Tuesday, March 10, 2009

~project's proposal~


Project’s Name: The Recycle Robot


1) Introduction

Recently, robotics has become a phenomenon especially in the education context. Thus, robotics technology and robots are being used by a lot of educators in schools and colleges as well. In schools, students and teachers have been introduced to a new set of robotics tool called LEGO Mindstorms. This kit has been used in schools in order to give basic education to students about robots and robotics technology. For this semester, we were asked to create a project that uses the robotics components. We were asked to come out with a robot that uses the principles of robots and robotics. It has to be related to the primary schools students’ syllabus as they also have to come out with the same project at the end of the lessons. After a few further discussions, we came out with this idea: Recycle Robot.

2) Problem Statement
We found out that there are not so many people especially in schools are aware about the importance of the recycle bins. Some of them especially the primary school students do not know how to use the recycle bins maximally. The government has put the recycle bins at almost all of the schools all over Malaysia. Unfortunately, the recycle bins are not filled with the things that can be recycled, but with banana skins, tissue paper, chewing gums, and the worst of all, the cans weren’t emptied. Due to this problem, we came out wit an idea to create this recycling robot. Generally, this robot will help people in putting the garbage in the particular bins.

3) Problem Solving
In order to create this robot, we have a set of tasks that need to be completed. The tasks are:
a) identify problems
b) investigation and research upon the project
c) brainstorming – giving ideas and solutions
d) sketching and design the robot
e) product development – programming and making the robot
f) testing and evaluation
g) documentation

4) Objectives
Every product created has it own purposes or objectives. The recycling robot is created to:
• To show the principles of robots and robotics.
• To show the functions of LEGO MINDSTORMS components; (motors, gears, NXT brick, sensors)
• To give exposure to students about design and technology in life so that they can create something that is more advance than this
• To educate students about the importance of putting the garbage into its particular bin.

5) Project Functions

The robot will use the robotics components like the gears, motors and sensors. The robot will manage to detect different types of garbage and put it into a particular bin. For example, if the robot detects a can, it will grab the can, bring it to the particular bin and put it into it. The procedures are same to any other materials detected. The important components that used in the robot are the sensors; ultrasonic sensor, light sensor as the robot will be able to detect the garbage to put it in the recycle bins.

quotes of the day:
"put your ears down close to your soul, and listen hard"

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

~hitting the ball~

Date: 11th February, 2009
Time: 0800-1330
Topic: Hitting
Instruction: Build a robot that can hit a ball

Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
a) Use the components of the LEGO Mindstorms to build the robot
b) Program the robot that can hit a ball
c) Build a robot that can hit a ball using the touch sensor
d) Build a robot that can move using the voice sensor

Materials and Tools:
a) LEGO Mindstorms Set
b) Touch sensor
c) A ball

Procedures:
a) We’ve given a theme where we have to build a robot which can swing it’s hand and hit a ball
b) Build a robot that can hit a ball
c) Design the robot using our own imagination
d) Fix the components of the robot according to what have been planned
e) Set up the program using the MIDSTORMS software
f) Download the program to the NXT brick
g) Test the robot either it functions well or not
h) Modify the program and the robot so that it will meet the objectives.
i) Present it to lecturer and friends.




Results:
The robot managed to move and swing its hand and hit the ball.
Problems Encountered:
We found that we have to deal with the degrees as to set the hand of the robot. We also have to fix the power of the swing as it will ensure how far the ball will go. We only managed to get it aligned with the objectives after a few attempts.

Conclusion:
If the robot managed to follow the instructions given, it shows that the objectives of the lesson are met.

Quotes of the day:
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them”

~lifting up the ball~

Date: 4th February, 2009
Time: 0800-1330
Topic: Lifting
Instruction: Lift up a ball and put it in a recycle bin.

Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
a) Getting used to the Lego Mindstorms
b) Build a robot that can deliver things
c) Build a robot that can lift up things
d) Build a robot that can lift up things using the light sensor
e) Build a robot that can put things in a particular box

Materials and Tools:
a) LEGO Mindstorms Set
b) Light sensor
c) Ball
d) A box

Procedures:
a) We’ve given a theme where we have to build a robot which can lift a ball, and put it in a recycle bin.
b) Design the robot using our own imagination
c) Fix the components of the robot according to what have been planned
d) Set up the program using the MIDSTORMS software
e) Download the program to the NXT brick
f) Test the robot either it functions well or not
g) Modify the program and the robot so that it will meet the objectives.
h) Present it to lecturer and friends.


Results:
The robot managed to lift up the ball when sensed by the light sensor and it moved back and put the ball in the box when it hit the box.

Problems Encountered:
During the practical work, we found that it’s not easy to use the light sensor as we have to set the percentage of the lights. This is because what we see is not the same as what our robot can see. We have to set it several times but managed to overcome the problem finally. Other than that, it is also not easy to make the robot lift up the ball as we have to set the hand of the robot using degrees. However, we managed to overcome the problems after a few attempts.

Conclusion:
If the robot managed to follow the instructions given, it shows that the objectives of the lesson are met.




quotes of the day:
"if you always focus on what you have left behind, you won't see what lies ahead"