January 11, 2005 1

Beginning Robotics 2005

Prairie Creek Elementary RoboClub

January 11, 2005 2

Robot of the Day

“Robot” from the TV series “Lost in Space

Favorite quote: “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!”

Fictional: Portrayed by an actor inside a costume Wore top half and walked around

for moving scenes with cameras showing only the waist up

Wore full costume and stayed put for full length scenes

January 11, 2005 3

Welcome to PCE Robotics!

Agenda (what we’re gonna do today) Introduction to LEGO Robotics Description of PCE robotics program Boring stuff Questions and Answers

Your Coaches Lloyd Lashbrook Galen Kannarr: 972-238-5705 or galen.kannarr@ieee.org

January 11, 2005 4

Introduction to LEGO Robotics

January 11, 2005 5

What is a Robot?

Definition A machine that is programmed to do jobs that are usually

performed by a person A device that automatically performs complicated often

repetitive tasks A mechanism guided by automatic controls

Robots, using LEGO? Movie Demo: Roverbot

January 11, 2005 6

Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System

Developed by Lego and MIT

Heart: the RCX The brain of your robot Contains a small computer Sensor inputs to sense the world

Light sensor Touch sensor

Outputs to control motors Infrared port

Communicate with a PC Communicate with another RCX

Speaker for beeps and music Display tells you what is going on

Motor Outputs

Sensor Inputs

InfraredCommunication

ControlButtons

Display

Sound

January 11, 2005 7

Lots of PartsThis is not your father’s Lego set

January 11, 2005 8

PCE Beginning Robotics Program

January 11, 2005 9

Why are we here?

Students To have fun

Coaches To expose students to science and engineering concepts To develop real-world problem-solving skills To teach design and programming To have fun

Parents Because you were asked to come To help the coaches and students achieve the above To have fun

January 11, 2005 10

Goals

Basics Learn to build an existing robot design Learn to use Mindstorms 2.0 software Learn to program simple behaviors by example

Advanced Learn to design effective machines Learn program complex behaviors

Compete in RISD elementary competition (May) Be ready to enter FIRST Lego League competition

Next year Kickoff in September, competition in December A team of 6th graders just finished PCE’s first entry in FLL

January 11, 2005 11

Teams

We have 8 kits and software for 8 teams 2-student teams seem to work best (1 robot and 1 computer

to keep hands busy) If more than 16 students sign up, some teams will have 3

members

Teams will stay together through May

Each team will have its own kit Will be responsible for keeping it in order

January 11, 2005 12

Parental Support

Coaches cannot do it alone What you can do for us:

Help students stay focused on the challenges Enforce appropriate behavior First stop for questions (“What was it the coach said?”)

Technical skills are not required We need one parent per team each week

Rotate with other parents Need to establish schedule for next 4 weeks tonight

Special volunteer opportunity: parent coordinator

Parents: Your presence is crucial for a successful year

January 11, 2005 13

The Plan

Sign up by Friday Include $5 annual dues

Form 8 teams (___ per team) Parents work out rotation for support

Meet once each week in the evening Will this time slot work? (Tuesday 7:00-8:30 p.m.) Start next week, skipping spring break and TAKS

RISD G.E.A.R. robotics competition Challenge kickoff probably after spring break Competition probably May 7 End-of-year party May 10

January 11, 2005 14

Weekly Routine

Introduction to activity Break into teams to work on activity Information sheet to help parent guide activity

“Extra credit” activities fill extra time and keep all team members busy

8:20 p.m.—clean up Kits in order: earn a treat

Preparation for RISD challenge less structured

One parent present with each team.

January 11, 2005 15

Boring Stuff

January 11, 2005 16

Budget

Funding PTA-General robotics $ 350 PTA-Competition entry fee $ 150 Classroom budget (estimated) $ 50 Dues: 6th Grade FLL team $ 30 Dues: 5th Grade Beginners (est 16 students) $ 80 Total funding $ 660

Already Spent FLL-related (6th Grade) $ 230 Mindstorms 2.0 Software (7 copies) $ 169 Total $ 365

Remaining Budget

Mindstorms 2.0 Software (1 copy, estimated) $ 25

Batteries $ 30

G.E.A.R. Competition $ 100

Replacement parts $ 140

Total $295

January 11, 2005 17

RoboClub Rules

Attend regularly and be on time Your teammates need you It will be hard to catch up

Respect your teammate, other teams, adults, and LEGO pieces In particular, use only polite language and behavior Use LEGO pieces appropriately

Although LEGO art is cool, it won’t help you solve the challenge

Keep your kit in order

When using computers, stick to robotics activities No web surfing or game playing

Consequences: Sit out Call parents, go home early Expulsion from robotics

January 11, 2005 18

E-Mail

We want to use e-mail for most of our communication Much more efficient than paper More reliable than word of mouth

E-mail group established with Yahoo! Groups Set up as a newsletter (not a discussion group) About once a week Only coaches can send or see member list Student and parents are all encouraged to subscribe See me for changes, additions, or problems

Expect to see a couple of welcome messages in your in-box this week

January 11, 2005 19

HELP WANTED!

Apprentice Robotics Coach Play with LEGOs! Play with kids! Earn $100,000* On-the-job training through 2006 Will be groomed as heir apparent to head coach’s

position Technical skills helpful; willingness to learn

better

*$100,000 offer not good on planet Earth

January 11, 2005 20

What’s next?

Parent and student discuss commitment Decide together

Sign up and find teammate(s) by Friday Turn in forms and $5 to Mr. Lashbrook We start next week!

January 11, 2005 21

Questions?

Answers!

January 11, 2005 22

Thanks for coming!See You Next Week!

Tuesday, January 18

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

January 11, 2005 23

Parent Schedule

Parent

January February March April May

18 20 27 1 8 15 22 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 3 10

1

Spring

Break

TAKS

Week

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

January 11, 2005 24

Teams

Team Team Name Student Parent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8