Burke's Blogging Dialogue

NXT Design Resources - Journal 9

Journal 9...Respond to the following...

Now that you have decided upon a mission for your NXT robot to accomplish, you must ponder, "Is my robot designed specifically for this mission?"   Think about your mission and brainstorm with your team any possible improvements that you can make to your robot's chassis.  Visit the site below before you brainstorm and consider...will your robot need...

• a sensor to find a colored line?
• a manipulator basket to deliver the wildlife or collect the carbon dioxide?
• large wheels to get over the ice barrier to deliver the ice core drilling machine?
• an attachment to elevate the house?

Now visit the following websites and discuss possibilities...

Robot with a basket to collect objects

http://www.nxtprograms.com/MTV/steps.html

Robotic arm

http://www.nxtprograms.com/robot_arm/index.html

Robot to follow line

http://www.nxtprograms.com/line_follower/index.html

Then, decide what you will do to make improvements.  Record all of this information in your journal.  You then can begin building.  Test your robot and record how your robot performed and moved.  Do you need to improve your design again?  If so, list changes made.  If not, consider, "Can we use this design be used to solve any other missions on the table?"  You can discuss and add this to your programming once you have successfully completed a mission.

 

4th graders will visit "Steel Bridge Project"

Just wanted to remind our 4th graders that on THURSDAY, OCT. 30, we will take a field trip to Southern Polytech University.  Please read the reminder notes we discussed in class last week.  I am sure that we will have a wonderful time making "ultimate connections!"

BRIDGE WEBSITES GALORE!

Basic Bridge Information

http://www.matsuo-bridge.co.jp/english/bridges/index.shtm

Inventory of bridges

http://betterroads.gcnpublishing.com/content/Issue-Story.45.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_magissue_pi1[showUid]=635

Bridges and FUN!

http://www.bridgesite.com/funand.htm

Mad Scientist Lab…Arch Design

http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Experiments/ExpEggShellArches.htm

Robotics Game Resources

Click on the link below to view the "FLL Robotics Game" videos.  Please keep in mind that this site is visited quite frequently in the evening, so you will need to be patient and give it time to load. 

Your goal will be to use all that you have learned about programming and designing your NXT robot to successfully complete one or more of the missions.  GOOD LUCK! 

This site also has the question and answer blog, and other resources.  Just click in the gray box on the left and you will find everything you need to know about the challenge.  :-) 

http://firstlegoleague.org/community/fll/game.aspx

Above and Beyond Opportunity for ALL!

How can you use technology to enhance your learning?  Make an interactive game using the link below.  You can use your Target notebooks as the resource of information.  For example, 4th graders may want to use their "Building Big" questions or "History of Bridges" booklet to make a "Jeopardy" game.  Fifth graders can use all of the robotics lab questions we have completed or energy conservation information to make a "Millionaire" game.  Have FUN!  Save your game on your flashdrive and bring it in to share with your classmates.  Now, that is going "Above and Beyond!"

http://it.coe.uga.edu/wwild/pptgames/

Robot Game Missions-Problem Solving with FLOWCHART

We are now skilled in all of the essentials areas and can officially begin to solve missions.  Create a flowchart for the one you choose to solve.  Be sure to journal your thinking...BRAINSTORM, SKETCH, BUILD, EXPERIMENT, REVISE and RESPONSE.  Please click on the link below for all of the information about our robot game missions!

http://firstlegoleague.org/community/TabbedPage.aspx?id=1002

Good luck!                                                

Barbie donates her knees...for ROBOTICS!

Fifth grade Target students have been busy learning about robotic design and programming the NXT. We have compared and contrasted three different robotic chassis designs.  We also have built and programmed a robot to have the ability to sense touch with a sensor.  Currently, we are adding a light sensor and programming our robot to find and follow a dark line.  Our next challenge is to design, program and build a manipulator arm so that our robot can hit a ball off of a PVC pipe. 

How does this learning relate to the world?  Besides the math, science and problem solving involved, robotics is everywhere in the medical world.  Even Barbie is involved!  Here is an interesting podcast that shows how Barbie doll knees are helping robotic designers build prosthetic legs.  See an amazing real world application by clicking below.  Once on the page, click on "Barbie legs."

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=5

Fourth grade field trip

Fourth graders have been given a permission slip to go on a field trip on October 30th.  Please be sure this form is signed and returned this week.  Money envelopes (with student name, homeroom, and Target Burke) must be placed in the black boxes.  Remember, all Tuesday students will have Thursday as their Target day that week. 

We have been given an opportunity to go to Southern Polytech University and see their award winning  "Steel Bridge Project."  This will allow us to make real world connections to our learning about bridges and meet Dr. Orlandella, an engineering professor.  Part of our visit includes a tour of their civil engineering lab and an overview of the bridge design process.  We will also get to see actual bridge construction and welding.  Our visit will conclude with lunch in the college cafeteria. 

If you would like to purchase one from the Southern Poly cafeteria, please bring $6.25 cash on our field trip day, October 30th.  Otherwise, you may bring a sacked lunch from home, or buy one from Big Shanty's cafeteria. 

Plan on wearing your Big Shanty spirit wear and having a super day together!  We know that you will be on your best Big Shanty behavior!