Greetings EVERYONE! This is a sample ( in "alpha test" stage...so this is rough yet ) of just one of the Gleeboks that has been developed for Edventures! There are many fun activities being tested comprehensively as they are added to Edventures! curriculum! |
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AUTHOR: Richard Wright E-MAIL: rwright@pcsedu.com
TITLE: Robot Turns
AGE RANGE: 7-57 COATHANGER Primary: Tank Steering Secondary: Control Ancillary: Turn Angle SUPPLEMENTAL TERMS: "Spin on a Dime": A phrase referring to the ability to turn in place...without moving forward. DEVELOPER PROOF: 1) Is it possible to steer my robot? 2) Can I build a Lego robot car that can "spin on a dime?" 3) How can I control the "turn angle?" WHAT DOES A STUDENT LEARN? Students build a Lego robot car to explore how "tank steering" and remote are used in robotic design.PREREQUISITE SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING General Information... Basic Lego building skills. Specific Gleeboks... None. HAZARDS: None. MATERIALS: Item Description: 1x16 Beams. Quantity: 4. Item Description: 1x4 Beams. Quantity: 6. Item Description: 1x4 Plates. Quantity: 8. Item Description: 2x4 Plates. Quantity: 2. Item Description: 1x8 Plates. Quantity: 2. Item Description: Axle Extenders. Quantity: 2. Item Description: Small Pulleys. Quantity: 4. Item Description: 24 Tooth Spur Gears. Quantity: 2. Item Description: Worm Gears. Quantity: 2. Item Description: #12 Axles. Quantity: 1. Item Description: #6 Axles. Quantity: 4. Item Description: Bushings. Quantity: 10. Item Description: 81.6x15 Hubs and Tires. Quantity: 2. Item Description: 13x24 Hubs and Tires. Quantity: 2. Item Description: 9 Volt Motors. Quantity: 2. Item Description: 9 Volt Leashes. Quantity: 2. Item Description: 9 Volt Battery Packs ( With Batteries ). Quantity: 2. Item Description: Lego Minifig. Quantity: 1. CAPTAIN HOOK:
STUDENT PROCEDURES: Building a Lego robot is an exercise in control. If you cannot control your robot, it will either do nothing ( which is boring ) or run amuck! Can yo build a robot car you can steer? (1) Select the parts you need from your Lego stockpile. (HINT ME) Make sure you have four 1x16 beams, six 1x4 beams, eight 1x4 plates, two 2x4 plates, two 1x8 plates, two axle extenders, four small pulleys, two 24 tooth spur gears, two worm gears, one #12 axle, four #6 axles, ten bushings, two 81.6x15 Hubs and Tires, two freespinning 13x24 Hubs and Tires, two 9 volt motors, two 9 volt leashes, two 9 volt battery packs ( with batteries ) and a minifig ( to drive the robot! ). (2) Check out the Edventure's Robot Car! (SHOW ME) (3) Pick out two 1x16 beams and place them on the table parallel to each other and the edge of the table. This is going to be one side of your Lego Robot Car! (4) Push a #6 axle into the sixth bean hole from the left. As it comes through the other side of the beam, add a small pulley, a 24 tooth spur gear and another small pulley. Stop pushing on the axle as it enters the sixth hole of the second beam. (HINT ME) (5) Add a bushing to axle end that is nearest you. (6) On the far right end of the beam nearest you, attatch a 1x4 beam on the bottom and flush to the end of the 1x16 beam. It should look like this: (SHOW ME) (7) Repeat procedures 3-6 and build the other side of the Robot Car. The difference between the two sets of beams is that the #6 axle should extend out on the far side. (SHOW ME) (8) Join the center beams on the bottom with the two 2x4 plates. One should be flush with the left end of the beams...and the other should be two studs over from the right end. (HINT ME) This is the frame of your Robot Car! (9) Carefully move the frame aside. (10) Pick up the two 9 volt motors and put them side by side, with the motor shafts pointing to your left. (11) Add an axle extender to both motor shafts. (12) Place a 1x4 plate on top of another 1x4 plate. Put a 1x4 beam on top of those. Repeat this four times altogether. (13) Take two of the plate and beam stacks and put them in front of the axle extenders. The middle hole of each 1x4 beam should line up with the motor shaft. Add a 1x8 plate along the top to join the two stacks. (14) Insert a #6 axle through the middle hole of each plate and beam stack. (15) Add in order ( from right to left ) a bushing, a worm gear, and two more bushings onto each axle. (16) Organize the other two plate and beam combinations like the first two. Push them onto the right ends of the #6 axles. This is the top half of the gear train. It should look like this: (SHOW ME) (17) CAREFULLY lift up the motors and gear train, and place it on the frame. The motors should be flush with the right end of the 1x16 beams. The worm gears should mesh with the spur gears. (HINT ME) (SHOW ME) (18) Run the 12 axle through the end beam hole of the 1x4 beams that are on the bottom of the frame. On each end, add a 13x24 hub/tire and a bushing to hold it in place. (19) Add the larger 816x15 hub/tires to the #6 axles sticking out each side. Put the minifig on top of the vehicle as the driver. Your Lego Robot Car is finished! (SHOW ME) (20) Attatch the 9 volt leashes and battery packs. (21) Drive your Car! (22) What happens if you direct one side to go forward and the other backward? (ED ME) (23) Build a maze of furniture. Can you navigate it using the battery packs and leashes for remote control? (ED ME) (24) Admire your creation! STUDENT HELPFUL HINTS: Student Procedure #1: Everyone has different Lego stockpiles. Substitute freely and use your own judgement. Student Procedure #4: This sounds confusing, but is actually very easy. If you are having problems, scroll through some of the SHOW MEs. Student Procedure #8: To allow a space for the wheel axle! Student Procedure #17: This is tricky and you might have to repeat this step. Once the motors and beams are attatched,the body of the robot is stable. SEE ALSO: Lego Mechanical Engineering. HELP ME OUT ED Student Procedure #22: It should turn! You can steer this Lego Robot Car! This kind od steering is referred to as ^tractor steering^ or ^tank steering^. When each side of the robot goes in opposite direction, it will turn. By controlling the length of time the motors run, you can accurately control the ^turn angle^ ( or the amount of degrees you wish to turn ). You can repeat this experiment with a friend in a three legged race! Student Procedure #23: Maintaining ^control^ of a robot is very important for a scientist. Otherwise, your Martian probe may hit a rock or drive off a cliff! REAL WORLD EXAMPLES 1) Martian Probe NASA really did build a tracked probe to explore the planet Mars! 2) A Bulldozer These powerful utility vehicles use "tank steering" to get around! SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: Do not eat the Lego elements! References: Richard Pawlson. THE ROBOT BOOK. Possible Variations: Add as many driving sides to your robotic creation as possible! Stage a race to navigate a maze with your fellow students. |
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