Robotics
In the robotics unit, the students explore engineering, technology and robotic programming through the Mind-Storm Lego building system. During this unit, the class explores both a set curriculum and a free form design portion where teams of two students program and build robotic vehicles to move forward, turn and stop relayed via computer instructions. The robotics curriculum poses a series of design challenges where the students endeavor to create a variety of vehicles to accomplish an assortment of tasks. Speed, agility, slope climbing challenge the students to consider and choose the appropriate features for their vehicle. The unit also teaches the children about gears and how they are able to develop speed or power depending upon the gear ratio and interplay of cog diameter. At various point throughout the unit the students are also allowed free engineering time to make the most of their creativity. Mr. Wingate and I take advantage of "teachable moments" to share information relating to electronics, motors and strategies of design.
Focus • Organize, sort, and maintain the MindStorm Lego parts and materials in an efficient manner • Program the MindStorm operating system to accomplish individual and multistep robotic movement including saving and recording of results and modifying instructions • Think ahead and plan computer programming to accomplish goals of robotic vehicle turns and movement • Program their computer to driver their vehicle around obstacles and predetermined paths. • Engineer and build many vehicle designs to accomplish goals of strength, speed, and maneuverability • Learn how their robots’ incorporation of sensors, gears, traction, and shape will help it achieve specific goals • Work cooperatively to problem solve during the design, programming, engineering, and testing phases of the project |