ROBOTICS WORKSHOP

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ROBOTICS WORKSHOP Singapore Science Center
June 11-13, 2001
Merredith Portsmore Tufts University Center For
Engineering Educational Outreach
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Goals

• Tools for Robotics
• RCX, Sensors, Motors, LEGO Elements
• ROBOLAB Software
• Quick and Easy
• Pilot Level and Basic Building
• Advanced
• Inventor Level Programming
• Questions, Comments and Future Directions Beyond
  the Competition

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The LEGO RCX

• LEGO brick with an embedded microprocessor
• Portable
• Powerful
• Outputs
• Inputs
• Data Storage

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Outputs and Inputs
Motor
Sensors
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The Tools
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ROBOLAB
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Administrator
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ROBOLAB Programmer-Pilot
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ROBOLAB Programmer-Inventor
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Challenge 1

• Build a Simple Car
• Program it to Drive Forward at Power Level 3 for
  2 seconds in Pilot 2
• Program it to drive forward until it sees a
  line and the back up for 3 seconds in Pilot 3
• Program you car to play a song as it drives
• BONUS Program you car to follow a black line

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Challenge 2

• Program your car to follow a line in Inventor 4
• Using Wait For Commands
• Using Forks
• Program your car to wait until the touch sensor
  is pressed before following the line (Wait For
  Touch)
• Program your car to stop and beep on each of the
  4 lines on the floor (Loops)

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Challenge 3

• Add an Arm on Output B to your robot
• Program your robot to stop moving and wave its
  arm when it reaches the end of the line (the
  bright lights near the basket)

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ROBOLAB More than robotics

• Data Acquisition and Analysis
• Music
• Image Processing
• Internet

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ROBOLAB Investigator - Program Area
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ROBOLAB Investigator - Upload Area
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ROBOLAB Investigator - Journal Area
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Internet
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Music
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Vision
Manipulate
Tell RCX
sent to RCX (red container)
Grab Image
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Web Control SENSORS
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Goals of the CEEO

• Incorporate engineering into K-12 education and
  improve college engineering experiences
• Why Engineering?
• Natural integrator of multiple subjects
• Hands-on and motivational
• Opportunities for student design, innovation
  ownership

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Tools for Teaching Engineering

• Systems Engineering Projects
• Comprehensive group projects which allow for
  student specialization
• Airport, ski resort, intelligent robot
• Materials that empower students to create and
  construct
• Balsa wood, Styrofoam
• LEGOs and computers

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Classroom difficulties

• Teaching through experimentation
• No right answer
• You do not know the answer to questions
• Need to ask penetrating questions

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Classroom difficulties

• 1 computer, 30 kids
• Computers crashing
• Batteries dying
• Downloading someone elses programs
• Difference in building skills (teaching sharing)

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STOMP merging college and elementary school

• Teacher-student mentorship
• Engineers in the classroom
• Teacher leads class
• Student covers technology problems

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1st Grade
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1st Grade
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1st Grade
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2nd Grade
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4th Grade
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8th Grade
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College
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College
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Further Information

• WWW.CEEO.TUFTS.EDU
• Mportsmo_at_tufts.edu