Honors Robotics Course of Study 2013-2014
Objectives:
1) To learn the fundamentals of the physics of electrical circuits.
5) To learn the fundamentals of mechanical systems
8) To understand the nature of engineering design and the role of computers, microcontrollers, and robots in society
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 12 wks
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
- Resistors, capacitors, diodes, LEDS, switches, photoresistors, IR sensors, digital displays, piezoelectric speakers, servo motors)
- Languages (PBasic, NXC (robotC)
- Graphical user interface
- Control structures (DO-WHILE LOOPS; FOR-NEXT Loops; IF-THEN: Boolean logic; subroutines)
5) To learn the fundamentals of mechanical systems
- Displacement, velocity, acceleration, torque, gear trains, and ratios
- Tactile navigation using touch sensors
- Light navigation using photosensors
- IR navigation using IR LEDs and sensors for both autonomous and remote control
8) To understand the nature of engineering design and the role of computers, microcontrollers, and robots in society
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 12 wks
- Mechanical Engineering: Torque vs Speed; Gear ratios
- Robot Design
- Languages: NXT-G (object oriented); NXC (C++ based)