Programming Activities in Computer Literacy class - 4-7 days (assuming some prior knowledge of Logo)

1. Students will be given 1-2 days to review basic Logo commands previously learned in order to program the turtle on the screen. Special emphasis is placed on writing and saving procedures or programmed modules, as this process will be needed in the robotics activities, also.
   
   
2. The teacher will introduce the students as a large group to the pre-assembled robotic vehicles, explaining the buttons, output and input ports, motors and sensors connected, the transmitter and receptor, basic care needed in handling the vehicle.
   
   
3. The teacher will introduce the robotics panel of MicroWorlds emphasizing the Beep Test button, the Direct Mode area and the Programming/Download area; highlighting similarities and differences between programming the turtle and programming the robotic vehicle.
   
   
4. The students will complete the MicroWorlds Robotics introductory packet, learning and exploring the following commands: aon, aoff, aonfor, ard, thisway, thatway, asetpower.

Students will be given time to explore these commands, how they affect the output of the robotic vehicle and write procedures for the robotic vehicle to enable it to accomplish the assigned tasks.

WebQuest Activity in Technology Education or Computer Literacy class - 1-2 days

Students engage in a Web quest that introduces the concepts related to robots. This could be done by students in either class. Review in Technology Education class orients the students to the concept of robots.

Robotics Activities in Technology Education class - 10-12 days

1. Students follow the steps of the design loop and document them in individual student journals.
   • After practicing systems analysis, students analyze robotic control as a system and include the analysis in their documentation.
   • Student groups construct a robotic vehicle from Lego parts and a microcomputer. The vehicle contains outputs—motors and lamps—and has the ability to maneuver in any designated direction.
   • After attaching sensors to their robotic vehicles, students utilize them by writing Logo programs in Microworlds that integrate inputs into robotic control. The programs are downloaded into the microcomputers on the vehicles.
2. Student groups program their constructed robotic vehicles to travel through obstacle courses and engage in challenges contained in a Technology Learning Activity (detailed below). Points are awarded for performance in the challenges.

The students constantly test their vehicles and the programs created for them. They redesign both programs and vehicles to achieve optimal performance.  

The Technology Learning Activity:

Designing a Mars Exploration Vehicle – A Technology Learning Activity (TLA)

DESIGN BRIEF:

Mars Exploration, Inc. has been hired by the NASA space program to find an engineering team that can design and program a robotic vehicle to explore Mars. To help them in their search, the company has designed challenges for groups interested in auditioning for the job. The main challenges involve navigating through obstacle courses that partially simulate the difficult terrain of Mars. Your team can win the job by accumulating the most points.  

Points will be accumulated by successful navigation of obstacle courses, the keeping of proper documentation, and the practice of good team cooperation.

EQUIPMENT:

• Computers (one for each team)
• RCX Microcomputers (one for each team)
• Infra-red transmitters (one for each computer)
• Software – Microworlds
• Lego motors (at least two for each team)
• Lego lamps
• Lego light sensors (at least one per team)
• Lego touch sensors (at least one per team)