Challenge 3: "Stay in Touch"

                 

After learning how to program the robot to move in Challenge 2, this challenge aims at learning how the robot can stay in touch with its environment using the Touch Sensor. For this purpose, we will add two touch sensors to the robot — one pointing up and one pointing forward. The Getting Started activity “Programming the EV3 Touch Sensor” should provide you with all the information needed for this challenge. You might want to ask your students to attach the sensors before watching the video. At the end of this challenge, the robot is expected to be able to move autonomously through a room or an obstacle course by “feel” using its touch sensor input.

Expected Learning Outcomes:

• Design and build a Touch Sensor attachment to robot
• Make robot react on Touch Sensor input
• Learn about different Touch Sensor inputs
• Lean to use a loop structure
• Program robot to autonomously move through a room or maze

Materials Needed (per group of three students):

• One charged LEGO NXT/EV3 kit and computer with software installed
• Plenty of floor space
• A few obstacles for the robot to run into (e.g. heavy cardboard boxes, stacks of books, walls, etc.)

Approximate Time Needed:

• 30 to 45 minutes for Challenge 3.1: Touch, Stop, and Go
• 30 to 45 minutes for Challenge 3.2: Bump and Explore

Challenge Tasks:

• 3.1. How the Robot Stays in Touch with its Environment

CLICK HERE for the Resource Page for Challenge 3.1 (printable PDF)

• 3.2. Programming to Navigate the Obstacle Course

CLICK HERE for the Resource Page for Challenge 3.2 (printable PDF)