Team Project: Find the Lost Child!

Objectives:
Students will create a Mindstorms NXT program that uses repeated sequence of commands.
Students will identify a repeated sequence of commands as an iteration.
Students will define, create, and reuse "My Block" functions in the Mindstorms NXT program.
Students will identify an algorithm as a list of steps to solve a problem or complete a task.
Students will write down a sequence of instructions to create an algorithm.
Students will define and divide tasks across their team.
Students will create a mechanical robot to complete a task.

Materials:  (2 to 4 students per team)
Computer access to the Mindstorms NXT software. (One per team)
One NXT Mindstorms Robotics Kit per team.
Course (Black Electrical Tape on smooth tile floor)
Fisher Price "Little People" Figures (1 per course)
Handouts for each student:
    -Diagram of Course
    -Algorithm Sheet
    -Function Sheet
    -Diagram of Robot
    -Rubric

Concepts:
Iteration
Algorithms
Functions (My Blocks)
Distance
Angles

Method:
Team Project: "Find and Escort the Lost Child"
Problem:   Lenox Square Mall is developing a new automated system to help parents locate lost children.  Using cameras and preset maps, the child has been located and a course set.   You must design and program a robot to follow this set course to locate and escort the child safely back to the "Lost and Found."


Prior Knowledge:
1. Teams have already built “Basic Tribot” and experimented with moving forward, backward, and turning using the Mindstorms NXT programming system.  (Basic NXT Programming)
2. Students know how to create “My Blocks.”
3. Students know how to save programs on the local computer.
4. Students know how to download and run programs on the “Tribot.”

Assessment:

• Completion of Worksheets
• Function Worksheet
• Algorithm Worksheet
  
• Performance Tasks: Building and Programming Robot to complete mission.
• Use of Rubric to evaluate work.
• The Mission: Find the Lost Child!

Mission:

Lenox Square Mall is developing a new automated system to help parents locate lost children.  Using cameras and preset maps, the child has been located and a course set.   You must design and program a robot to follow this set course to locate and escort the child safely back to the "Lost and Found."  

Robot Mission:
1. Starting at “Lost and Found.” Your robot must move through the maze and reach the “child.”  
2. Robot must escort (move the child) back through the maze to the “Lost and Found” area.  
3. Robot must not lose or “mishandle” the child.
4. Robot must stay on the course.

Your team must complete the following:

• Design and build attachments to the Mindstorms “Tribot” Robot to safely “escort” your child back to “Lost and Found.”
• Define following functions in the “Functions Worksheet.”
• How many rotations of B and C motors make the robot move 1 foot.
• How many rotations of either B or C motors will make the robot turn:
• Right 90 Degrees
• Left 90 Degrees
• Right 45 Degrees
• Left 45 Degrees
• Rotate the Robot 180 Degrees
• Create a method of “Escorting the Child.”
• Complete the “Algorithms Worksheet.”
• Write a Mindstorms NXT program for your robot to complete the mission.
• Program must use at least 2 “My Block” functions (Hint, reuse the distance and angle parts of your solution.)
• (Another Hint – your program should follow your “Algorithm Sheet.”)
• Download and Run you program on your robot to complete your mission.

Diagram of Course:

 


Layout Course with Black Electrical Tape on Smooth Surface.
(Floor or Robotics Table)
Dotted Line indicates Distance within Course.  Do not layout with tape.