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ROBOTIC ENGINEERING PROJECT

ORANGE ACRES BACK BREAKERS

YEAR: 

 2009 - 2010
Leader:  Henry Arnold

Project Description

This project provides students the opportunity to learn the basics of robotics. Lessons will cover basic mechanics, electronics, and Basic Language software programming. The project will be designed for both students who are just beginning in robotics and those that are returning for advanced topics. Beginning students will learn the basics by building a simple robot and learning how it works. Advanced students will add a programmable controller to the robot kit which will allow them to modify the behavior of the robot through software. We'll also learn about sensors, speech, and voice recognition during the session. All ages will have the opportunity to test their robots on a maze and to improve the robot’s performance at running the maze through modifications to the basic kit.

Age Range

8 years old and above

Minimum/Maximum Number of Participants

No minimum

Meeting Dates

Second and fourth Monday of each month plus additional workshops as needed

Time of Meetings

7:00 p.m.

Location of Meetings

TBD

Competition and/or Showmanship

You will be expected to show off your robot -  and your knowledge by participating in Youth Expo and the Orange County Fair:
    YOUTH EXPO (a "learning fair" of 2-3 days)
        You can display your robot and/or make a poster
    ORANGE COUNTY FAIR
        You can show off your robot again and/or
        You may make a new poster or display, or use the one from Youth Expo

Estimated Costs

TBD

 

Project Description In this project you will learn many different things.  It involves mechanical engineering, writing software, building electronic projects, and interconnecting them all so that the electronics, with  your software, controls the operation of the robot.  We'll begin by building a very simple robot kit - something with a couple of wheels or tracks that performs very simple tasks.  Next, you will build a small printed circuit board with a microcomputer chip.  Next you will learn to write a program that will begin to control your robot (you should have access to a computer - we'll have some at the meetings).  As the year progresses, we'll add sensors and you will write the program to make your robot do different things depending upon what it "sees" through the sensors.  If there is time near the end of the year, we'll work with the Rocketry project and, as a group project, build a simple robot like the Mars Rover that we can launch as a payload at Lucerne Dry Lake in the Mojave desert.
Age Range 9 years old and above
Minimum/Maximum Number of Participants No minimum
Meeting Dates Second Monday of each month plus additional workshops as needed
Time of Meetings 7:00 p.m.
Location of Meetings TBD
Competition and/or Showmanship You will be expected to show off your robot -  and your knowledge by participating in Youth Expo and the Orange County Fair:
    YOUTH EXPO (a "learning fair" of 2-3 days)
        You can display your robot and/or make a poster
    ORANGE COUNTY FAIR
        You can show off your robot again and/or
        You may make a new poster or display, or use the one from Youth Expo
Estimated Costs TBD
Special Requirements None