TCEA Robotics: Building with Purpose [Activity #4]
Often times, teams will build a robot based on a set of instructions or even with no clear purpose in mind. Try building (or re-building) your next robot with these instructions:
- List all of the important abilities that your robot needs to have - we’ll call these ‘qualifiers’
- Start an ‘Ability Needs’ list in your robotics journal. Keep it simple - does your robot need the ability to move forward? If so, add it to the list you just started in your team robotics journal. Does it need to be able to turn? How does it need to be able to turn? Tightly? Broadly? What other abilities does it need to complete the competition? Strength? Simple actions? Speed? Continue making the list of your robotics abilities.
- Finish your list. Once you are done listing abilities, NOW is the time to start thinking about building, and build with the end in mind. If you are a novice builder, start with a set of instructions that meet most of the abilities you need - you can always make adjustments. If you are an intermediate builder - BEWARE! Don’t jump into a model without thinking through where you want to go - think ahead to how you can make sure you have a sturdy chasis.
Hint: Advanced builders may want to search the internet for some new ideas. Start at this website with different models, then try different combinations of the following search terms when you search:
- mindstorm or mindstorms
- lego
- “building instructions” (in quotes)
- rcx
- robolab