Robotics Elective See the final robots (2008) in a video here. See the final robots (2007) in a video here.

Below is the syllabus. For the file as a pdf click here.

Robotics - Syllabus

Instructor: Mr. Evans

Email: mark.evans@hcps.org (for large files email to, evans@scienceandmathacademy.com)

Webpage: www.scienceandmathacademy.com/academics/robotics/

Text: Cook, D., (2002). Robot Building : for Beginners. United States of America : Apress.

Course Description: This is a semester course which will teach the basics of robotics. Students will understand the design of a line-following robot and build it. Through the course, a basic understanding of DC circuitry will be covered. DC circuitry topics will include: power sources, resistors, LEDs, variable resistors, comparators, and motors. Students will learn how to use a multimeter, set a circuit up on a solderless breadboard, solder wiring and circuits, use small hand tools and power tools. Exposure to robotics in the real-world will be covered through selected readings and a field trip.

Course outline: The below outline is a loose guide.

·         Day 1

• Course Introduction
• Chapter 1 – Welcome Robot Inventor!
• Chapter 2 – Where to Obtain Tools and Parts
• Homework: Read chapter 3 & 4

·         Day 2

• Chapter 3 – Safety
• Chapter 4 – Digital Multimeter
• Homework: Read chapters 5 & 6

·         Day 3

• Chapter 5 – Numbers and Units
• Chapter 6 – Robot Line – Following
• Homework: Read chapters 7 & 8

·         Day 4

• Chapter 7 - Nine-Volt Batteries
• Chapter 8 – Clips and Test Leads
• Homework: Read chapters 9

·         Day 5

• Chapter 9 – Resistors
• Homework: Read chapters 10 & 11

·         Days 6

• Chapter 10 – LEDs
• Chapter 11 – Power On! Building and Testing a Power Indicator Circuit
• Homework: None

·         Day 7

• Review of the first 11 chapters
• Homework: Study for test 1

• Test 1
• Homework: Read chapters 21 & 22

·         Days 9 & 10

• Chapter 21 – Soldering Equipment
• Chapter 22 – Soldering and Connecting
• Homework: None

·         Days 11 & 12

• Construct Crawling Microbug by Velleman
• Test Microbug
• Homework: Read chapter 12 & 13

·         Days 13 & 14

• Chapter 12 – Solderless Prototyping
• Chapter 13 – Solderless Breadboard Setup
• Homework: Read chapter 14

·         Day 15 & 16

• Chapter 14 – Variable Resistors
• Homework: Read chapter 15

·         Day 17 & 18

• Chapter 15 – Comparators
• Homework: Read chapter 16

·         Day 19

• Chapter 16 – Transistor Switches
• Homework: Read chapter 17

·         Day 20

• Chapter 17 - DC Motors
• Homework: Read chapter 18

·         Day 21

• Chapter 18 – Adding Gearhead Motors
• Homework: Make a schematic for the circuit for the breadboard challenge

·         Day 22

• Breadboard circuit challenge
• Homework: None

·         Day 23

• Review chapters 11 through 18
• Homework: Study for test 2

·         Day 24

• Test 2
• Homework: Read chapter 19 & 20

·         Day 25 & 26

• Chapter 19 – Wheels
• Chapter 20 – Coupler
• Homework: Read chapter 23

·         Days 27 through 32

• Chapter 23 – The Motherboard
• Homework: Read chapter 24

·         Days 33 through 35

• Chapter 24 – Body Building
• Homework: Read chapter 25

·         Days 36 & 37

• Chapter 25 – Launching the Line-Follower
• Homework: Read chapter 26

·         Days 38

• Chapter 26 – Encore

·         Day 39

• Review chapter 19 through 26
• Homework: Study for test 3

·         Day 40

• Test 3
• Homework: None

·         Other days

• Fieldtrip to APG (tentatively September 6, 2006) (CNC machines, UAV’s, etc.)
• Extra days may be inserted from time to time.

Grading: All grades are determined by total points.

• Tests: 100 points each
• Homework: There will be discussions based on the readings. Your participation in those discussions will be worth 50 points.
• Class work/Mini-Labs: 10-25 points
• Microbug: 50 points
• Robot: 250 points (Further details of grading of the robot will be on a separate handout.)