottasks.
1.2 / Robotresponds asexpected.
1.3 / Attemptedavariety of taskchallenges.
Outcome2 / Troubleshootingerrors
2.1 / Effectivelyresponds toerrorsandcourse-corrects.
Outcome3 / Teamwork
3.1 / Divisionof work.
3.2 / Effortof eachteam member.
Outcome4 / UnderstandingKeyTerminology
4.1 / Demonstratestheuseof KeyTerminology.
4.2 / Appliesterminology appropriately.

TotalPoints:

6 / Completedsuccessfully atthe exceptional level / Exemplary
5 / Completedsuccessfully athigher than theexpected level / Accomplished
4 / Completedsuccessfully to theexpectedlevel / Emerging
3 / Attemptedsuccessfullyat the minimumlevel / Developing
2 / Attempted- Unsuccessful- ClosetoSuccessful / Beginning
1 / Attempted-Unsuccessful / Basic
0 / NotAttempted / N/A

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