agents @ Brooklyn College, CUNY
educational robotics

lego robotics lab 2

Name:
Date:

materials
Make sure you have all of the following materials before you start the lab:

instructions

  1. assemble the go-bot
    • Follow the instructions, and work with your partner to put the go-bot together.
      Start with the go-cart which you made earlier, and then add to it (as in the instructions):
      an RCX, some gears, and motors.

  2. start up RoboLab
    • Find the RoboLab icon on your computer, and double-click on it to start it up.
    • Your screen will look like this:

      Click on PROGRAMMER.

    • Your screen will look like this:

      Click on INVENTOR 4.

    • Your screen will look like this:

    • Now you are ready to start learning RoboLab!

  3. find the icons
    • As demonstrated by the teacher, locate the functions palette. See if you can find each of the following icons:

      What do you think each icon does? In the boxes above, next to each icon, write down your ideas.

  4. create your first program
    • As demonstrated by the teacher, use the mouse to select, drag and drop RoboLab icons onto your canvas and wire them together, creating the following program:


      What do you think it does? Write down your ideas in the box below:
       

  5. download your program
    • Find the communication tower:

    • Connect it to your computer's USB port (ask the teacher to help you find it).
    • Place your go-bot next to the tower.
    • Find the download arrow on your RoboLab window. It's up near the top, just under "File Edit" and looks like this:

      Click on it, and your program will download onto your go-bot!

    • If the download works, then the RCX will sing a happy tune :-)

    • If you have trouble, check these things:
      1. The RCX must be turned on.
      2. The black part of the RCX should be turned towards your tower.
      3. If there is a lot of light in the room, try covering your RCX and the tower with a piece of paper.
      4. If your download arrow is broken, then you have an error in your program.
        Make sure that you copied all the icons correctly and that the wires all start and end in the right places.

  6. run the program
    • After the program downloads successfully, put your go-bot on the floor and turn it on. Then press RUN.
    • What did your robot do? Is that what you expected? Answer in the box below.
       

  7. modify the program
    • Now change the program to make your robot go in a straight line for 1 second and then stop.
      Edit the program in RoboLab, download it again and test it.
      Repeat this process until it works!
    • Then in the box below, draw your code.
       

  8. programming challenges
    Complete as many of the following programs as you can before the class period is over.
    After you get each program to work, draw the code in the boxes provided.

    • Program the robot to go forward for 3 seconds and then stop.
       

    • Program the robot to go backward for 5 seconds and then stop.
       

    • Program the robot to go forward for 2 seconds and then go backward for 2 seconds and then stop.
      Is it back where it started from?
       

    • Program the robot to turn to the right for 2 seconds.
       

    • Program the robot to turn to the right for 2 seconds and then turn to the left for 2 seconds.
       

    • Program the robot to go in a square.