Computer Science Teachers Association Academy Lego Robotics

1. Computer Science Teachers Association AcademyLego Robotics Wayne Summers – Chair / Rodrigo Obando – Assoc. Chair TSYS Department of Computer Science Columbus State University January 25, 2007

2. WELCOME

3. AGENDA

4. Introduction to Robotics Mindstorms Lego Robot http://mindstorms.lego.com/

5. Content • Rational-Why Lego Robots • Lego Robot Construction • Robotic Programming • Test Your Robot

6. MINDSTORMS Education Video http://mindstorms.lego.com/Overview/ Rational-Why Lego Robots

7. Lego Robot Kits Gears Belts Standard Lego Components Connectors Motors Sensors

8. Lego Robot Kits

9. Robotic Programming

10. Hardware: Intelligent NXT Brick • 32-bit ARM7 microprocessor • 256 Kbytes FLASH, 64 Kbytes RAM • Bluetooth wireless communication using NXT software only. • USB 2.0 port • 4 input ports, 6 wire digital platform • 3 output ports, 6 wire digital platform

11. Lego Robot Kits (Cont’d) • Motors are what make your robot move. • Motors can run forward or backward and at different power levels. • Motors are connected to the microprocessor with motor cables.

12. Lego Robot Kits (Cont’d) • Sensors give your robot information about itself and its environment. • The touch sensor detects if the robot has run into something. • The light sensor measures the amount of light in the room. • The rotational sensor measures how many times the robot’s wheels have turned.

13. LEGO™ Parts - Beams • Beams are structural components. • • They are named by the number of LEGO™ “bumps” on the top. • • Beams have holes. Axles or pegs can be placed in the holes.

14. LEGO™ Parts – Plates and Bricks • Plates are flat. • • Plates can have holes. • • Plates and bricks are named by the number of LEGO™ “bumps” on each side. • • Bricks are rectangular pieces. • • Bricks are used for structural support.

15. LEGO™ Parts – Plates and Bricks

16. LEGO™ Parts – Axles • Axles are used to attach wheels and gears. • • Axles are named by how long they are in LEGO™ “bumps.” For example, a #8 axle is the same length as a 1 x 8 beam.

17. LEGO™ Parts – Wheels • Wheels come in a variety of sizes. • Large wheels make your robot go fast. Small wheels make your robot go slow. • There are two types of tires. Tractor tires have a checker-board tread. Regular tires have a wider, race car tread. • Treads can be used for tank robots.

18. LEGO™ Parts – Gears • Gears are wheels with teeth that mesh together. • Gears are used to change the speed and strength of your robot. • They are named by the number of teeth they have.

19. LEGO™ Parts – Bushings and Pegs • Pegs are used to connect beams together. • Bushings are used to hold wheels or gears on their axles.

20. Lego Robot Construction • General Construction • NXT Models & Building Guides -http://www.legoeducation.info/nxt/resources/building-guides/ • Robot Driving Base Construction • Wheels Construction • Tracks Construction

21. NXT Navigation Menu

22. Driving Basehttp://legoeducation.info/nxt/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/BI_Driving_Base.pdf

23. Motor Modulehttp://legoeducation.info/nxt/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/BI_Motor_Module.pdf

24. Ball Stand – http://legoeducation.info/nxt/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/BI_Ballstand.pdf

25. LEGO Mindstorms NXT Software(NXT- G)

26. Robotic Programming (Cont’d)

27. Robotic Programming (Cont’d)

28. Test Your Robot • Following a line • Picking up an object • Pushing the brick

29. Pushing the brick Steps: The robot moves forward until it detects the dark line. (See instructions in RobotEducator >> Home >> Common Palette >> 16. Detect Dark Line >> Programming Guide). The robot follows the dark line until it comes in a straight line with the brick. (See instructions in RobotEducator >> Home >> Common Palette >> 17. Follow A Line >> Programming Guide). Either fix a distance or fix a time for following the line so that the robot stops as soon as it comes in a straight line with the brick. The robot takes a 90 degree turn towards the brick. (See instructions in RobotEducator >> Home >> Common Palette >> 08. Drive In Squares >> Programming Guide). The robot moves forward until it encounters the brick. When it comes to the brick, it pushes the brick to the end of the table. (Calculate the distance the robot will travel to reach the end of the table and stop.) Step 1 Step 2 Fence Step 3 Step 4 Brick Test Your Robot (Cont’d)

30. RESOURCES • Mindstorms http://mindstorms.lego.com/ • MINDSTORMS Education NXT - http://www.legoeducation.info/nxt/ • Kristie Brown http://www.legoeducation.typepad.com/southeastatlantic/ • NXT Tutorial (videos) http://www.ortop.org/NXT_Tutorial/ • Microsoft Robotics Studio- http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/ • Lejos (Java for the NXT) - http://www.lejos.org • Labview - http://www.ni.com/academic/mindstorms/ • NXT Programming Software - http://www.teamhassenplug.org/NXT/NXTSoftware.html

31. RESOURCES • Learn how to program efficiently with NXT Edu software - http://legoeducation.typepad.com/robotics_education_initit/files/efficientNXTcode.pdf • Classroom Management - http://legoeducation.typepad.com/classroom_management/ • Carnegie Mellon Curriculum -http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/roboticscurriculum/index.html • Robotics Academy - http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/

32. Competitions / Training • First Lego League (9-12 yrs old) http://www.usfirst.org/ • FLL World Festival (Atlanta - April 12-14, 2007) • RoboCup Junior http://rcj.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/ • RoboCup (Atlanta - June 7-July 10, 2007) http://www.robocup-us.org/ • RoboCup Junior Workshop 2/10/2007 - http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt/464

33. Videos • Mindstorms Autofabrik - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ3AcPEPbH0 • Inchworm NXT - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPaFbUm2Ux4 • Remote Robotic Dog Treat Dispenser via IM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72STco-yoew • FIRST Lego League (FLL) Ocean Odyssey - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv38vW93_gQ • First Lego Leagues 2006 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh6gQknnBR8 • Lego Tractor Dance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB2U2p72s-A