Automation and Robotics

Automation and Robotics
The Importance of coding

Welcome to 8th Grade Automation and Robotics, here we will look at mechanical objects and coding to make them work. Click on the photo of Bill Gates to watch a 5 minute video that highlights the importance of coding in school and the future that may lie ahead for those that know how to code.

Week 1

Monday -The Sandwich Algorithm
- Honda "Power Of Dreams" video
Tuesday- Lego Build
Wednesday - What is Technology
Thursday - Adopt a Robot
Friday - Adopt a Robot

Week 2

Monday - Work on Adopt a Robot presentations
Tuesday - Share Presentations
Wednesday - Building with VEX
Thursday - Mechanical Gears
Friday - Mechanical Gears

Week 3

Monday - Mechanical Gears
Tuesday - Mechanical Gears
Wednesday - Mechanical Gears
Thursday - Build a Windmill
Friday - Build a Windmill

Week 4

Monday - Build a Windmill
Tuesday - Testbed Worksheet - wiring and sensors
Wednesday - Build Vex Testbed
Thursday - Build Vex Testbed
Friday - Programming in Robot C

Week 5

Monday - Testbed Practice Program #1
Tuesday - Testbed Practice Program #2
Wednesday - Testbed Practice Program #3
Thursday - Testbed challenge problem
Friday - Spinning Sign

Week 6

Monday - Spinning Sign
Tuesday - Spinning Sign
Wednesday - Automation Programming #1
Thursday -Automation Programming #1
Friday - Automation Programming #1

Week 7

Monday - Automation Programming #2
Tuesday - Automation Programming #2
Wednesday - Automation Programming #2
Thursday - Automation Programming #3
Friday - Automation Programming #3

Week 8

Monday - Automation Programming #3
Tuesday - Automation Programming #4
Wednesday - Automation Programming #4
Thursday - Automation Programming #4
Friday - Automation Programming #5

Week 9

Monday - Automation Programming #5
Tuesday - Automation Programming #5
Wednesday - Make-up work day
Thursday - Clean up day
Friday - End of Qtr - No School

Gears Games

Smart Gears Game - Click Picture

Gears and Chains Game - Click Picture

This is a Rube Goldberg type Game - Click Pic to Play

Honda: Living with Robots

Will robots rise and someday takeover the Earth ala "The Matrix" or "I, Robot"? This short video from Honda highlights the difficulties faced in getting a robot to stand on its own two feet - with no thoughts of world domination yet in sight.
Click on the picture of 'Asimo' on the right to watch the video.

Nova: Rise of the Drones

Drones. These unmanned flying robots–some as large as jumbo jets, others as small as birds–do things straight out of science fiction. Much of what it takes to get these robotic airplanes to fly, sense, and kill has remained secret. But now, with rare access to drone engineers and those who fly them for the U.S. military, NOVA reveals the amazing technologies that make drones so powerful as we see how a remotely-piloted drone strike looks and feels from inside the command center.

Automated Cat feeder - You could make this!

Watch the video above to get an idea of what a High School Robotics competition is all about. This video is from the First Robotics competition in Minnesota in 2013

Nano Quadrotors in Flight

This is a short, but very cool video showing the capabilities of small, drone-like helicopters. They sound like a swarm of bees, and can be programmed to fly as a group, synchronize their movements, and even work together to avoid obstacles. Click on the photo above to watch the 1:40 video.