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Boe-bots and STEM Boe-bots and STEM – This sectional will introduce participants to a programmable robot that is useful for engaging students in building circuits, problem solving, and writing computer programs. This project easily incorporates the science, technology, engineering and mathematics that is STEM. (8th grade and up)
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…”
STEM • Science – electricity, circuits, electronics, computer operations • Technology – programming a robot with a computer • Engineering – constructing a rolling “robot” and planning for it to accomplish given tasks • Math – thinking logically, looking for patterns or using ratios when programming, calculating speed, RPM’s, etc.
What You Get in a Boe-Bot Kit Available from www.parallax.com $159.99 each - may be reused! Don’t forget to include the cost of batteries!
The “Board of Education” • Includes a breadboard to connect LED’s, capacitors, resistors, servos • Plug-in for the “brain” • Connection to a computer • Connection to a power source (1 - 9 V or 4 AA batteries)
The BASIC Stamp • The “brain” of the Boe-bot • A plug-in microcontroller • Programmed in PBASIC Parallax Beginners All-Purpose Instruction Code
Chapter 1: Your Boe-Bot’s Brain • Downloading & installing software • Setting up the hardware & testing it • Beginning programming: DEBUG, END, Ascii Code
Chapter 2 • Programming with PAUSE, DO-LOOP, HIGH, LOW, PULSOUT (more precise at controlling duration) • Resistors (Color Bands) • Diodes and LED’s • Voltage and circuits • Causing the LED’s to blink • microseconds
Chapter 2 (cont.) • Connecting the servo motors • Centering the servo motors • Programming with variables (bits, bytes, words), FOR – NEXT • Idea of subsystem testing • Emphasis on Trouble-Shooting
' {$STAMP BS2} ' {$PBASIC 2.5} DEBUG "Program running." counter VAR Word FOR counter = 1 TO 122 'clockwise just under 3 sec PULSOUT 12,650 PAUSE 20 NEXT FOR counter = 1 TO 40 ' stop 1 sec PULSOUT 12,750 PAUSE 20 NEXT FOR counter = 1 TO 122 'counterclockwise 3 sec PULSOUT 12,850 PAUSE 20 NEXT END
Chapter 2 (cont.) Observing the servos when given different commands (clockwise, counterclockwise, speeds)
Chapter 3 • Assemble the Boe-Bot (servo motors, power supply, side wheels, tail ball, cotter pin) • Connect parts to the Board of Education • Test each wheel
Chapter 3 (cont.) Piezospeaker Introduced to frequency, hertz, and how voltage changes can cause vibrations Programming with FREQOUT Some students enjoy programming it to play a tune. Using the speaker to detect bownout.
Chapter 3 Calculating RPM’s of wheels.
Chapter 4 • The concept of using the direction the wheels are turning to cause the Boe-Bot to turn. • Learning to program it to move backwards, rotate, and pivot. Back of Boe-Bot
Chapter 4 (cont.) • Experimenting with programming to straighten out the Boe-Bot’s path. • Gathering data in order to control the distance traveled by the Boe-Bot. • Calculating the speed of the Boe-Bot. • Using subroutines to control the navigation of the Boe-Bot.
Main Program ' Robotics with the Boe-Bot ' Move forward, left, right, and backward ' {$STAMP BS2} ' {$PBASIC 2.5} DEBUG "program running." counter VAR word FREQOUT 4, 2000, 3000 'SIGNAL PROGRAM START/RESET GOSUB Forward GOSUB Left GOSUB Right GOSUB Backward END
The Subroutines Forward: FOR counter = 1 TO 64 PULSOUT 13,850 PULSOUT 12,650 PAUSE 20 next PAUSE 200 return Right: FOR counter = 1 TO 64 PULSOUT 13,850 PULSOUT 12,850 PAUSE 20 next PAUSE 200 RETURN Backward: FOR counter = 1 TO 64 PULSOUT 13,650 PULSOUT 12,850 PAUSE 20 next PAUSE 200 RETURN Left: FOR counter = 1 TO 64 PULSOUT 13,650 PULSOUT 12,650 PAUSE 20 next PAUSE 200 RETURN
Chapter 5 • Introduced to the idea of a tactile sensor that can be programmed to react to touch. • Building and testing the whiskers. • Programming with IF – THEN – ELSE – ENDIF • Programming for “AI”.
Chapter 6 • Introduced to a photoresistor and the concept of illuminance. • Building a photoresistor circuit and understanding how it works (resistors in series, voltage dividers, threshold voltage). • Experimenting with different voltage dividers and roaming towards light. http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/mm/video/boebot/lightfollower.mpg
Chapter 7 • The spectrum and its wavelengths. • Building and testing infrared transmitter/ detector pairs. • Testing for object detection and infrared interference. • Programming to detect objects and avoid them.
STEM • Science – electricity, circuits, electronics, computer operations • Technology – programming a robot with a computer • Engineering – constructing a rolling “robot” and planning for it to accomplish given tasks • Math – thinking logically, looking for patterns or using ratios when programming, calculating speed, RPM’s, etc.
The Presenters Vera Abresch Christ Lutheran School Albuquerque, NM Middle School Math, Science & Technology vkabresch@yahoo.com Julie Lemke St. John’s School Denver, CO Middle School Language Arts & Technology julie.lemke@stjohnsdenver.org