July 2013 30 Minutes Robotics

What can you do in a 30 minute Robotics workshop with 6 children (ages 6-12)?
2 days x 4 workshops
Week's Theme: Space
2 Stations - 2 robots

Station 1: Space Travel: 
BeeBot on Solar System puzzle

Plan your path to the moon, planet, asteroids or star.

(First group put puzzle together and last one took apart)

Took turns in circle. When 2 workers broke group in half.
Task 1: Can you go from sun to a planet or moon? (usually just straight)
Task 2: Can you go to 2 places? (turn)

[some went back after NXT and light sensor]
Task 3: Go is a square [just to see if they could]
Task 4: Go in a circle when arrive at location


Station 2: "Solar" robot:
Lego NXT with Light Sensor using Mindstorms

1) What is a Light Sensor?
Demo the light sensor program that shows light readings.
Children read values:
a) room light 40-60 
b) dark (finger over sensor) 2-18
c) Handi flashlight 80-100

1b) Better having light sensor point forward or up?
Except first day all chose the sensor pointing up as best.
Some groups tried both before deciding.




2) Follow the light

If bright light, then drives forward. (like wisemen followed Christmas star)

Children took turns trying it out.








3) What should the robot do if no light?
[Motor ports]
Ideas the 8 groups tried:
* Come back to me
* Turn in a circle until see light again
  [but hard to direct out of the circle to somewhere]
* Turn slightly [Easier to direct]

Turn direction: What if reversed ports motors plugged into?





Additional station idea: 
Build a 5 minute Bot with parts pre-sorted.
Children would have liked to build a robot, but was alone first day.
Worked 2 years ago having 2-3 children work together to build a robot in 5-10 minutes.