Mingo County Shewey Science Academy: NXT Training

First Lego League•Highly differentiated

•Hands-On

•Student-led

•Cross-curricular

•Collaborative

First Lego League Core Values:• We are a team.

• We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.

• We know our coaches and mentors don't have all the answers; we learn together.

• We honor the spirit of friendly competition.

• What we discover is more important than what we win.

• We share our experiences with others.

• We display gracious professionalism and cooperation in everything we do.

• We have FUN!

First Lego League Challenge: Green City

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Ice Breaker•Draw a blueprint of a robot that performs

a task you would prefer not to do.

Structure Function

Determines

What is a Robot?

•Sense –takes in information about its environment

•Plan –uses that information to make a decision

•Act –has moving parts to carry out commands

Bot or Not?

Bot or Not?

Bot or Not?

Bot or Not?

The NXT Brick is the brain of the robot

Output Ports (A, B, C)These ports send information out of the NXT

Motors are plugged into the Output PortsUSB Port –Connects to

the computer

INPUTS (1, 2, 3, 4) These ports send information into the NXT

Sensors are plugged into the Input Ports

Touch Ultrasonic

SoundLight

The NXT Navigation Map allows you to view the console menu options.

NXT BUTTON CONTROLSEnter/Select Button

Scroll controls allows navigation thru the menu

NXT BUTTON CONTROLS

You are able to scroll left to right thru all menu options.

NXT BUTTON CONTROLS

The back button allows you to return to the previous menu.

You are able to scroll backwards thru all menu options.

Name that Part!

Word Bank:

Gear Belts Angled Beams

Sensors Pulley Wheels Motor

Bushings Technic Beams

Axle Plates

Wheels Bricks

Pegs Studded Beams

Functions

Bricks, Beams, & Plates: Provide stability and support

Gears, Belts, Axles, & Pulleys: Transmit mechanical energy

Bushings: Hold structural parts in place; can also be used as part of a pulley system

Pegs and Joints: Join structural parts together

Sensors: Detect changes in the environment

NXT (Brain): Contains the source of energy for the bot (batteries)

Now it’s time to build your bot!

If your wheel makes one rotation, how far will it travel?

Distance Traveled = Circumference * Rotations

Circle Math for Movement1. What is a radius of a circle?

2. What is a diameter of a circle?

3. What is the formula for the circumference of a circle?

The distance from the center to the outside of a circle. Measure to the nearest tenth of a centimeter.The distance, through a circle’s center, from one edge to another.

Circumference = diameter * π

r

d

Π or Pi = 3.14

Measure to the nearest tenth of a centimeter

Measure to the nearest tenth of a centimeter

Circle Math In ActionIf your wheel completes 2 rotations, what distance will it travel?

3.14

Resource: Robin Shoop, Carnegie Mellon University

2.2 cm

Round up

6.9086.91

6.91 2 13.82 cm

Measurement of the rim

Constant

If your wheel’s circumference is 6.91 and it completes 2 rotations, then it should travel 13.82 cm.

Climbing the Learning LadderWhat are some variables which would prevent the Robot from traveling exactly 13.82 cm?

Resource: Robin Shoop, Carnegie Mellon University

Circle Math In Action

Welcome to the programming environment. NXT G is a icon based user friendly drag and drop program.

If you have multiple NXT robots in your classroom, a best practice is to have students personalize their robot by giving it a name that is saved in the robot’s brain.

Math Applications•Metric conversions•Setting up equations•Perimeter•Circumference•Collecting and representing data•Estimation•Problem Solving: making predictions &

experimenting

4/20/13•Objectives-

▫Use the scientific process to solve the Green City Challenges.

▫Complete two green city challenges: 1 that requires a “push” from the robot 1 that requires your robot to “lift” something

Best Practices:• Assigning roles: i.e.- mechanical engineer, computer

engineer, mathematician

• Following the scientific process

• Data Logging

• Organization: Challenge kids to keep kits organized!

• Lego League Core Values

• Awards

Scientific Process:•Know the challenge•Predict what your robot will do to solve

the challenge•Experiment•Evaluate results•Make changes due to inconsistencies in

the prediction•Experiment•Repeat

Data Logging Example

Challenge: Move in a square Behavior Programming

Robot will move forward 8 in.

Robot will execute a point turn by turning off left wheel and allowing the right wheel to move

Robot will repeat steps above 3 more times.

Forward move block, 2 rotations

Forward move block with C motor turned off, 1 rotation

Use Loop Function

First Lego League Core Values:• We are a team.

• We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.

• We know our coaches and mentors don't have all the answers; we learn together.

• We honor the spirit of friendly competition.

• What we discover is more important than what we win.

• We share our experiences with others.

• We display gracious professionalism and cooperation in everything we do.

• We have FUN!

Green City Challenge Awards:•Best Design of Robot•Most Difficult Challenge•Fastest Mission Completion•Most Effective Mission (highest point

value)•Most Creative•Most Gracious Professionals

Trouble Shooting• Emphasize that the robots must begin on the

designated tire outlines• Charge robots each day after students leave• Programming Issues:

▫Ensure the arm or wheel is connected to the correct port

▫That the student is downloading the correct program

▫That all pieces of the robot fit tightly▫That the battery life of the robot is fully charged

or close to it.