Robotics

Lego robotics combine the ability to build a robot and the ability to program the robot using its 'intelligent brick.' The Lego Mindstorms EV3 Core Set included all the necessary parts and instructions for building robots. Instructions for Gyro Boy, Color Sorter, Puppy, amongst others are included.

   

  

Besides educational Lego robots, there are many different kinds of robots which can perform wide array of tasks. Some are created to imitate people, for military purposes, for research purposes, or for commercial use. Military robots are often used to perform jobs that are hazardous to humans - like detaining a bomb. Possible the most commonly known commercially used robots are those that are meant to act as traveling vacuums. When someone is trying to develop a robot, after determining its purpose the next thing to figure out it what is its power source. Possible robotic power sources could include compressed gasses or hydraulic energy. The Lego robots utilized the most common source of robotic power - a battery. 

Gyro Boy

The class was split up into 6 teams, each trying to build a robot. My team chose Gyro Boy. Gyro Boy is able to travel, stand on its own, turn, sense objects based on its visual component, and it also utilizes an ultrasonic sensor. Our team successfully built the robot, but unfortunately the battery was either not charged or malfunctioning when it came time to download the Gyro Boy program.

                              Main Parts:
                              Stand - holds Gyro Boy when it is unmoving
                              Ultrasonic Sensor - allows Gyro Boy to stop
                              when it senses an object in its path of motion
Gyro Sensor - allows Gyro Boy to sense left and right                                                            Color/Visual Sensor - allows Gyro Boy to stop and start based on visual/color cues
2 Medium motors - allow Gyro Boy to move
Programming 'Brick' - allows user to program Gyro Boy

Programming Robots

Programming lego robots is relatively simple.  It is just creating a string of commands for the robot to follow, that can later be saved or erased. For instance, you might instruct the robot to travel for 5 seconds, turn 45º, then travel in a straight line until something is noticed by its visual sensor. Commands include, time-based motion, turning motions, color-based functions, and touch-based functions. You can create strings of programs by manually entering each command onto the robot's 'brick, as it is referred to on the Lego robotics website, or you can plug in the robot to a computer with the lego robotics software and download strings of previously created commands.

Programming Main Screen - Lego Robotics 

EV3 Intelligent Brick