Unit 1: An Introduction to Robotics [Time: 4 Days]
Lesson 1.1 Introduction to EV3 [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
This is an introduction to how Robotics defines STEAM education and STEAM integrated Robotics.
Lesson 1.2 Student Performance Development Process [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
An explanation of the Student Performance Development Process is to grade the student, inspired by Tony Wagner, author of The Global Achievement Gap, focusing on the new world’s seven survival skills.
Lesson 1.3 What is a Robot? [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
- A Robot is a mechanical or virtual artificial agent, usually an electronically operated mechanical machine that is guided by a computer program or electronic circuitry.
- Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous, or remotely controlled by people.
- Autonomous Robots can perform tasks and interact within an unstructured environment without human guidance.
- Robotics are all around us and are often integrated into products and machinery that we normally would not think of as robotic.
Unit 2: Continuous Learning & Improvement [Time: 10 Days]
Lesson 2.1 Model for Inquiry [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
- Inquiry is the process by which a question is asked; an experiment is conducted, results are studied and acted upon.
- Continuous learning drives continuous improvement and is key to maintaining real-world competitive advantage and survivability.
- In the same way that biological organisms evolve, so must engineering and technology.
- Plan- Brainstorm engineering design changes to improve upon the task performance of a simple machine.
- Do- Select and implement engineering design changes, comparing the effectiveness of the original to the new design, and collect baseline data for both.
- Study- Apply math (average, range) to analyze the data and determine if the design change did result in a performance improvement.
- The use of simulations as both a learning tool and a means to measure progress toward a goal.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
- Demonstrate understanding of the method for Inquiry.
- Document a PDSA Cycle reflecting the lessons learned from the roller coaster simulation in Unit 1.
- Understand the importance of simulations as tools for planning and learning.
Lesson 2.2 The Importance of Data [Time: 3 days]
Concepts
- The importance of math and data within the process of experimentation.
- Effective data collection and analysis is needed to determine if a change was, in fact, an improvement.
- Reliance on intuition alone will often result in misinterpretation and the sub-optimization of the system.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Demonstrate understanding of the “Study” aspect of the PDSA cycle (Plan, Do, Study, Act) and how it relates to hypothesis, predictions, data baseline, experimentation, pilot-test, and data-analysis.
Lesson 2.3 Parts & Purposes [Time: 1 days]
Concepts
Recognizing an object from a detailed description.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Match the correct image of an item to the description.
Lesson 2.4 Simple Machines [Time: 4 days]
Concepts
Leveraging the strengths of the members in your group to accomplish a goal 2. Designing and building a simple machine.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
- Design and construct a simple machine out of mechanical construction elements to perform a specified task objective.
- Document the design process for the simple machine.
Unit 3: Variables of Force & Motion [Time: 13 Days]
Lesson 3.1 Force & Motion [Time: 1 days]
Concepts
The relationships between the different laws of force and motion and their impact on objects, including key factors such as acceleration, inertia, mass, momentum, friction, speed, balanced and unbalanced forces.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Demonstrate understanding of the different laws of force and motion and their impact on objects.
Lesson 3.2 Parts & Purposes [Time: 1 days]
Concepts
Recognizing an object from a detailed description.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Match the correct image of an item to the description.
Lesson 3.3 Gear Ratios; Speed & Torque [Time: 9 days] Concepts
- Calculating gear ratios in multiple gear systems.
- Determining vehicle speed.
- Gain an understanding of how changing gear ratios effects force (torque) and motion (speed) and their interrelationships with one another.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
- Calculate the ratio of one of gear set, and mathematically determine its effects on force (torque) and motion (speed), and will validate calculations with tachometer and torque meter.
- Calculate the ratio of a second gear set, and mathematically determine their effects on force (torque) and motion (speed), and compare the results to the first study above
- Calculate the robot speed using revolutions-per-minute (RPM), tire diameter, and circumference.
Lesson 3.4 Friction [Time: 1 days]
Concepts
The relationships between friction and gravity and their impact on objects, including the relationship to the laws of force and motion.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Demonstrate understanding of the principles of friction, including concepts such as no energy is destroyed due to friction but is instead dissipated as heat.
Lesson 3.5 Inertia [Time: days]
Concepts
Inertia is the property of an object to want to remain still or maintain its movement.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Conduct electrical tests and mathematically estimate the amount of energy required to overcome the robot’s inertia.
Unit 4: Software Programming, Sensors & Servos [Time: 15 Days]
Lesson 4.1 Why Programming? [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
- Programming allows a user to create a device capable of interacting with its environment and choosing a pre-determined response based on those interactions.
- The most basic of programmable robotics include Inputs (Sensors), Control Structures (Code for decision making), and Outputs (Motors, Servos, Lights, etc.)
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Identify and describe the core components’ function associated with robotic control systems, such as sensors, transmitters, micro-controller, software, operating code, syntax, servos, motors, and their relationship to inputs, control structures, and outputs.
Lesson 4.2 Parts & Purposes [Time: 1 days]
Concepts
Recognizing an object from a detailed description.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Match the correct image of an item to the description.
Lesson 4.3 Testing the Microcontroller [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
Familiarization with Micro-controller set-up and operation, including menus, buttons, opening, and saving new programs.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Become familiar with the Micro-controller users’ interface and be able to demonstrate basic utilities such as opening a new program, saving, checking, and uploading programs.
Lesson 4.4 Creating the Breadboard / Servo [Time: 2 days]
Concepts
- Create a test environment breadboard for applying and understanding various robotic inputs, control structures, and output operations.
- Test and experiment with basic microcontroller and servo actuation outputs using pre-written programs on the breadboard.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain understanding of the operation of outputs (Servos) based on Microcontroller commands.
Lesson 4.5 Adding to the Breadboard / ESC [Time: 2 days]
Concepts
- Using a test environment breadboard for applying and understanding various robotic inputs, control structures, and output operations.
- Test and experiment with basic micro-controller and ESC / Motor actuation outputs using pre-written programs on the breadboard.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain understanding of the operation of outputs (ESC / Motor) based on Microcontroller commands.
Lesson 4.6 Adding to the Breadboard / Radio Transmitter [Time: 2 days]
Concepts
- Using a test environment breadboard for applying and understanding various robotic inputs, control structures, and output operations.
- Test and experiment with basic microcontroller and Radio Transmitter inputs using pre-written programs on the breadboard.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain understanding of the operation of inputs (Radio Transmitter) based on Microcontroller commands.
Lesson 4.7 Adding to the Breadboard / Ultrasound Sensor [Time: 2 days]
Concepts
- Using a test environment breadboard for applying and understanding various robotic inputs, control structures, and output operations.
- Test and experiment with basic microcontroller and Ultrasound sensor inputs using pre-written programs on the breadboard.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain understanding of the operation of inputs (Ultrasound sensor) based on Microcontroller commands.
Lesson 4.8 Adding to the Breadboard / QTI Sensor [Time: 2 days]
Concepts
- Using a test environment breadboard for applying and understanding various robotic inputs, control structures, and output operations.
- Test and experiment with basic microcontroller and QTI sensor inputs using pre-written programs on the breadboard.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain understanding of the operation of inputs (QTI sensor) based on Microcontroller commands.
Lesson 4.9 Core Syntax [Time: 2 days]
Concepts
Familiarization with the parts that make up a program (Core Syntax), including set-up, loops, comments, start and end brackets, etc.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Identify and describe core software code syntax language components, such as; set-up, loops, comments, start and end brackets, data types, arithmetic operators, comparisons, digital and analog input/output selection, and time.
Unit 5: Autonomous Robotics [Time: 8 Days]
Lesson 5.1 What Makes a Robot Autonomous? [Time: 3 days]
Concepts
A fully autonomous robot can:
- (Rule #1) Gain information about the environment.
- (Rule #2) Work for an extended period without human intervention.
- (Rule #3) Move either all or part of itself throughout its operating environment without human assistance.
- (Rule #4) Avoid situations that are harmful to people, property, or itself unless those are part of its design specifications.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Be able to identify whether a machine is or is not autonomous correctly.
Lesson 5.2 Basic Control Structures [Time: 3 days]
Concepts
Understanding of basic control structures using pre-written programs, such as; IF; IF-ELSE, and WHILE
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Be able to explain the reason and use of each of the basic control structures.
Lesson 5.3 Autonomous Obstacle Avoidance [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
Utilization of Ultrasound sensors to create a robot that is capable of detecting obstacles in its path as well as avoiding them.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Test, experiment with, apply, and optimize advanced micro-controller and multi-ultrasound sensor input code using pre-written programs for utilization with a cumulative project.
Lesson 5.4 Line Following [Time: 1 day]
Concepts
Utilization of QTI sensors to create a robot that is capable of detecting contrasting lines then alter its path to follow the line.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Test, experiment with, apply, and optimize advanced micro-controller and multi-QTI (line follower) sensor input code using pre-written programs for utilization with a cumulative project.
Unit 6: Mechanical & Structural Engineering [Time: __ Days]
Lesson 6.1 Levers, Cams & Span [Time: __ Days]
Concepts
How the force of gravity affects levers, cams, span, and torque.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain an understanding of how gravity affects the operation of their robot.
Lesson 6.2 Structural Design [Time: __ Days]
Concepts
Application of structural design principles using vertical and diagonal mechanical construction elements (i.e., triangles, rectangles, parallelograms) and actuators for bracing, spanning, and mechanical actuation.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Gain understanding of how to design and build structures capable of their needs properly.
Lesson 6.3 Robot Arm & End of Arm Tool [Time__ days]
Concepts
- How to work as a team to brainstorm, design, build and then test the design
- Being able to produce a working product that both functions as intended and complies with all limiting factors in the time allotted.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
- Design and build a robot arm and end-of-arm tooling utilizing the structural design principles from above.
- Analyze the design and predict how it will behave in response to the application of the force from above, including simple calculations of torque and mechanical leverage in comparison to the working load requirements
- Test their robot by completing a small challenge
Unit 7: Culminating Project [Time: __ Days]
Lesson 7.1 Preparing for The Challenge [Time: __ Days]
Concepts
- Development of a project plan to keep track of progress compared to goals.
- Effective use of interpersonal skills.
- Proper communication.
- Group productivity.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
- Develop a project plan with specific goals and responsibilities and apply what has been learned to combine, develop and optimize a software program that is capable of manually switching between manual and autonomous navigation through the microcontroller
- Autonomously switching between ultrasound sensors and QTI (line follower) sensors.
- Use the time allotted to refine and adjust the robot design as well as programming to complete the presented challenge.
Lesson 7.2 Cleanup/ Organizing [Time: __ Days]
Concepts
Organization / Housekeeping
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
Disassemble the EV3 kit accounting for all the parts, then organize it into bins/totes for storage or the next class to use.