Pre-requisites

Enthusiasm
Self-motivation
Hard work
Team work
Basic Computer Skills

Curriculum

This program is a 6 month program consisting of 2 parts – Part I: Knowing the robot and programming and Part I – mission building. First 20 classes focus on familiarizing with the robot, learning programming and developing exercise missions. Next 4 classes focus on learning engineering techniques to build robot, arms, gears and focus on creating missions from prior year robotics competition.

Class will be a combination of teaching, demonstration and classwork. Parents may purchase robot kits and software for students to work at home depending upon the level of interest.

Class Structure:

Class size is 10 students.

Class Duration:

Each class is 1 hour long.

Fee:

The fee per month is $150. Agreement needs to the signed before the first class. $150 payment is required in the beginning of the month. We accept check payment. Credit Card payments can be made through our web site using PayPal button or in person at the class. Processing fee ($10) will be added for credit card payments.

Makeup Class Policy:

Every week, a class will be held at the end of the scheduled classes to allow any student to make up for missed class the previous week depending on the need for such a class. We shall provide class material and exercises to the students who missed a class. We encourage the students to work on their classwork on their own.

Material:

We will supply computer loaded with necessary software for programming and LEGO® Mindstorm® EV3 robot for each student.

Part I – Knowing the robot and programming

Class 1

Overview of the Program
Overview of Lessons
Overview of Classwork – Building robot, writing programs and practicing missions
Differences between Lego® Mindstorm® EV3 Home and Education Kits and Software
Different Robotics Competitions
Where to buy robot, parts and software?

Class 2: EV3 Programming Environment

Writing an EV3 Program
Layout of a Programming Block
Writing the first program
Saving Program
Downloading and running program
Project Properties
Adding Comments
Contextual Help
Different ways to connect the robot to computer – Bluetooth, Wifi, and Wire
Different ways to charge the robot – battery pack vs. re-chargeable battery back

Class 3: Building a test robot

Components
Building the motor and wheel assembly
Adding EV3 Brick
Mounting Infrared or Ultrasonic Sensor
Connecting Color Sensor
Attaching Gyro Sensor
Attaching Touch Sensor
Building an arm
How to organize the components

Class 4: Continue Building the test robot

Components
Building the motor and wheel assembly
Adding EV3 Brick
Mounting Infrared or Ultrasonic Sensor
Connecting Color Sensor
Attaching Gyro Sensor
Attaching Touch Sensor
Building an arm
How to organize the components

Class 5: Motion

Assess knowledge and skill
EV3 motors
Move steering block
Mode
Steering
Power
Duration
Port
Port View
Classwork: Measure how many inches the robot moves per each rotation
Classwork: Move forward three feet, turn around, and then return to where it started. First going in reverse and next turning around.
Moving Forward
Turning Around
Testing a single Block
First Side and corner
The other 3 sides and corners
Move Tank Block
Differences between move steering and move tank
Large and medium motor blocks
Lift the arm
Invert motor block
Problem with coasting
Classwork: Make the robot to move around a equilateral triangle
Classwork: Make the robot to move around a square
Classwork: Make the robot to move 90 degrees

Class 6: Continue with Motion

Class 7: Sensors

Touch sensor
Touch sensor states – pressed, released and bumped
2 ways to use Touch sensor on Wait block – compare and change
Classwork: Bumper Bot program to make the robot to wander around a room
Detecting an obstacle
Backing up and turning around
Color Sensor
Color Sensor Modes – Color, Reflected Light Intensity, and Ambient Light Intensity
Color Mode
Color Mode – Compare and Change
Reflected Light Intensity Mode
Compare Type and Threshold
Change
Ambient Light Intensity Mode
Port View
Switch Block
Classwork: Is It Blue – determine if an object is blue.
Touch Sensor
Loop
Classwork: Write a Line Finder Program
Infrared Sensor Proximity Mode
Ultrasonic Sensor
Distance in inches and centimeters
Presence/Listen modes
Gyro Sensor
Rate mode
Angle Mode
Resetting angle
Example: Gyro Turn Program
Motor Sensor

Class 8: Continue with Sensors

Classwork: Make the robot to go in a equilateral triangle using Gyro Sensor
Classwork: Make the robot to go around a square using Gyro Sensor
Classwork: Make the robot to stop at a black line

Class 9: Continue with Sensors

Classwork: Make the robot to stay inside a cardboard box using touch sensor
Classwork: Make the robot to stay inside a cardboard box using ultrasonic or infrared sensor

Class 10: Program Flow

Switch Block
Setting the conditions
Classwork: The Line Follower Program
Color Sensor – Compare – Reflected Light Intensity.
Selecting the color sensor threshold
Classwork: Make the line follower program to stop at a green light after following the black line

Class 11: Continue with Program Flow

Classwork: Make the robot to stay inside a black circle using reflected light intensity
Classwork: Make the robot to stay inside a black circle using color mode

Class 12: Write The Wall Follower Program to navigating a maze

Class 13: Data Wires, Switch Block and Loopback

Class 14: Continue Data Wires, Switch Block and Loopback

Class 15: Variables, MyBlock, Math & Logic

Classwork: Write a program to measure distance per rotation in inches using the ultrasonic sensor or infrared sensor.

Class 16: Continue with Variables, MyBlock, Math & Logic

Class 17: Lights/buttons/display

Class 18: Data Logging, Multi-tasking

Class 19: Write Line Follower Program

Write a Line Follower Program using reflected light intensity.
Write a Line Follower Program using the color mode.

Class 20 – Robot Engineering – Basic Mechanisms

Gear ratios
Compound gear systems
Changing the angle of rotation
Using the worm drives
Swinging mechanisms
Reciprocating mechanisms
Cam mechanisms
Intermittent motion
Transmitting rotation with rubber bands
Transmitting rotation with caterpillar treads
Transmitting rotation over a long distance
Off-center axis of rotation
Changeover mechanisms using rotational direction
Universal joints