Robotics Module

Jose Lopez and Kevin DerendorfGK-12 Fellows

Barry WilliamsInstructor

Introduction Robots are important tools to accomplish tasks that humans are unable or unwilling to do

Robots are not scary or inaccessible Engineering is essential to maintaining

and developing our way of life Requires teamwork, problem solving

skills, and effort Engineering is a rewarding endeavor

FALL 2008 Goals

Compete in FLL competition Introduction to engineering

High degree of engagement at the start Many students lost interest

Spring 2009 Goals

Maintain interest with entrepreneurship theme Introduction to engineering

Each class formed 3 startup companies that

produce water-filter robots Each company had 3 job categories: marketers,

managers, engineers High degree of engagement throughout semester Some students still lost interest Lots of copying

Materials List For each group:

1 LEGO Mindstorm NXTrobot kit 1 PC withLEGO Mindstorm software 1 ruler 1 black marker 6 AA batteries for robots w/o

rechargeable battery packs 1 wide roll of masking tape Plastic cups 1 4x8 ft (1.2x2.4 m) mat

Educational Standards

Missouri (1996) Mathematicsgeometric and spatial sense involving

measurement, trigonometry, and similarity and transformations of shapes

Missouri (1996) Scienceproperties and principles of matter and

energyproperties and principles of force and

motionprocesses of scientific inquiryimpact of science, technology and

human activity on resources and the environment

Reference: http://dese.mo.gov/standards/

Activity 1: Introduction to robotics

Provides good entry point Introduces students to the Mindstorm programming environment

Teaches students basic maneuvers

Prepares students for more complicated

tasks (FLL competition)

Activity 1: Introduction to robotics

Grade level: 5-9

Time required: 8 1-hour class periods Group size: 3 Expendable cost per group: $260 Students assemble a simple robot and

learn how to program basic maneuvers

using sensors

Activity 1: Learning objectives

Describe what an engineer is and what an engineer does

Program a LEGO Mindstorm NXT robot

to perform basic tasks

Describe how the ultrasonic and light

sensors work

Describe how robot uses sensors

Activity 1: Basic robot

Activity 1: Maneuvers

Activity 1: Maneuvers

Activity 1: Maneuvers

Activity 1: Maneuvers w/sensors

Optional for lower grades

Activity 1: Pre-assessment Questions

What do engineers do?

What are some of the types of engineers? What is a robot? What are robots used for?

Activity 1: Post-assessment Questions

How do the sensors work? How does the robot use the sensors? How is working with the robot like engineering?

Activity 3: Water Filtration Activity

Grade level: 6-12

Time required: 12 1-hour class periods Group size: 3 Expendable cost per group: $260 Students design, construct, and program a

robot to fulfill an assigned mission, in this

case a “water filter”

Activity 3: Motivation Contaminated water is a major problem worldwide

In certain countries, people travel dozens

of miles on foot through dangerous terrain

to obtain clean water

Solution: Robots!

Activity 3: Mission

Activity 3: Mission

Activity 3: Video