MicrobotsWorkshop Session Plan

Inspiring | Creative | FunYsbrydoledig | Creadigol | Hwyl

Event Set Up 30 minutes

Introduction

Welcome/Pre-day Forms 5 minutes (Slide 1)Introductions 10 minutes (Slides 2 & 3)

Building and learning

The challenge 10 minutes (Slides 4 & 5)Robotics 10 minutes (Slides 6 & 7)BASIC introductions 30 minutes (Slides 8 & 9)

Challenges

Task 1 15 minutes (Slide 10)Task 2 30 minutes (Slide 11)Task 3 45 minutes (Slide 12)Race 30 minutes (Slide 13)

Q&A/Post-day Forms 5 minutes

Event Clean Up 30 minutes

Total: 3 hours 10 minutes for attendeesTotal: 4 hours 10 minutes for staff

Workshop Schedule“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

1

1. Computer per student/pair.

2. 3 PICAXE kits.

3. Lunar Racecourse (set up with clear black race course line to follow).

4. Workbooks and Top Tips per group.

5. 3 flags for each nation.

1. No programming experience required.

2. No robotics experience required.

2

Hardware and Software Requirements

Attendee Prerequisites

1. Understand what a program is.

2. Understanding and manipulating robots.

3. Understand what a sensor is and how to debug its data.

4. Working as a group together to build a competing robot.

Learning Outcomes

Event Set Up1. Prepare any pre and post-day questionnaire forms as required.

Remember spare pens / pencils.

2. Ensure tables and chairs are arranged to naturally encourage people to sit in groups; ensure no one is sitting with their back to the podium.

3. Test display equipment (e.g. projector) and ensure that presentation and internet connection are working and ready for use.

4. Create and set-up a lunar race course. The race course will need a thick, bold, black line for the PICAXE Microbots to follow around the course.

5. Timer.

Event Clean Up1. Ensure all pre-day and post-day questionnaire forms have been

collected if required.

2. Put away Microbots safely.

3. Save the programs appropriately.

4. Clear up litter and refuse. Remember to recycle where facilities exist. Remember to switch off lights, computers, and projectors!

3

Event Set Up and Clean Up

Introduction

4

(Slide 1: Technocamps)

“Good XXX, I’m XXX and I work for an pan-Wales organisation called Technocamps.

Has anybody heard of Technocamps before or been to one of our workshops?

We are a £6 million government funded organisation getting young adults and children aged between 11 and 19 to become excited about Computer Science and what it has to offer, in both their education and future careers.”

(Slide 2: Introduction)

The groups will be creating their own Microbots using the PICAXE Micro-controllers that will be supplied.

(Slide 3: Computer Science)

What is computer science? There is a difference between Computer science and IT/ICT but does the group recognise this? Computer Science is developing and creating tools and software, whereas IT/ICT is about learning effective ways of using and applying these softwares and tools. Discuss with the group what types of jobs do they think you could do if you were a computer scientist?

(Slide 4: The Challenge)

The participants will need to be split into 3 separate groups and each will be assigned a nation to represent: USA, China and Russia. Each group will be programming a Microbot to compete in the set up “Lunar Racecourse”, discussing with the group what is programming and this is an opportunity to incorporate some games and hands on activities into the classroom.

Welcome andPre-day Forms

The first 5 minutes is very much about welcoming and encouraging people to complete any pre-day forms before the workshop begins. Also ensure you read through the pre-day forms with the participants to confirm they have been filled in correctly.

Ensure that you welcome the attendees as they enter the room; this helps to create a positive connection.

IntroductionThe introduction gives you time to i n t r o d u c e eve r yo n e i nvo l ve d w i t h hosting the workshop.

It is not necessary at this point to give an elaborate history of every person involved; try to keep to simple facts.

The main aim is to have everyone settled, focused, and filling required f o r m s , e . g . p r e - a n d p o s t - d a y questionnaires.

Microbots

5

(Slide 5: Lunar Racecourse)

Setting up the racecourse is the fun bit, here is an opportunity to get the group involved and be crafty (you could also design and set up this beforehand). Show the group the racecourse they will be competing in later on. Each Microbot will be timed as it competes, the team with the fastest time wins the challenge!

(Slide 6: Robotics)

What does the group know about Robotics? Begin a discussion with the group, how many different robots can they think of that they have seen or heard of? What about science fiction? If you want to extend the workshop, this is an excellent opportunity to get creative and get the group to design and annotate their own robot ideas on paper.

(Slide 7: PICAXE)

PICAXE is the micro-controller that will be used to develop the competing robot. These can be easily programmed and are cheap to purchase for use in schools/clubs. They can be purchased as part of a kit, or individually where components are bought separately.

(Slides 8 & 9: Programming in BASIC)

The group will not have come across BASIC before, however they may have had some experience of programming using a “drag and drop” environment, or building blocks or flowcharts. You can program the PICAXE using flowcharts for a younger group with no programming experience, however BASIC is an excellent beginners language and it is recommended young attendees give this a go.

Microbots

6

(Slide 10: Task 1)

After covering some basic BASIC commands, the group’s task is to create a square shape and a figure of 8 using their PICAXE. To test this further put obstacles in the way so the groups have to expand the size of their paths in order to avoid collision with the obstacles. To begin, get the group to move forwards, turn 180 degrees and return:

Note: each robot is unique, 180 degree may vary to a different set of values from robot to robot.

(Slide 11: Task 2)

After covering some basic BASIC commands and completing task 1, the group’s next task is to debug the light sensor on the PICAXE. This can be done by reading the data input from the light sensor. Practice this first on a white piece of paper, what does the sensor tell you? Next try it with a black piece of paper, how does this effect the data collected? You could also try out various terrains and surfaces such as gravel or soil etc.

Figure'of'8'

diagram'here.'

main:!! forward A! forward B! wait 5! halt A! halt B

! forward A! pause 1500! halt A

! forward A! forward B! wait 5! halt A! halt B

goto main

Microbots

7

(Slide 12: Task 3)

Using the previous tasks, ask the groups to produce a line tracker algorithm for following a geographical surface feature.

(Slide 13: Let’s race!)

In turn, allow the groups to have their go at competing in the race. Each group will need to be timed and the team that completes the “lunar race” in the shortest time wins!

main:!! readadc 8, b8! debug

goto main

Note:Memory register b8 doesn’t need to be used, any other register can be used. This is for demonstration purposes.

Start Finish

main:!! if b8 > ... * then! ! forward A! ! halt B! else! ! halt A! ! forward B! endifgoto main

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(Take several questions from the attendees)(If no questions are asked by attendees, begin summarising topics covered)

Once an appropriate number of questions has been taken, you can then begin to close the workshop. Be sure to have any post-day questionnaire forms filled in by attendees as required. Some audiences may require more prompting to fill in such forms.

Q&A Session & Closure

Closure and Post-day Forms

The last 5 minutes of closure must be used to, if required, ensure that post-day questionnaires are filled in by the attendees and talk them through the information they have filled in. Ensure that you collect all of the post-day form in before attendees depart, and be sure to thank each person for taking the time to fill in the forms.

www.technocamps.com