VEX UNITS OF WORK UNIT 1 TUMBLER UNIT

VEX UNITS OF WORK UNIT 1: TUMBLER UNIT 2: CLAWBOT UNIT 1. 1: Autodesk Inventor TUMBLER Build UNIT 2. 1: Autodesk Inventor CLAWBOT Build UNIT 3: MANUFACTURING

Project Overview § § § § § Introduction Clawbot Build Design Modification Design Development Programming Sensors Advanced Sensors Open design challenges Project evaluation

LESSON 01 INTRODUCTION In this project you are going to develop a strong and in-depth knowledge of robotics, working with a VEX Clawbot kit initially to explore how much you can learn and engineer with the kit, before introducing additional parts and sensors to move beyond the initial Clawbot design. To begin, you will build the Clawbot shown below. You will then be set small focused challenges for different features of the robot, develop your knowledge of programming to include not only the drive, but the arm and claw movement, and eventually take on a series of challenges each with different criteria for success. The Clawbot was developed as a simple solution to the “Sack Attack” VEX Robotics Competition game during the 2012 – 2013 season. Teams had to gather bean bag “sacks” and place them in different goals at different heights in order to score points. As a kit it is an ideal introduction to VEX robotics (beyond the Tumbler), and within the kit there is plenty of scope to explore, develop and engineer solutions to different design problems. For more information about all of these opportunities go to www. vexrobotics. com

LESSON 01

LESSON 01 STARTER Learning objective: Learn about complex robotics design and application. Apply an engineering notebook to a robotics development process. Develop communication skills to draw and design new robot solutions. When you think of a robot, do you picture a humanoid robot like you see in the films (human looking with arms and legs and a head? ) or do you picture something different? Shown right is a typical industrial robot. It has a static base (you can see the bolt holes at the bottom), and using pivot points, it moves and articulates. How many pivot points do you think this one has? This robot has 5 pivot points. Where? Key words: Programmable, environment, design, manufacturing and application

PROJECT INTRODUCTION A look at robots in common contexts Robots feature in our lives already. They are not fantasy or future, they belong to the here and now. Here are different robots in context. Can you tell what they are being used for? Manufacturing and production line This robot is moving delicate boxes between conveyor belts in a production line. Police response This robot is conducting dangerous police work Medical and chemical work This robot could be organising medical samples or handling dangerous chemicals on behalf of a human

PROJECT INTRODUCTION Why do we use robots? In each of the three contexts just seen, the robots are replacing humans. Why? In your groups/pairs, come up with as many reasons why robots have replaced humans in each of the contexts (medical, police, manufacturing) Task: Present back to the group your thoughts so that your teacher can compile these into one brainstorm on the board.

PROJECT INTRODUCTION Why do we use robots? In some cases, the level of danger or hazard to human life has resulted in a robot replacing a human. The perfect example is shown below. This robot is employed for military use. This is a common feature of modern warfare, where a robot takes on the role of the solider to carry out a task that has a high level of risk. In this instance, the robot will drive using its large wheels, into a dangerous environment where a human might be targeted, and provide visuals back to the operator of a site or area of interest. The robot can be shot by the enemy or blown up with a land mine but prevents human life being put at risk. Military spy robot The robot can also record video to be analysed in detail later by experts, rather than risking these non military individuals. This robot is used by the military to search ahead of a squadron of soldiers, to see what is coming up on a patrol or search.

PROJECT INTRODUCTION Why do we use robots? Where military robots need to interact with something, for instance a land mine, the robot needs additional features that can be remotely operated by a solider. Arms have become a common feature of many robots where they are required to conduct a task with human like accuracy and control. Military spy robot - a grabber arm for handling or carrying out a task VEX Robot - a grabber arm for handling or carrying out a task

PROJECT INTRODUCTION Robot arms a common feature A robotic arm is a mechanical structure, usually suitable for programming, and designed to have similar functions to a human arm. Each link is connected by joints allowing either rotational motion or translational linear displacement. The links form something called a kinematic chain (a moving chain of parts). The “hand” of the arm is known as an end effector and is designed to replicate hand movement. In a typical car manufacturing plant, both humans and robots work. Consider these three questions What do you think humans do and what do you think robots do? How do the humans programme the robots to carry out the jobs they are assigned? Why are humans still needed in the production line?

PROJECT INTRODUCTION What do you think humans do and what do you think robots do? In most instances, robots will bring in heavy parts onto the line, weld and bolt sections together, and conduct spray painting. Humans will oversee the stages and monitor progress, and conduct lighter work where there is intricacy or where tasks can vary or require visual expertise How do the humans programme the robots to carry out the jobs they are assigned? Where robots are bringing in parts, this will be programmed to take parts from a specific location to another specific location. For spray painting or welding, a human will carry out the task with a robotic arm in their hand, and record their actions into a programme, to repeat time and again. Why are humans still needed in the production line? Humans are still needed because some activities require the intricate manipulation only possible with a human hand the visual acknowledgement of a task by human eye.

PROJECT INTRODUCTION Static and Mobile Robots Your task is to consider how these two groups of robots are different. Consider how they are designed, how th are programmed, and how they need to work differently from one another. Using the worksheet provided, list all the features of a mobile robot and a static robot, and compare the differences and similarities.

PROJECT INTRODUCTION The Engineering Notebook Used by VEX Robotics Competition teams, the Engineering notebook is for documenting designing, construction approaches and iterations of a robot. Pupils use these to: - store pictures of robots that inspire them - draw and sketch ideas and solutions - record data and measurements taken - document discussions with team members and experts - analyse progress towards a goal In this project you will be using a Robotics Engineering Notebook of your own, to mimic how professional designers and engineers work and record their ideas.

PROJECT INTRODUCTION Task: Design a robot to carry out a task from your day to day life The robot you design does not need to conduct anything dangerous, but you are tasked with designing a robot to conduct a task for you. The task will need to be suitable for a robot to carry out. The features of a task that robots can carry out are where: - items interacted with are static (not moving) - tasks can be programmed through a series of X, Y and Z coordinates - visual feedback of the task being completed is not required - tasks are repetitive - a level of accuracy is required over humans

PROJECT INTRODUCTION VEX Robots As we progress through this project, you will eventually reach the same level of ability as the pupils who have designed and built this robot solution for the National Competition. You will need to be able to draw robot solutions like this in your Engineering notebook before making them.

LESSON 01 PLENARY As a class, let us consider the following questions? A. Where are robots used in our current lives B. What are robots used to do in place of humans C. How are robots programmed to carry out their tasks D. What can robots not do for humans?

LESSON 01 SUMMARY Learning objective: Learn about complex robotics design and application. Apply an engineering notebook to a robotics development process. Develop communication skills to draw and design new robot solutions. Today you have: § Learnt about different robot applications in modern industry. § Learnt how to use and complete an Engineering notebook during a team robot design project. § Learnt how to communicate your ideas in your notebook using simple drawing techniques.