Fun in the Sun with Solar Robots! Workshop ASEE National Conference June 9, 2012

Transcription

1 Fun in the Sun with Solar Robots! Workshop ASEE National Conference June 9, 2012 Jane Hunter, James C. Baygents and J. Jill Rogers

2 Door Prize! Please enter if you would like to win a dsolar 4W System and CapBank donated by Dexter Industries. Include name, affiliation (university, college, etc.) and phone #.

3 Agenda Overview Format and Schedule Options 5-6 Hour Workshop Jump Drive Contents Assemble Robots Test (Time and Weather Permitting) Tips and Lessons Learned

4 Format and Schedule Options Elementary, Middle School or High School Workshop 5-6 hours Abridged activities Enhance interest/motivate students Formal Classroom Unit Daily class meetings or special sessions Two four weeks Focus on national science standards Authentic evaluations

5 Fun in the Sun with Solar Robots! Workshop (5-6 hours) Understanding the Need What Am I? icebreaker activity Teacher s presentation on energy and robotics (optional) Small Group/Lab: Energy Webquest, workbook Robotics and Programming Concepts What is a Robot? discussion Blindfold activity, sensing & feedback Programming in Logo Build and Optimize Solar Robots Final assembly of pre-assembled components Program robot with LEGO Mindstorms NXT software Debug Solar Robots Competition Preprogrammed or student programmed missions Extension Activities Debrief

6 Teaching Materials (Jump Drive) 1. Fun in the Sun with Solar Robots formal lessons- Teachers Manual - Lesson 1: Fun in the Sun_Understand Need - Lesson 2: Fun in the Sun_MSWLogo - Lesson 3: Fun in the Sun_Build solar robots - Lesson 4: Fun in the Sun_Robot competition 2. Middle School formal instruction supplemental content - Robotics_Intro_Sheet - Solar info Sheet - Fun in the Sun with Robots who am I pics - Sensing_feedback_autonomous - Additional Feedback Activity - Extension_Exploration - Solar Energy_Pros and Cons WS - Robot glossary - RoboInfo children s book - Robotics extended content 3. Build instruction manuals for LEGO NXT robot and Dexter Industries dsolar 4W System, to include: - InstructorPreAssemble - RobotBuildfor_Student - Or, for a quick build solar robot project try this link: 4. Solar Energy student workbooks for grades 3-5 and Workbook3_5Complete - Workbook6_8Complete 5. Computer programming instructional lessons and free online software - Software_Comparison_Instruc - Software_Comparison_Students

7 energy KIDS U.S. Energy Information Administration m?page=activities_intermediate

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13 Capturing the Sun s Energy

14 Solar Energy & the Environment Solar energy produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse gases Manufacturing process of photovoltaic cells (PV) use toxic materials and chemicals Large solar thermal power plants can be harmful to desert ecosystems Solar thermal systems - use potentially hazardous fluids ( Concentrating solar systems - water for regular cleaning/cooling Source:

15 Logo Programming Language

16 Logo Primer

17 What is a Robot? A robot is a device consisting of sensors, a body and Central Processing Unit (CPU) that together collect and respond to feedback in an autonomous way. What does all of this mean?

18 Feedback The principle of feedback deals with changes in condition then self correction.

19 Sensors In order to detect changes and then send feedback a robot needs sensors. Sensors are small devices connected to the brain, or CPU, of the robot that tell the robot about the environment.

20 Central Processing Unit (CPU) The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, receives and interprets electronic signals that come from the sensors. A CPU uses a series of transistors and circuits that mimic the function of a brain, sort of like a computer.

21 Autonomous Behavior Autonomous means self-directed, autonomous behavior is behavior that happened in response to feedback. Autonomous behavior is not planned in advance but happens as a result of outside influences.

22 Body The final part of the robot puzzle is the body. Without a body to physically react to feedback a robot is not a robot, it is more like a computer. The sensors send information to the robot s CPU and the CPU then sends electronic signals to the robot s actuators or motors. This system allows the robot to autonomously move and react to the environment.

23 The first Robot- Grey Walter s Turtle Elsie

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