Lego NXT Mindstorms

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Robotics

• Lego NXT Mindstorms

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Robotics Introduction

• What is a Robot?
• What are examples of a robot?
• What can robots do?
• What cant robots do?
• How are robots used in our daily lives?

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Definition of a Robot

• What is a Robot?
• A robot is a device that is built to
  independently perform actions and interact with
  its surroundings.

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Watch Video Clips

• After watching the video clips
• Which of the clips showed actual robots?
• Explain the difference between a robot and a
  remote controlled machine/toy

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Day 2 - Reflection

• How are robots used in our daily lives?
• What is possible with a Robot?
• What are some unexpected Robots?

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Day 2 - Agenda

• Reflection discussion
• Finish building Tri-Bot
• Label cables
• Come up with a team and bot name and
• make poster for team
• Watch video clips
• Introduce basic programming

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Day 3 - Reflection

• In what ways do robots need to interact with
  their surroundings?
• Give specific examples of a robot and the type of
  movement or sensors it will need.

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Movement

• Define Types of movement
• Locomotion The ability to move from place to
  place (move from place to place)
• Localization To perform functions in a specific
  area (turn head)
• Manipulation To touch or move by mechanical
  means (move other things around)
• Cooperation - To work together (two
  motors working together for movement)

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Day 3 - Agenda

• Reflection discussion
• Definitions of types of movement
• Watch Robo Cup Dog Soccer identify each type of
  movement
• Inventory of pieces
• Review Programming
• Begin programming with sound blocks

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Day 4 - Reflection

• Why is it important to be specific when giving
  directions?
• Write down the step by step directions of how to
  fold a paper airplane.

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What do we need the robot to do?

• Moving The robot must be able to control some
  set of actuators to move how and when we want it
  to. We must be able to reliably place the robot
  anywhere we want.
• Sensing The robot must be able to perceive its
  environment through sensors locate obstacles to
  avoid, and objects of interest that we want it to
  interact with.
• Plan/Act The robot must be able to make
  decisions using its processor based on its
  sensors and feed them to its actuators to be
  able to move.

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What is a sensor?

• Takes readings from physical environment and
  turns it into an electrical message/signal
• Sensors we will work with
• Touch- hit something and it react
• Light- can sort by color or detect light from
  dark
• Sonar/ultrasonic- tells how far away things are
• Sound- tells how loud something is

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What is a processor?

• It is the logic circuitry that responds to and
  processes the basic instructions that drive a
  computer.
• A computer needs to be able to
• Receive inputs from the sensors, and convert the
  sensor readings into perceptions
• Make decisions based on its perceptions
• Use these decisions to change its environment (or
  move itself in the environment) using its
  actuators.
• Each of the above three things is programmed by
  the user using a programming language.
• Takes readings from physical environment and
  turns it into an electrical message/signal Touch-
  hit something and it react

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What is a processor?

• A computer needs to be able to
• Each of the previous three things is programmed
  by the user using a programming language.
• Takes readings from physical environment and
  turns it into an electrical message/signal Touch-
  hit something and it react

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What is an actuator?

• Takes electrical message and turns it into a
  physical action. For example
• Electric motors receive electricity which makes
  their axles turn. These can be connected to
  wheels, which can make the robot move
• Pumps receive electricity which makes them
  compress liquid through tubes which can make a
  robotic arm move around. This arm can push, pull,
  and lift things in the world.

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Day 4 - Agenda

• Finish Inventory
• Begin programming with sound blocks
• Discussion/Reflection
• Giving clear directions Paper Airplane
• Definitions of types of processes
• Review movement programming
• Begin programming basic movement

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Day 5 - Reflection

• Write directions for your teammates to move
  through a maze within the classroom
• Take turns testing each other's directions and
  see which teammate can write the clearest
  directions.

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Day 5 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Writing directions Move through a maze
• Writing directions Dance moves
• Begin programming for Dance Competition

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Day 6 - Reflection

• What have you learned about the following things
• What is a robot (in your own words)
• Building a robot
• Programming a robot
• What parts do robots need?

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Day 6 Group Activity

• Watch Search Rescue Video Clip
• What do the robots need to be able to perform
  these functions?
• Write directions for your teammates to perform a
  search and rescue mission of a treasure of your
  choice. Include sensors and loops
• Use until
• Use touch sensors

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Day 6 Instruction

• Understand loops exit with an until statement
• Understand programming of the touch sensor

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Day 6 Challenge/Build

• Attach a touch sensor to your Bot
• (pgs 49-53 in large book)
• Program the touch sensor
• Write a program for Bump and Run using the
  Loop block, where robots must run down a
  corridor, bump into a wall, and return to the
  start.
• Bump Run Races
• Have groups which complete this extend the
  program by putting a Forever loop around the
  previous program to make the robot continuously
  go back and forth between two walls.

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Day 6 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Watch Search Rescue Video Clip
• Understanding Programming Touch Sensor Loops
• Writing directions Search Rescue
• Writing directions Bump Run
• Begin programming for Bump Run Races

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Day 7 - Reflection

• What did you have to change/modify to get your
  Bot to be able to do the Bump Run Challenge?
• Change design
• Change Program
• Add stabilizers

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Day 7 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Finish - Bump and Run Race
• Program - Bump, Turn, Continuous
• Writing directions Maze

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Day 8 - Reflection

• Within the police department what kind of robots
  or remote controlled machines do you think they
  would need?
• How would they be used?

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Day 8 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Police Demonstration
• Create Maze
• Writing directions Maze
• Program Bot to complete maze

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Day 9 Ultra Sonic Sensor

• Ultra Sonic sensor sends out a high frequency
  chirp from one circle and the sound wave bounces
  off an object and returns to the microphone in
  the other circle.
• Because sound travels at a constant speed 1,125
  ft/s the processor can calculate the distance the
  sensor is from an object and respond based on the
  programming.

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Day 9 Ultra Sonic Sensor

• In what situations might an Ultra Sonic sensor
  fail?
• Far away
• Angle
• Absorbency
• Multiple surfaces
• Multiple signals

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Day 9 Writing a Program

• In your journal write out the program directions
  for your Bot to make it through the maze using
  the touch sensor, the ultra sonic sensor and
  loops.

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Day 9 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Ultra Sonic Sensor
• Writing directions Maze
• Program Bot to complete maze using touch and
  ultra sonic sensors and loops.

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Day 10 Reflection

• What problems did you have calibrating or working
  with the Ultra Sonic Sensor?
• In your journal re-write your program directions
  for going through the maze following the example
  on the board.

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Day 10 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Ultra Sonic Sensor
• Re-writing directions Maze
• Program Bot to complete maze using touch and
  ultra sonic sensors and loops.
• For the groups that finish Add grabber Arms to
  your Bot.

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Day 11 Reflection

• What has your team done well?
• What does your team need to work on?
• In what ways have you personally contributed to
  helping your team be successful?
• What do you do that might get in the way of your
  team working together successfully?

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Day 11 Reflection

• What goals do you have for the remainder of the
  program?
• What will you do to work better as a team?

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Day 11 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Time Trials Maze
• Adding Grabber Arms Light/Dark Sensor
• Program Bot to follow a line and grab ball at the
  end of the line, turn right 90 degrees and drop
  the ball.

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Day 12 Reflection

• In what ways can a robot provide companionship?

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Day 12 Reflection

• Read Time For Kids Article
• What did you find interesting about the article?

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Day 12 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Time Trials Maze
• Adding Grabber Arms Light/Dark Sensor
• Program Bot to follow a line and grab ball at the
  end of the line, turn right 90 degrees and drop
  the ball.

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Day 13 Reflection

• What have you learned so far about robots and
  programming?

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Day 13 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Finish Time Trials Maze
• Adding Grabber Arms Light/Dark Sensor
• Program Bot to follow a line and grab ball at the
  end of the line, turn right 90 degrees and drop
  the ball.

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Day 14 Reflection

• What cool things do you think you could create
  with your LEGO NXT kit?

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Day 14 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Plan for Final Projects
• Adding Grabber Arms Light/Dark Sensor
• Program Bot to follow a line and grab ball at the
  end of the line, turn right 90 degrees and drop
  the ball.
• Go through maze, grab toy, turn around and return
  to start

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Day 15 Reflection

• What types of projects did you find or are you
  interested in building for the final project?
• Parent Invitation to
• Robotics Showcase
• Thursday, July 23rd _at_ 930

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Day 15 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Plan for Final Projects
• Time Trails for Line Follow and grab ball at
  the end of the line, turn right 90 degrees and
  drop the ball.
• Go through maze, grab toy, turn around and return
  to start
• Begin working on Final Project

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Day 16 Reflection

• What would you like a robot to do for you around
  the house?
• Parent Invitation to
• Robotics Showcase
• Thursday, July 23rd _at_ 930

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Day 16 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Plan for Final Projects
• Begin working on Final Project

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Day 17 Reflection

• Should Robots look like humans or should they
  look like machines?
• Why does it matter?
• Read Why, Robots?
• What did you find interesting about the article?
• Parent Invitation to Robotics Showcase
• Thursday, July 23rd _at_ 930 AM

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Day 17 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Plan for Final Projects
• Begin working on Final Project

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Day 18 Reflection

• What is your Final Project designed to do?
• How can you prove it is a Robot and not a remote
  controlled machine?

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Day 18 Reflection

• What have you learned about robots and
  programming?
• What has been the biggest challenge for you?
• What has been the biggest challenge for your
  group?

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Day 18 Showcase

• Welcome Parents
• Robotics Showcase
• Thursday, July 23rd _at_ 930 AM

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Day 18 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Present Final Projects
• Explain learning to parents

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Day 19 Reflection

• Robotics Final Write Up

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Day 19 - Agenda

• Discussion/Reflection
• Inventory
• Watch Robotics Video Clips