RobotGolf:AutonomousChallenge

Description

This activity is a programmingchallengethat putstherobotinautonomousmodeto completeatask. Students will createaseries of programmedinstructions thatwillbeinstalled intherobot.Theseinstructions arethen executed by the robot. Students are evaluatedby thesuccess oftherobot’stask performance.

Onalarge sheet ofpaper,draw ashort “golf course”consistingoffour “holes.”Identify thefourstartingpoints (tee-offs)andfourendingpoints(holes) asthegolfcourse. See the examplesuppliedin Figure1.

Studentswillstarttheirrobot on thefirstteeanddriveittothe hole withoutgoingoffcourse.Repeatuntil the robot successfully completes all four of the golf courseholes.Adjust theinstalledprogram accordingly.

Thisactivity helps studentsto:

•Apply mathematics to their robot design andcomputer program

•Learn from their mistakesand course-correct

•Apply iterative programmingand testingtocompletea task

LessonOutcomes

Students willbeable to:

•Program arobotto navigate andcomplete thegolf course

•Test and improve robot performance

•Work as a teamtoaccomplish agoal

Assumptions

Studentswillhave:

•Knowledge and understanding ofbasic construction techniques

•Access toroboticsplatforms and necessaryequipment

•Access tocomputers andprogramming software

KeyTerminology

Boundary:aphysicalornon-physicalbarrierwithinwhichtherobotoperates.

Feedback:informationfromeithertherobotorateammatewithrespecttoactualperformance.

Linetracker:allowsarobottofollowalineoverasurface.

Sensor:adevicethatprovidesinformationabouttheenvironmenttoadeviceorrobot.

EstimatedTime

Total time:1¾hours to about 3hours:

•30–45 minutestocreate thegolf course(ifnotpreparedahead of time byteacher)

•15–20minutes fordemonstration andverbal instructionexercise

•60–120minutes towrite/test/improveprogram

RecommendedNumberofStudents

Twotofivestudentsperrobot,perteam(ideal:threestudents)Twotofiveteams

Facilities

A large,flat surface in a cafeteria,gym or large classroom wherethegolf course can fit—ideallyon a table or a clean floor

Tools

Toolsare platform-specific based on the robotics platform selected.

A basictoolkitthatincludespliers,wrenches,nail files (toroundoffsharpcorners)

Desktoporlaptop computer withprogrammingsoftwarefor therobot (e.g.,FLOWOL, RobotC,EasyC, Modkit, etc.)

Materials

A large pieceofpaperwitha golf course paintedor drawnon itOnerobot per team

Resources

SearchYouTubeforrobot programmingdemonstration videos.

Youmay alsoreference:

Jr.Robotics:aplaceforteachers,studentsandparents

Website forums for team-to-teamor peer-to-peer onlinediscussionsregardingprogrammingtheirrobot:

VexIQForum

VexEDRCommunityForum

FIRSTForums

Demonstration

This human demonstration helps studentsto developaprogramming mindset before workingwitharobot.

First, havethe studentsformteamsandidentify onepersonin the team to act as arobot,another to act as aprogrammer(givesinstructions to the robot)and athird toactas ascribe.

Theprogrammergivesexactinstructionstothe “robot” towalkto a specific destinationwhilethescriberecords the exact information.

Procedure

Ideally,studentsshouldfirstcompletetherobotgolfchallengebyusing a hand-held remotecontrol(driver).A partner(s) should take notes ofthe exact series of instructionstobegiven totherobot to perform the task, such as completinga golf coursehole.Next, the students shouldwritea computer programtodo thesame task autonomously.Repeatthis process until all thegolf course holes are completed.

The steps for theactivityare:

1.Have studentsform robot teamsconsistingofprogrammers andscribes.(Ideallytwo tothreestudents perteam)

2.Drawa golf courseconsisting offourholes ona largepiece ofpaper.Makesure the golfcourse holes arelargeenoughfortherobotsto fit intothehole. See Figure1.

Figure1—Exampleof afour-holerobotgolf course

3.Teamstake turnsdrivingtheirrobot through thecourse usingaremote control.It mightbeeasier to have teamsstarton different holes so as to avoid congestion onthe course. Teamscribes takenotesoftheexactcontrollermovementsandrobotbehaviourfortheirfirsthole.

4.Teamsthenbeginwritingtheirprogramsinordertocompletetheirfirsthole.

5.At this point, teamscanstarttesting/rewritingtheir programs, workingtheirway throughalloftheholes.

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 / Programarobottonavigateandcompletethegolfcourse
1.1 / Robotnavigated themaze(s)/obstacle(s).
1.2 / Robotsuccessfully avoided object(s).
1.3 / Computerprogram operatedas expected.
Outcome2 / Testandimproverobotperformance
2.1 / Uses field totest program.
2.2 / Usesinformationfrom testingtoimproveperformance.
Outcome3 / Teamwork
3.1 / Students able to resolveerrorswhen encountered.
3.2 / Divisionof work.
3.3 / Effortof eachteam member.

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

Comments:

ExtensionActivities

Gotothe Classroom Challenges sectionatthebottom ofthefollowing webpageto see possibleextensionactivities.

Jr.Robotics:aplaceforteachers,studentsandparents