Help President LegoMan!

The task before us is clear… President Lego Man needs to get from the airport to the firestation. Can you get him there?

Objectives:

•  To understand the basics of computer programming.
• To create a robot that completes a specific task.
• To document the process through group video and written reflection.

 

The Challenge:

President Lego Man has arrived in AnyTown and must be escorted across town by a robotic motorcade. He will be flying into AnyTown airport and must travel to meet the AnyTown Firefighters Association on the other side of town. There are some obstacles in the way. Create a robot that can remove the obstacles and get President Lego Man to his destination.

Expectations

• Each member of the group is expected to participate in the planning, building, coding, testing, and documentation of the project.
• There will be four class periods to work on this project. Groups may meet outside of class time as long as all members are able to participate. Arrangements must be made with the instructor to use legos outside of regularly scheduled class time.
• Robots will be demonstrated from 3-4pm during the last class period (4/26 or 4/27). Guests may be invited.
• Video will be shown after the robots are demonstrated.

Documentation

• Video: Each group will be given a video camera and 1 tape to record activities. Video will be edited down to a 5-7 minute movie that shows the process from beginning to end. A copy of the video file will be submitted to the instructor at the end of the project.
• Daily Blog Post: Students will create a WordPress blog and submit the link to the instructor. At the end of each class period, students will take the time to document the progress, problems, and reflections from that day.
• Final Reflection: A final journal assignment will be posted in class and must be completed for credit on this project.
• Program: A copy of the lego code will be submitted to an assignment posted on the class website.

Outcomes

• Following the development cycle below, create a robot that achieves the objectives.
• Create a video that shows the development cycle and final product.
• Complete a final reflection that will include the group problem statement, the code, details about testing, and personal insights.

Evaluation

This project will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Group Robotics Project	50
Personal Blog	40
Group Video	10
Total	100

The group grade will be determined by teamwork and how well the robot achieves the objectives set forth in the group problem statement. I will look at individual blog posts and the final project reflection as part of the evidence for this grade.

The personal blog grade will be determined by the number and quality of posts to a personal blog created at WordPress. See assignment details on the class website.  

The group video will be edited in class and shown during the final class period. It should document the group process and demonstrate highlights from the project.

Development Cycle

Planning – Create a problem statement that contains the following:

• Any assumptions that defines the scope of the problem
• Specifies the known information
• Specifies when the problem has been solved

Coding – Develop the code in RoboLab that will solve the problem stated above.

Testing – Implement the code and test to determine if it works.

• Run program and debug
• Determine what caused any errors
• Re-program to correct errors

Documentation – Create documentation that allows others to replicate the process

• Daily blog postings documenting progress, problems, and personal reflections
• Group video and digital camera documentation
• Final blog posting
• Final group video