Honors Robotics Course of Study

Honors Robotics Course of Study 2012/2013 Mrs. Bugenske

Objectives:

1) To learn the fundamentals of the physics of electrical circuits.  Basic electrical terminology and concepts (charge, current, voltage, resistance, capacitance, Ohm’s Law, series/parallel circuits, power)  RC circuits, voltage dividers

2) To gain knowledge and skills with important electronics components  Resistors, capacitors, diodes, LEDS, switches, photoresistors, IR sensors, digital displays, piezoelectric speakers, servo motors)

3) To learn the fundamentals of computer programming and control structures  Languages (PBasic, NXC)  Control structures (DO-WHILE LOOPS; FOR-NEXT Loops; IF-THEN: Boolean logic; subroutines)

4) To develop skill in problem solving, troubleshooting, and subsystem testing

5) To learn the fundamentals of mechanical systems  Displacement, velocity, acceleration, torque, gear trains, and ratios

6) To use knowledge of electronics, programming, and mechanics to build robots that can autonomously respond with the environment and accomplish various tasks  Tactile navigation using touch sensors  Light navigation using photosensors  IR navigation using IR LEDs and sensors for both autonomous and remote control  Robots that walk

7) To understand the nature of engineering design and the role of computers, microcontrollers, and robots in society  Robot car race  Mars robot rovers  Robot and human issues  Technological failures and disasters  Technological achievements Curriculum Resources and Timelines

1st Semester

1) What’s a Microcontroller? (Parallax) 6 wks Areas: basic electronics, programming, and technological applications

Chapter 1 Getting Started (programming basics) Chapter 2 Lights on-Lights Off (LEDs, resistors, DO Loops, FOR-NEXT Loops) Chapter 3 Digital Input-Pushbuttons (I/O, switches, IF-THEN, decisions) Chapter 4 Measuring Rotation (potentiometer circuit, RC time) Chapter 6 Digital Display (7 segment LED display) Chapter 7 Measuring Light (photoresistors, voltage dividers) Chapter 8 Frequency and Sound (piezoelectric speakers, sound waves)

2) Robotics with Boe-Bot (Parallax) 8 wks Areas: problem solving, programming, navigation techniques

Chapter 2 Your Boe-Bot’s Servo Motors (servos, pulse modulated command, velocity) Chapter 3 Assemble and Test Your Boe-Bot Chapter 4 Boe-Bot Navigation (maneuvers, subroutines) Chapter 5 Tactile Navigation with Whiskers (touch sensors, artificial intelligence) Chapter 6 Light Sensitive Navigation with Photoresistors (light and shadow avoidance) Chapter 7 Navigating with Infrared Headlights (EM spectrum, interference, object detection and avoidance) Chapter 8 Robot Control with Distance Detection (frequency sweeping, line following)

3) IR Remote for the Boe Robot (Parallax) 3 wks

Chapter 1 Infrared Remote Communication (IR messages, IR navigation, remote control) Chapter 2 Create and Use Remote Applications (IR message interpretation) Chapter 3 More IR Remote Applications (autonomous navigation with remote speed

2nd Semester

1) Mindstorms NXT Robotics (Lego)

2) The Unofficial Lego Mindstorms NXT Inventor’s Guide by David Perdue

 Mechanical Engineering: Torque vs Speed; Gear ratios  Robot Design  Languages: NXT-G (object oriented); NXC (C++ based)