P78 - Lego Mindstorm Robotics Project, University ... - Discovery Press

Submitted by: Kellie Schneider
University of Arkansas
kellie@uark.edu
Freshman Engineering Program - University of Arkansas
Fall Semester 2012
Robotics Project 1
LEGO Mindstorms Basics
Topic Summary
Outcomes
At the end of the Engineering Design Project: LEGO Mindstorms, each student should possess:
1. experience constructing a LEGO Mindstorms robot;
2. experience programming with LEGO Mindstorms;
3. experience with light sensors and bump sensors;
4. experience working on a team;
5. an ability to construct a technical report.
Project Tasks
Task 1 – Forming a team and obtaining a Mindstorm kit
In class on Monday, September 10 or Tuesday, September 11, students will be assigned to
teams of three or four. Locate your team, introduce yourselves, exchange contact information
and record the information in the table provided. Complete the LEGO Mindstorm Liability
Form, and obtain your assigned Mindstorm kit.
Team #
Team Name:
Member Name Email Phone
Task 2 – Constructing a basic robot
Use the provided instruction manual to assemble your basic robot. Begin with Step 1 (on page
8) and continue the assembly through Step 17 (on page 22). Implement the program depicted
on page 22 of the instruction manual.
Task 3 – Completing the “Drive in Square” tutorial
You will need access to the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT 2.1 Programming software. The
software is installed on all computers in the FEP Computer Lab (ENGR 337). You may also install
the software to your personal laptop by visiting the TA office hours.
In groups of two, students should complete the “Drive in Square” tutorial. To access the
tutorial, open the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT 2.1 Programming software. From the main

page, expand the “Common Palette” by clicking on the “+” and choose “08. Drive in Square”.
The Building Guide indicates the robot assembly required for the tutorial. “Drive in Square”
requires the “driving base” completed in Task 2. The Programming Guide includes step-by-step
instructions for completing the tutorial. Once you have completed the tutorial, download the
program to your robot and test it. Make modifications as necessary to the parameters in your
program until your robot drives in a square.
Save your completed program as “SecXXX_TeamXX_DriveInSquare.rbt.”
Task 4 – Modifying your robot
Modify for your robot to include a light sensor and a bump sensor. Use steps 22 – 23 in the
instruction manual to add the light sensor, and use steps 26 – 28 to add the bump sensor. Test
your sensors by using implementing the programs on page 35 and 45, respectively. (Note that
we have had difficulty in implementing the program on page 35.)
Task 4H – Modifying your robot (Honors Students Only)
Complete Task 4. In addition, modify for your robot to include an ultrasonic sensor. Use steps
20 – 21 in the instruction manual. Implement the program depicted on page 31 of the assembly
guide.
Task 5 – Completing the “Follow A Line” tutorial
In groups of two, students should complete the “Follow A Line” tutorial. To access the tutorial,
open the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT 2.1 Programming software. From the main page,
expand the “Common Palette” by clicking on the “+” and choose “17. Follow A Line”. The
Building Guide indicates the robot assembly required for the tutorial. “Follow A Line” requires
the “driving base” completed in Task 2 and the “light module down” completed in Task 4. The
Programming Guide includes step-by-step instructions for completing the tutorial. Once you
have completed the tutorial, download the program to your robot and test it. Make
modifications as necessary to the parameters in your program until your robot follows a line.
Save your completed program as “SecXXX_TeamXX_FollowALine.rbt.”
Task 6 – Completing the “Detect Touch” tutorial
In groups of two, students should complete the “Detect Touch” tutorial. To access the tutorial,
open the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT 2.1 Programming software. From the main page,
expand the “Common Palette” by clicking on the “+” and choose “18. Detect Touch”. The
Building Guide indicates the robot assembly required for the tutorial. “Detect Touch” requires
the “driving base” completed in Task 2 and the “touch module front”. Note that in Task 4, you
created the “touch module back” attachment, so you will need to modify your program
accordingly. The Programming Guide includes step-by-step instructions for completing the
tutorial. Once you have completed the tutorial, download the program to your robot and test
it. Make modifications as necessary to the parameters in your program until your robot stops
when the bump sensor encounters an object.
Save your completed program as “SecXXX_TeamXX_DetectTouch.rbt.”

Task 6H – Completing the “Sensor Bumper” tutorial (Honors Students Only)
Complete Task 6. In groups of two, students should also complete the “Sensor Bumper”
tutorial. To access the tutorial, open the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT 2.1 Programming
software. From the main page, expand the “Common Palette” by clicking on the “+” and
choose “19. Sensor Bumper”. The Building Guide indicates the robot assembly required for the
tutorial. “Sensor Bumper” requires the “driving base” completed in Task 2 as well as the “touch
module back” and “ultrasonic module” completed in Task 4H. The Programming Guide includes
step-by-step instructions for completing the tutorial. Once you have completed the tutorial,
download the program to your robot and test it. Your program should drive forward until an
ultrasonic sensor encounters an object then travel backward until the bumper sensor
encounters an object. Modify your code so this action is repeated 3 times.
Save your completed program as “SecXXX_TeamXX_SensorBumper.rbt.”
Task 7 – Completing the “Calibrate Sensor” tutorial
In groups of two, students should complete the “Calibrate Sensor” tutorial. To access the
tutorial, open the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT 2.1 Programming software. From the main
page, expand the “Complete Palette” by clicking on the “+” and choose “34. Calibrate
Sensor”.The Building Guide indicates the robot assembly required for the tutorial. “Calibrate
Sensor” requires the “driving base” completed in Task 2 and the “light module down”
completed in Task 4. The Programming Guide includes step-by-step instructions for completing
the tutorial. Once you have completed the tutorial, download the program to your robot and
test it. Make modifications as necessary to the parameters in your program until your sensor is
properly calibrated.
Save your completed program as “SecXXX_TeamXX_CalibrateSensor.rbt.”
Task 8 – Obtaining a quality resource
Find a magazine article, journal article, government document, or book that shows a practical
application of robotics. Provide a complete reference for the item. Include information from
your reference in the Background portion of your technical report.
Project Assessment (300 project points)
Intermediate Deliverable 1 (50 points)
Prior to the end of class on Wednesday, September 12 (sections 001 and 008) or Thursday,
September 13 (sections 009 and 016) students should complete Tasks 1 – 3 and demonstrate
completion of the tasks to their instructor or primary TA.
Intermediate Deliverable 2 (10 points)
Before class on Wednesday, September 19 (sections 001 and 008) or Thursday, September 13
(sections 009 and 016), each team should submit one e-mail containing all robot program files
to their primary teaching assistant. (Students in the regular sections will submit 4 programs,
and students in the honors sections will submit 5 programs). The sender of the e-mail should cc
all teammates on the e-mail.

Intermediate Deliverable 3 (90 points)
In class on Wednesday, September 19 (sections 001 and 008) or Thursday, September 13
(sections 009 and 016), teams will demonstrate their implementation of the tutorials associated
with the project. An individual team member will be chosen at random to perform each task.
All team members should be prepared to answer questions regarding the content of the
programs.
Final Deliverable (150 points)
Each student will complete an individual technical report in the form of a 1 – 2 page memo.
The memo should include background information including real-world applications associated
with robotics (see Task 8), a summary of the tasks accomplished during the Robotics Project 1, a
summary of the programming techniques used including a brief discussion on loops, and a peer
evaluation.
In class during the week of September 24, students will have an opportunity to work on their
memo, and the Engineering Librarian will discuss appropriate citation styles and library
resources for inclusion in technical reports. The memo should follow the FEP Assignment Policy
with regards to Formatting of Word-Processed Work Submitted as Part of an Assignment. The
completed memo should be uploaded to the individual section BlackBoard page (not the
master course) by 4:20pm on Monday, October 1 (sections 001 and 008) or Tuesday, October 2
(sections 009 and 016).
Peer Evaluation
Include the Peer Evaluation in your memo. There are 100 total points to be allocated.
Your Name:
Tasks you completed:
Points Assigned:
Team Member 1 Name:
Tasks Member 1 completed:
Team Member 2 Name:
Tasks Member 2 completed:
Team Member 3 Name:
Tasks Member 3 Completed:
Points Assigned:
Points Assigned:
Points Assigned:
Additional Tutorials
In preparation for Project 2, students are encouraged to continue working with their robot and
completing additional tutorials. The following tutorials may be useful in the next project:
• Common Palette
o Driving
• Drive Forward, Reverse, Accelerate, Curve Turn, Point Turn, My Block 1,
Parking Bay
o Sensors
• Detect Distance, Detect Dark Line, Follow a Line, Detect Touch, Sensor
Bumper
• Complete Palette
• React to Distance, React to Light, Rotation Sensor, Reset Rotation Sensor,
Calibrate Sensor, My Block 2