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I'm involved in a Futureintech program that introduces electronics to 11/12yr old pupils at various schools within New Zealand. The Project Xmas Tree involves students assembling a picaxe based Tree shaped board, that they can then program to light LED's, make music and react to pushbutton or light level changes. The pupils get to keep the tree and the cost is zero due to sponsorship, so we can tackle a range of school deciles from low to high.
I am not a registered teacher, but provide my services to Futureintech at no cost as a way of giving back to the community. My employer (Airways NZ) supports my involvement by allowing me to participate and treats it as training. They see it as an investment in the future as a percentage of pupils may go on to take up electronics, software or another science. |
Introduction
I first met the BOE (Board Of Education) robot in 2005, when I was asked to assist our local school in a Robot Maze Challenge.
They had obtained one at a discount rate, but had no idea of how to program it, or make it do what they wanted.
To make things worse the challenge was in 5 or 6 weeks time.
While there was not enough time to teach the ins and outs of programming the bot, we were able to have the students make all the decisions about its performance and it's reaction to the various scenarios.
I'm glad to say that it made it through, and was one of only two that could have started at either end of the maze and completed the challenge.
(they had published the maze details, so most bots followed pre-programed moves)
I picked up some great tips from that experience, and decided to make this bot for my daughter.
It is based on a Picaxe18 so she could use flowcode (1st tip), has rigid wall detectors (2nd tip) and doesn't require absolutely fresh batteries to perform (3rd tip)
Solid bumper reduces changes due to distorted 'feelers' but allows right, left and straight touch detection
SO what does this have to do with the challenge? 
Robotics
Robotics has always featured on the radar, and Futureintech has been asked about developing a program that would suit an after school program.
While some schools have their own lego robots, there is no consistency and it is difficult to provide a "one size fits all solution".
There is a good deal of interest, but unless you have some hardware to play with, how do you know if the interest is genuine?
How many robot kits do you need to satisfy the desire?
Do you have a teacher with the necessary skills to get it up and running, let alone pass on the knowledge?
Commercial v Custom
While custom designed robots are fine for their intended purpose, they are difficult for others to replicate in numbers.
Many solutions are flimsy, or cannot stand 'accidents' that will occur as pupils learn.
Schools and others need a COS (Commercial Off Shelf) hardware solution that is flexible, but easy to add features to.
Using a BOE based platform with Arduino fits this model.
Design Challenge
My intention for this challenge is to develop a program that others can easily use and follow.
To be a 'Teachers Pet' the robot should be able to operate in a "follow me" mode, or "keep x distance away" mode using the sensor.
Including working examples that readers, teachers or instructors can use is paramount.
The instructions should NOT assume the reader knows how to do xyz.
Those that do know will skip it, while the ones who don't will have complete instructions.
Clear, well commented code is necessary to allow others to extend the basic concept.
One extension is using RFID tags to authorise and modify it's behaviour. (see RFID blogs here)
It is my intention in this challenge to show that the process doesn't have to only involve the programmers, but the designers and the decision makers as well.
There is not a single item on the planet that hasn't had input from many disciplines in order to provide the finished product. (and software is no exception)
The hardware provided for the design challenge can then be used by Futureintech at schools in a lesson, after school situation, or simply to extend some pupils interested in doing more programming.
SO I'm looking forware to getting my hands on a BOE again, as I think they are a very capable platform, and using Arduino as the controller, opens up so many options.
Mark
Teacher's Pet Students' Robotics Challenge link
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