The first program we learned how to build was a basic design challenge I created to teach the fundamentals of LabView. The goal: make the robot go forward for 1 meter. Stop, then move back 1 meter. Stop. Then play a song.
The girls were successful in measuring duration--the time (seconds) it takes for the robot to move 1 meter. The only glitch in the program they made was that their song, called the "Green Song" plays WHILE the robot is moving backwards. This means that the robot will continue moving in reverse until the song ends, which takes longer than the roughly 4 seconds it takes to travel 1 meter.
This coming Friday we will fix this glitch, so that the robot moves in reverse for exactly 1 meter. Stops, then plays the "Green Song."
I was impressed with how fast the girls picked up on programming. After we finish the challenge, we will be doing Worksheet 1: Obstacle Navigation. This comes from "Educate NXT" by Chris Bracken with contributions from Rob Torok and Damien Kee. My school purchased this book after I used it as a reference when I was at Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach. This math exercise relates distance, rate, and time to the robot challenge. We can then build upon our basic program to introduce more complicated LabView skills.
NEXT WEEK: CANDY!
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