Technology Explorations:The First Year with the New Robots

Thanks to funding support from the PTO, we were able to upgrade our robotics equipment to the new Lego Mindstorms NXT Robotics kits this fall. With these kits, fifth and sixth grade students have been able to build and program robots to move, react to input from a variety of sensors, and to perform a variety tasks. Since this is the first year for all of us (student and teacher), we’ve been learning from each other - sharing discoveries, experimenting with the programming challenges, and testing the capabilities and limitations of the new system. 

Students begin by working with a partner on a series of challenges provided with the kits. Students follow graphic building instructions to build the robot then learn to program their robots to make sounds, drive forward and reverse, accelerate, turn, and drive in a square. Each robot can be connected to a computer with a USB cable so that the programs written on the computer can be downloaded to the robots.

After learning to control the robots’ movements, sensors are introduced. The Sound Sensor can detect both decibels (dB) and adjusted decibel (dBA). A decibel is a measurement of sound pressure.  This allows students to control the action of their robot with a handclap or a shout. 

The Ultrasonic Sensor uses the same scientific principle as bats: it measures distance by calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to hit an object and return – just like an echo. This sensor allows students to program their robots to “see” obstacles and navigate around them.

The Touch Sensor gives your robot a sense of touch. This sensor detects when it is being pressed by something and when it is released again. Students can build touch sensor bumpers so that when a robot hits a wall it can reverse direction and navigate around obstacles.

The Light Sensor is one of the two sensors that give your robot vision (the Ultrasonic Sensor is the other). This sensor enables your robot to distinguish between light and dark. It can read the light intensity in a room and measure the light intensity of colored surfaces. Students use light sensors to “teach” their robots to follow a line.

It has been an exciting first year as students at both grades levels have come into class eager to work on the next challenge. It’s been wonderful to see them work together effectively and the results have been amazing. Robots can be found traveling through the halls and navigating through mazes, and even competing in robotic dance completions and robot races. There have even been robots that could locate a ball and kick it with a robotic arm (or was it a robotic foot?).

We have already begun dreaming up all sorts of new challenges for next year to see if our fifth graders can apply what they’ve learned thus far to novel and more complex situations. We are especially excited at the prospect of discovering new ways to use the multiple sensors to create “intelligent” robots.

Past Spotlights:

Remembering Last Spring: as we start a new school year Click here >>

"Read on!" Readers!: The Reading Team celebrates its fifth year Click here >>

The Sounds of Music: The Instrumental Music Program Click here >>

International Peace Week : September 19th - 23rd Students and Faculty celebrate peace Click here >>

Great Changer Mosaic: A collaborative cross grade project results in permanent art installation at the Campus School Click here >>

Spring 2011: Ditch Disposable Campaign 2011: Click here >>

Winter 2010-2011: Student Film Festival: Click here >>

Fall 2010: First Graders Create a Butterfly Garden: Click here >>

Summer 2010: The SCCS June Program: Two new activities and both proved to be a resounding success!
Click here >>

Spring 2010: Campus School Reading Team: An Abundance of Readers!

Click here >>

Winter 2010: Generating Pedal Power! - A Collaborative Exploration
Click here >>

Fall 2009: It's just recesss...or is it?

The playground as a setting for learning and community building.

Click here >>

Spring 2009: A Close-Up View of Children Learning

Read about the collaboration between our kindergarteners and Smith College students.

Click here >>

SPOTLIGHT

Summer 2011

Spring 2011

Winter 2011

Fall 2010

Summer 2010